Windows 11 2025 Update (Version 25H2) Now Available to the General Public

Windows 11 2025 Update (Version 25H2) Now Available to the General Public

Microsoft announced on September 30 the general availability of a new feature update for Windows 11, called “Windows 11 2025 Update” (Version 25H2). The phased rollout has begun for general users who are not enrolled in the Windows Insider Program.

Windows 11 Version 25H2 (Build 26200) marks the fourth annual major update for Windows 11. The service period remains unchanged from previous versions: 24 months for Home and Pro editions, and 36 months for Enterprise and Education editions.

Windows 11 2025 Update (Version 25H2) Now Available to the General Public

Shared Codebase with Version 24H2

The operating system code for Version 25H2 shares a common base with the previous Version 24H2. As a result, all new features introduced in Version 24H2 are also available in Version 25H2.

Additionally, features exclusive to Version 25H2 are already included in the monthly updates for Version 24H2, but in a disabled state. The upgrade to Version 25H2 simply involves activating these disabled features with a small enablement package (eKB). This design means the upgrade process takes relatively little time. Since the OS core remains identical, changes from Version 24H2 are minimal, which is expected to result in fewer issues specific to Version 25H2.

How to Obtain the Update

Version 25H2 is being rolled out in phases, starting with users who are already running Version 24H2 and have enabled the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option in the Windows Update settings page. When available, the Windows Update page will display a message stating “Windows 11, version 25H2 is available” along with download and installation instructions.

The update downloads in the background, and once ready, users can choose when to install and restart their system. Users can be assured that the upgrade will not happen automatically without their consent.

If the update notification does not appear, it’s possible that Version 25H2 has not yet been deployed to your device, or the device has been excluded from distribution due to known compatibility issues. Users should check back at a later date. For those who cannot wait, alternative upgrade methods are available through the Installation Assistant, Media Creation Tool, or ISO image files.

Available download options:

x64: Installation Assistant, Media Creation Tool, and ISO image files
Arm64: ISO image files

Windows 11 2025 Version 25H2 Released: Key Changes and Updates

Windows 11 2025 Version 25H2, which became generally available, shares its OS core with the previous Version 24H2.

As a result, there appear to be no particularly noteworthy new features for individual consumers.

Enterprise Features

For business users, a new capability is being introduced that allows the removal of preinstalled Microsoft Store apps using Group Policy. While the policy is active, deleted apps are blocked from reinstallation, making this useful for workplaces or schools that want to prevent the use of specific OS-bundled applications.

Additionally, Wi-Fi 7 for enterprise becomes available, supporting enterprise access points with more robust authentication methods such as WPA3-Enterprise compared to consumer versions. However, this feature also becomes available in Version 24H2 by applying update KB5065789 or later.

Removed Features

In Version 25H2, both WMIC and PowerShell 2.0 are finally removed from the system.

WMIC (Windows Management Instrumentation Command line) is a command-line interface for the WMI OS feature that enables system information retrieval and management, widely used primarily by system administrators. It has been deprecated since Windows Server 2012 and Windows 10 Version 21H1, and is not included in Version 25H2.

However, it will continue to be available as a Feature on Demand (FoD). If needed, it can be added through the Settings app under System > Optional features.

Windows PowerShell 2.0 is the version released bundled with Windows 7 in 2009. With over 15 years since its release and nearly 8 years since deprecation, it has become outdated, particularly from a security perspective.

Migration paths include PowerShell 5.1 (Windows-compatible) or PowerShell 7.x (cross-platform). In most cases, migration should be problem-free unless dealing with legacy scripts that explicitly specify PowerShell 2.0 usage (powershell.exe -Version 2).