Microsoft's next Windows 11 update is more 'enablement' than upgrade

If you didn't like 24H2, you're probably not going to like 25H2

Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 11 25H2 is almost here. However, the upgrade will be little more than an exercise in feature enablement since Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 share the same source code.

25H2 became available to Windows Insiders at the end of last week and will be this year's annual feature update.

Microsoft fans hoping for a Windows 12 to make the pain of Windows 11 24H2 go away will therefore be disappointed. Rather than a complete refresh, Windows 11 25H2 is effectively Windows 11 24H2, with additional features that Microsoft can turn on via an enablement package.

Jason Leznek, Principal Project Manager for Windows Servicing and Delivery, said: "Windows 11, version 24H2 and version 25H2 share the same source code, with only the additional features turned on.

"Therefore, there should be no impact on compatibility between the two. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't test, but you can focus your tests on the new features rather than a full complement of OS, application, or device compatibilities."

It's good to know that Microsoft has heard of testing, since Windows 11 24H2 has had its share of issues since its 2024 release. A glance at the Windows Release Health Dashboard shows that things have not gone well by Microsoft's own admission. The operating system has suffered a fair amount of problems, and the company slapped on compatibility holds when these related to software and hardware.

The good or bad news (depending on your experience) is that having the same code base means that everything which worked on Windows 11 24H2 will continue working on Windows 11 25H2, and everything that didn't, won't.

The release of Windows 11 25H2 to Insiders follows news that Microsoft plans to retire the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) which appeared on millions of devices during the the 2024 CrowdStrike fiasco, when a faulty update from the infosec vendor crashed Windows systems. Although the update was quickly withdrawn, the damage had already been done for many users.

The baleful blue will be replaced by a black "unexpected restart" screen, although the stop error code will still be visible at the bottom of the display. Quick machine recovery is to be added too, for when PCs cannot restart successfully, and, after the catastrophic CrowdStrike update, Microsoft is adding tools to allow antivirus and endpoint protection vendors to run their wares in user mode, outside the Windows kernel.

The BSoD replacement is due to roll out on Windows 11 24H2 devices over the summer (and so will also be a part of Windows 11 25H2). Meanwhile the Windows endpoint security platform, which will usher antivirus and endpoint protection vendors out of the Windows kernel, will arrive in private preview in July. ®