Microsoft: Hotpatching is also coming to Windows 11

Windows 11 gets support for hotpatching. It can be tested with Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise as a preview. This means that desktop systems can also manage without a monthly reboot.

Microsoft has announced the public test of hot patching in Windows 11 in the Windows Message Center. "This public preview offers the same level of security patching as the usual monthly security updates, without rebooting devices or interrupting users," Microsoft writes there. "To get the latest features, eligible devices will install the standard monthly security update and reboot every first month of a quarter," the authors continue.

Hotpatching: the sticking point of the Enterprise license

Interested admins can use a new Windows quality update policy in Microsoft Intune and Windows Autopatch. This allows them to add or remove devices for hotpatching. A previously unnoticed blog post in the Microsoft tech community from last week goes into a little more detail. The prerequisite is a Microsoft subscription with a Windows Enterprise E3 or E5 license; the author cites Microsoft 365 A3/A5, Microsoft 365 F3 or a Windows 365 Enterprise subscription as examples.

The devices must also be running Windows 11 Enterprise, build 24H2 with version number 26100.2033 (corresponding to the October update from Microsoft) or newer. Admins must also use Microsoft Intune. The Windows Quality Update policy to be activated automatically recognizes PCs on which the function can be used. Other devices, such as those with Windows 10 or older Windows 11 builds, will continue to run the standard monthly updates.

Microsoft released Windows Server 2025 at the beginning of the month. Since the end of September, interested parties have been able to try out hot patching in its preview version, which Windows Server has brought to the on-premises area for Microsoft for the first time.

(dmk)