Windows 11 25H2 takes the final step before release to all

Microsoft has made the next major update for Windows 11 available in the Release Preview Channel. Participants in the Windows Insider program can now download and try out the preview version of Windows 11 25H2. This is usually the last step of every Windows update before it is released to the public. It is unclear exactly when 25H2 will be available to everyone, but Microsoft is promising the update for this year.

The software company announced Windows 11 25H2 around two months ago, promising that "switching to Windows 11 25H2 is as easy as rebooting". To achieve this, Microsoft is relying on "Enablement Packages" – small packages that activate program parts already installed on the computer that are still unused. This should enable a quick changeover to 25H2 and not require any new installations. Settings should also be transferred.

Microsoft did not provide any details about the 25H2 update when the preview version was published. According to Ars Technica, it is a rather quiet and small update, but it resets the time for security updates. This means that Windows 11 25H2 will receive patches for the next two years. Microsoft promises this to all its annual Windows updates.

25H2 without PowerShell 2.0 and WMIC, but with a few new features

As announced at the beginning of July, Microsoft is throwing Windows PowerShell 2.0 overboard. Windows 11 25H2 will no longer include this administrator tool. The WMIC tool (Windows Management Instrumentation Command-Line), which has been classified as obsolete for several years, is also no longer included. Microsoft has not yet revealed an summarized overview about the changes 25H2.

However, the company made new test versions of Windows available in the Insider channels a few days ago, bringing new functions for the snipping tool and AI features. For example, the snipping tool in the Microsoft Insider previews can record window videos. New selection options for the click-to-do function have also been introduced. The selection can now be made as a free-form selection, as a rectangular selection or by pressing the "Ctrl" key and clicking. The latter makes it possible to select several, even different types of content to be included in further processing by the AI function.

25H2 initially for Windows Insiders, from October probably for everyone

Windows Insiders who have access to the Release Preview Channel and meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11 will find the 25H2 preview version in the settings under Windows Update. This corresponds to the standard update process for all users. A complete ISO version for Windows 11 25H2 will be available for download later this week.

For all users of Windows 11 who are not Windows Insiders, the 25H2 update is expected in October. However, Microsoft usually starts with updates to a small number of PCs before expanding the rollout to more users in order to identify any problems. A few weeks or months later, the 25H2 update should be available for all Windows 11 installations via Windows Update.

(fds)