- This year’s annual update for Windows 11 has arrived
- The 25H2 update hardly makes any changes at all
- Aside from some security tweaks and streamlining, 24H2 users will get all the same features – and possibly even before those on 25H2
Windows 11’s annual update for 2025 is now officially available – but don’t get too excited, as the upgrade for this year is a very minor affair.
Microsoft announced the availability of the 25H2 update in a blog post, explaining that it’s an “enablement package”.
What this means is that Microsoft has already put the content for the 25H2 update in place with PCs running the current Windows 11 version 24H2 – and all those users need to do is effectively flick a switch to enable the new features.
In other words, this is a very lightweight install; you won’t be waiting around for any big download or installation procedure, and it’ll be a very quick affair – a simple reboot, basically.
So, what do you get with the 25H2 update, exactly? Well, there’s the catch: not a lot, frankly.
There are new features inbound for Windows 11 users here, and among the additions there’s an important Start menu revamp (which tweaks the layout significantly, including allowing Microsoft’s recommendations to be turned off – great news indeed).
However, as I’ve outlined before, these changes are not exclusive to version 25H2 – they’re also coming to those on 24H2. You may not even get the new Start menu first if you’re on 25H2, either – you have an equal chance of receiving it sooner on 24H2 (it’s all a roll of the update dice, based on the configuration of your PC in some way, most likely).
So is 25H2 completely pointless then? Well, no; as you’d expect there are some differences between 24H2 and 25H2, as otherwise Microsoft just wouldn’t bother. That said, there isn’t much to talk about here, but Microsoft points out a couple of pieces of work in its blog post for 25H2.
Firstly, there are improvements to security, as John Cable, Microsoft’s VP for Product Management, Windows Servicing and Delivery, makes clear: “Windows continues iterating and improving its security features and posture to help protect customers from security threats in our software and services. Version 25H2 includes significant advancements in build and runtime vulnerability detection, coupled with AI assisted secure coding.”
Cable also highlights streamlining measures and the removal of some “legacy features” with 25H2, namely PowerShell 2.0 and the Windows Management Instrumentation command line. Those aren’t features that everyday Windows 11 users will ever need, and they won’t miss them; and the OS being a bit lighter without them is a good thing, but it’s hardly exciting news.
And that’s about your lot, although I’d hope Microsoft has also applied some tuning under the hood in 25H2, perhaps to improve performance a little in some respects – although if there was anything major in that department, it surely would have been mentioned.
The only other benefit of upgrading to 25H2 is that you’ll be good for an extra year of support.
Analysis: jumping to the front of the queue (should you want to)
As ever, Windows 11 25H2 will be on a phased rollout, gradually being made available to more PCs as time goes on. With there being few meaningful changes, though, any computer already on 24H2 isn’t likely to run into compatibility issues or other wrinkles – in theory, anyway, but of course you never know.
If you want to grab 25H2 as soon as possible, as Microsoft explains via its release health status dashboard: “Starting today, version 25H2 is available on eligible Windows 11, version 24H2 devices for users who have turned on the setting ‘Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available’.”
So, to stand the best chance, you need to enable that option – you’ll find it under Settings > Windows Update. With ‘Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available‘ turned on, you’ll be first in line to be offered version 25H2, but that doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily get the upgrade immediately. If Microsoft judges your PC to be in danger of a compatibility clash of some kind, you’ll still have to wait – this is the way all update rollouts work.
I wouldn’t recommend trying to jump the queue to get the 25H2 update outside of Windows Update, either (which is possible for more experienced Windows 11 users). There’s a reason Microsoft is blocking any given PC from 25H2, and it’s best not to take any risks side-stepping said block.
All that said, as we’ve seen, there’s no hugely compelling reason to grab version 25H2 anyway, so I can’t imagine many folks will be looking to clear extra hurdles to download it, or get the upgrade in any hurry at all.