Microsoft's Ultra Compact Windows 11 25h2 Update Is Here - How To Get It In A Single Restart

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Microsoft is gradually rolling retired Windows 11 25H2.
• You tin hold for nan update to arrive, aliases manually instal it.
• The 2025 type tightens information and tweaks definite features.

Microsoft typically starts rolling retired its yearly Windows update astir this clip of year, and that intends nan 2025 type is now officially afoot. On Tuesday, nan institution announced nan readiness of Windows 11 25H2 to some individuals and organizations. This year, however, nan update is designed otherwise than successful nan past.

Windows 11 25H2 is much compact and installs quicker than erstwhile yearly updates. That's because Microsoft swaps retired only nan files that request updating alternatively than replacing each strategy files. The update besides adopts nan exertion utilized successful regular Windows updates, which intends only a azygous restart is required to get you up and moving again.

Also: Your complete Windows 11 upgrade guide: Everything to cognize - earlier you ditch Windows 10

Further, Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 stock nan aforesaid codification guidelines and will person nan aforesaid updates moving forward. The only quality betwixt nan 2 is that definite features will beryllium abnormal successful nan 2024 type but enabled successful nan 2025 edition. Sharing nan aforesaid codification besides intends that Windows 11 25H2 should beryllium much unchangeable and reliable than nan 24H2 version.

What will you find successful Windows 11 25H2? 

One cardinal betterment is successful nan area of security.

"As portion of nan Microsoft Secure Future Initiative commitment, Windows continues iterating and improving its information features and posture to thief protect customers from information threats successful our package and services," John Cable, VP of Product Management for Windows Servicing and Delivery, said successful a Tuesday blog post. "Version 25H2 includes important advancements successful build and runtime vulnerability detection, coupled pinch AI-assisted unafraid coding. We've designed type 25H2 to reside and mitigate information threats successful adherence to a robust security improvement lifecycle (SDL) argumentation and requirements."

Also: This caller Windows 11 instrumentality uses AI to tame your chaotic photograph room - really to effort it now

Other features that person slow made their measurement to Windows 11 24H2 will each look successful nan 2025 version, according to Microsoft's page connected What's caller successful Windows 11, type 25H2. These see support for Wi-Fi 7, Quick Machine Recovery to resoluteness footwear problems, tweaks to nan Taskbar, and improvements to File Explorer and Task Manager. The quality is that these changes were gradually doled retired to Windows 11 24H2. Update to 25H2, and they'll each beryllium fresh and waiting for you to try.

By updating to Windows 11 25H2, you besides widen nan support model offered by Microsoft. Windows 11 24H2 support ends successful October 2026, but support for 25H2 will past until October 2027.

Also: Not a instrumentality of Windows 11? Here's really I made my strategy look much for illustration Linux aliases MacOS

Best of all, nan 2025 type should debar nan bugs and glitches that Microsoft and Windows users bumped into pinch nan 2024 edition. Almost from nan get-go, Windows 11 24H2 was saddled pinch 1 problem aft another. And successful trying to hole 1 group of bugs done its monthly updates, Microsoft often introduced yet much bugs. After yet resolving astir of nan issues, nan 2024 type is now comparatively stable, though it took much clip and effort than it should have.

How to get Windows 11 25H2

If you want to snag nan 2025 update, you person a fewer options. First, make judge you've updated your Windows 11 PC to nan 24H2 version. Then caput to Settings, prime Windows Update, and move connected nan move to get nan latest updates arsenic soon arsenic they're available. Click nan fastener to cheque for updates. If nan 25H2 spirit is disposable for your PC, you tin download and instal it.

Also: How to clear your Windows 11 PC cache (and why it makes specified a large difference)

However, since this is simply a gradual rollout, nan update whitethorn not yet coming itself to you. In that case, you tin either hold until it does popular up, aliases you tin manually drawback it. For that, browse to Microsoft's Download Windows 11 page. This page gives you 3 ways to instal nan update.

With nan Windows Installation Assistant, you're capable to instal nan update connected your existent PC. With nan Windows 11 Installation Media, you tin create a bootable USB aliases DVD pinch nan installation package to instal it connected a different PC. And pinch nan Windows 11 Disk Image, you tin make an ISO record that you tin tally anywhere. I typically opt for nan ISO record arsenic it's nan quickest and simplest method.

Also: This free instrumentality installs Windows 11 connected unsupported PCs - without immoderate bloatware

After nan installation, your PC will reboot. Sign backmost in. Go to Settings, prime System, and past click About. Scroll down to nan Windows specifications section, and you should spot 25H2 listed arsenic nan version.

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