MIDI has been around for more than four decades. It first launched in 1983, and now, in 2026, Windows 11 is gaining support for MIDI 2.0 alongside enhancements to MIDI 1.0.
MIDI 2.0, unlike MIDI 1.0, can both send and receive information. That creates proper two-way communication between devices, while also enabling automatic detection and setup of supported hardware.
And if you didn't know, MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. It's a standard that allows electronic instruments, such as a digital piano, to communicate with a computer — at least, that's how I came to understand it from my time playing keyboard as a teenager.
So what exactly is new, and what does MIDI 2.0 actually offer? Let’s break it down (via Microsoft).
Before MIDI 2.0, devices were more limited in how much data they could send. Now, musicians get far more precise control over things like pitch, velocity, and other performance details.
Don’t worry, though. MIDI 2.0 is backward compatible with MIDI 1.0 devices, so older gear will continue to work as normal. Although MIDI 2.0 has existed since 2020, it only began rolling out to Windows 11 in Insider builds last year. Consumer availability should now live, provided you are running the latest version of Windows 11.
MIDI 1.0 enhancements
Despite being four decades old, MIDI 1.0 is not being forgotten. It is getting several handy enhancements, many of which also benefit MIDI 2.0. These updates include multi-client support, improved stability, better device naming, built-in loopback support, and automatic translation for MIDI 2.0 hardware.
That automatic translation means older and newer devices can work together seamlessly, with proper two-way communication handled in the background. It is genuinely impressive, especially at a time when long-standing standards are often replaced rather than improved to bleed us the consumers dry.
Any MIDI keyboard enthusiasts?
Are you planning to use MIDI 2.0 on Windows 11, or do you have little interest? Let us know in the comments and make sure to take part in our poll below:
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