Wednesday, October 1st 2025
Microsoft Releases Windows 11 25H2... With Zero New Features?
Microsoft has officially released Windows 11 version 25H2 after months of testing and previews. Delivered as a lightweight enablement package (eKB), 25H2 update is not a complete OS replacement but a light switch that turns on feature code already present on machines running 24H2. Microsoft stages new features inside regular cumulative updates in a disabled state. When the eKB is installed, it flips those flags, and a single restart activates the features, upgrading the device to 25H2 with minimal downtime. Because 24H2 and 25H2 share a servicing branch, they utilize the same codebase and servicing pipeline, which provides annual feature updates with the same efficiency and reliability as monthly updates. That helps reduce package size and installation time, making the transition from 24H2 to 25H2 about as easy as rebooting. The only difference between 25H2 and 24H2 is the support duration. For example, 25H2 Enterprise and Education Windows 11 versions move to a 36-month cycle, while Pro editions follow a 24-month cycle, typical for all Windows 11 24H2 builds.
With the 25H2 update, Microsoft is not focusing on significant under-the-hood changes or a visual overhaul, which were common in previous updates. Instead, the emphasis is primarily on security improvements. For instance, Microsoft is removing features like PowerShell 2.0 and Windows Management Instrumentation command-line (WMIC) during installation. These features were previously deprecated due to vulnerabilities to security exploits. Additionally, IT administrators now have the ability to remove pre-installed Microsoft default apps using Group Policy/MDM CSP on Enterprise and EDU devices.
If you want 25H2 right away, flip on "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" in Windows Update to move your PC earlier in the staged rollout, but keep in mind Microsoft can delay the update for devices with detected issues (like driver or app incompatibilities) until those are fixed, so it still might not show up immediately. If you'd rather upgrade straight from 24H2 to 25H2, download the enablement package that matches your system architecture from Microsoft's website.
Source:
Windows Blog
With the 25H2 update, Microsoft is not focusing on significant under-the-hood changes or a visual overhaul, which were common in previous updates. Instead, the emphasis is primarily on security improvements. For instance, Microsoft is removing features like PowerShell 2.0 and Windows Management Instrumentation command-line (WMIC) during installation. These features were previously deprecated due to vulnerabilities to security exploits. Additionally, IT administrators now have the ability to remove pre-installed Microsoft default apps using Group Policy/MDM CSP on Enterprise and EDU devices.
122 Comments on Microsoft Releases Windows 11 25H2... With Zero New Features?
So I typically look at sites like BleepingComputer, WindowsLatest, Windows Central, TheRegister, etc. which all target IT professionals and just forget about crawling into the Reddit rabbit hole. Those news sources do the sleuthing for me. But feel free to dive into the Reddit muck if you want to chew up your time.
As I've mentioned before, I won't install Patch Tuesday updates the day they are released. I generally wait until the following week. Unsurprisingly, the October 2025 Patch Tuesday files have a number of problems. The borking of localhost is now well known but also is disabled keyboard-and-mouse input in WinRE as confirmed by Microsoft:
www.windowslatest.com/2025/10/18/microsoft-confirms-windows-11-october-2025-update-breaks-winre-recovery-input/
Every single Patch Tuesday feels like yet another round of Russian Roulette. At least Microsoft shows some consistency this way.
:p
If Patch Tuesday updates weren't security related, there is no way in hell I'd ever install any of them. As for October 2025, what do I do? Wreck Window Recovery Environment until Microsoft gets around to fixing it? Wait until the November 2025 Cumulative Preview and risk wrecking more? Decisions, decisions...
And Friend had the same problem with deep rock galactic, after update the game was not running on older version of windows 10 -.-
That said, I stumbled onto that sub reddit a few yeas ago and it has proven to be the exception, for me anyway. No triage necessary, again, for me anyway. It's just a bunch of admins giving feedback on the current patch cycle. Mostly server but client as well.
Each to their own I suppose on where they find useful info.
Windows 11 23H2 was the last build to support, Final Fantasy XV & Enemy Front game. Windows 11 24H2-25H2, does not support those games and may be more.
I did not test Windows 11 26H2 or up.
But Windows is getting more bloated, ai crap, slower and unnecessarily complex (Example:- Context Menu from Win10 to Win11). WinSlop!!!!!:kookoo:
Straightforward is ok, but what I mean is what is inside Windows (Core center). Windows runs many unnecessary services and surveillances. Which adds lag, latency and security concerns.
But Windows is still the only Straightforward option for Gamer and most of the user. LINUX is getting better. If Microsoft does not address and solve this and other common problem, then LINUX will love to embrace Gamer/programmer or even mid exp. user like me in future.I have read something positive about 26H1/26H2. MS has listened to user in some common problems. Don't know how much...... ;)
Thus far every new version of Win11 has been better than the last. Im talking about the major H2 versions.
Security options have also been expanded. Bloatware has gotten worse, but these updates have not come trough the H2, but rather the monthly updates and can easily be disabled. Overall performance has improved if you disable the bloatware.Why is that?
I see no reason why a game that ran on 23H2 would not run on 24H2 or newer.
Back in the day people were able to get DX10 games to run on XP despite the fact that XP did not have DX10 support.
These days everything supports DX12 and as far as i know there were no requirement changes in 24H2 that made older games incompatible.26H1 is exclusive to ARM based devices like the Qualcomm based laptops. Not for everyone.
26H2 has not yet released and it wont until October of this year probably.
It seems it's possible to install this on existing older hardware, but it seems like it's not really meant for that.
So unless you're doing a clean install and specifically need one of the new features (what few there are) then there's little point in hunting it down.
It's build number 28000 indicates that it's an experimental/dev version where as 26H2 will follow the standard 26300 build numbering.
I remember in january 2020 or something a W10 update broke Total War WH2 as well, like that, and a few months later that problem had vanished, after CA updated the game. I doubt there's even a real technical reason for it, ever.
This guy seems to feel it's better than 25H2 on all hardware.
www.elevenforum.com/t/kb5089548-windows-11-cumulative-update-build-28000-2113-26h1-may-12.46766/post-740432
There are a couple of glitches that do not exist in 25H2, the most glaring being that with the Edge browser removed, accessing the Background menu in the Personalization settings takes over 30 seconds to load, meaning the settings app is trying to access or load something that it can't find and just hangs until the error times out. The other glitch that stands out is that the Management Console also hangs for a few seconds when opening.
Other than that, 26H1 is ok. Still clearly needs more time in the oven.
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24H2 and all future updates may add some improvement to gaming performance (Mainly AMD Ryzen branch prediction). It will be absolutely worth it.
_Agreed 👍
Security options have also been expanded. Bloatware has gotten worse, but these updates have not come trough the H2, but rather the monthly updates and can easily be disabled.
_Agreed partially 👍
Overall performance has improved if I disable the bloatware.
That's the catch... :banghead:
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Why is that?
Because some major updates breaks some program compatibility, like Final Fantasy XV, Enemy Front & other games or software. :banghead:
Back in the day people were able to get DX10 games to run on XP despite the fact that XP did not have DX10 support.
Proper backward compatibility is present in most of the OS< but not 100%. :roll:
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26H1 is exclusive to ARM based devices like the Qualcomm based laptops. Not for everyone.
_Agreed partially 👍
26H2 and up will add most of 26H1 feature.