Introduction
Windows 11 version 25H2 is the annual feature update Microsoft released in the second half of 2025, also called the Windows 11 2025 Update. For many home users, the most useful fact is the least dramatic one. If a PC already runs Windows 11 version 24H2 and is fully updated, the move to 25H2 is usually a small switch, not a full reinstall.
This article explains what 25H2 is, when it arrived, how long it is supported, what changed, and how to install it. It uses Microsoft’s release information and what’s new page as the main sources.
What is Windows 11 version 25H2?
Windows 11 version 25H2 is the 2025 annual feature update for Windows 11, with OS build 26200. Microsoft describes it as a feature update that includes all features and fixes from previous cumulative updates to Windows 11 version 24H2. It is also called the Windows 11 2025 Update.
The name follows Microsoft’s version pattern. The number 25 stands for 2025, and H2 stands for the second half of that year. Microsoft releases a Windows 11 feature update once a year in the second half of the calendar year, and the version number also sets the support clock. A PC on 25H2 is on a newer support line than a PC on 24H2, even when visible changes are small. The desktop, Start menu, and taskbar do not get a new look in 25H2 itself. The changes are in support dates, in features already arriving through monthly updates, and in a small set of removals and management controls.
When was 25H2 released, and how long is it supported?
Microsoft lists Windows 11 version 25H2 in the General Availability Channel with an availability date of September 30, 2025, and OS build 26200. Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations editions of 25H2 receive updates until October 12, 2027. Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise, and Enterprise multi-session editions receive updates until October 10, 2028.
That support split is the same pattern Microsoft uses for other Windows 11 feature updates. Home and Pro family editions get 24 months of support from the release date, and Enterprise and Education editions get 36 months. The table also shows why timing matters in late 2026. Microsoft lists Windows 11 version 24H2 Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations as at end of updates, while 24H2 Enterprise and Education editions remain supported until October 12, 2027. A home or Pro PC still on 24H2 in late 2026 therefore no longer receives monthly security updates for those editions. The support period runs from the release date.
How does the enablement package work?
Devices updating from Windows 11 version 24H2 use an enablement package, which Microsoft describes as a small, quick to install switch that activates the Windows 11 version 25H2 features. Most files for 25H2 already exist on an updated 24H2 PC after a recent monthly security update.
The enablement package works because 24H2 and 25H2 share a servicing branch. Microsoft stages new features inside regular cumulative updates, and some of those features sit in an inactive and dormant state on managed devices because they are under temporary enterprise feature control. When the enablement package is installed, it turns on the 25H2 features and changes the version identity to 25H2. A single restart completes the switch in the usual case for an eligible 24H2 PC. The Windows Insider Blog post that released 25H2 to the Release Preview Channel on August 29, 2025, gives the preview build at that time as Build 26200.5074. The enablement package does not change the hardware requirements.
What changed from 24H2 to 25H2?
The change from 24H2 to 25H2 is mostly about support, servicing, and features that carried forward, rather than a new interface or a large set of features only 25H2 owners can see. Microsoft states that 25H2 includes all features and fixes from previous 24H2 cumulative updates.
That wording is important for readers who expect a long list of new buttons. Many features that people associate with 25H2, such as improved Windows search on Copilot+ PCs, Click to Do, and the agent in Settings, reached 24H2 through monthly updates first. On managed devices, some of those features were held back by temporary enterprise feature control, and 25H2 ends that temporary control for the listed features. The version number in Settings changes, the support end date moves, and features that were already present stay present. The update also includes feature removals. Microsoft lists PowerShell 2.0 and Windows Management Instrumentation command line, known as WMIC, as removals in 25H2. For businesses, 25H2 adds a policy to remove preinstalled Store apps from Enterprise and Education editions.
What Copilot+ PC features carry into 25H2?
Copilot+ PCs are a class of Windows 11 AI PCs with a neural processing unit that Microsoft says can perform more than 40 trillion operations per second. The features in this section are unique to Copilot+ PCs, and they carried into 25H2 from the continuous innovation updates that reached 24H2 during the previous year.
Click to Do identifies text and images on the screen so a user can act on them, such as summarizing text or working with an image. Recall, in preview, lets a user search locally saved and locally analyzed snapshots of the screen using natural language. Microsoft states that Recall is disabled and removed by default on managed devices. Improved Windows search on Copilot+ PCs adds semantic indexing alongside traditional indexing, so items that are close and related to the search terms can also appear in results. The agent in Settings uses on device AI to help a user find and change settings, and it can also help with troubleshooting by giving recommendations and automating tasks based on the input. Microsoft also lists features unique to Copilot+ PCs starting in 24H2, including live captions, Windows Studio Effects, Cocreator, Auto Super Resolution, and Photos image tools. Microsoft’s specifications page states that a Copilot+ PC needs a processor with a neural processing unit capable of 40 or more trillion operations per second, 16 GB of DDR5 or LPDDR5 memory, and a 256 GB SSD or UFS storage device, in addition to the base Windows 11 requirements.
What changed in File Explorer, search, and Settings?
File Explorer, search, and Settings received several practical changes that carried into 25H2. In File Explorer, AI actions appear on right click for images and documents, search improved on Copilot+ PCs, and Settings gained an AI agent and clearer privacy prompts.
Other File Explorer changes are smaller and easier to notice in daily use. The New Folder command appears on the context menu when a user right clicks items in the left pane. When the option to restore previous folder windows at logon is turned on, Windows restores all the previously open tabs in each File Explorer window. Archive extraction is faster when copying large numbers of files out of large 7z or rar archives. In Settings, the page for text and image generation shows the apps that have recently used on device generative AI models provided by Windows, and a user can choose which apps are permitted to use those technologies. When an app asks for location, camera, microphone, or other device capabilities, Windows shows a redesigned system dialog, the screen dims slightly, and the prompt appears at the center of the screen.
What changed for security, recovery, and management?
Security, recovery, and management changes in 25H2 are mostly about keeping a PC recoverable and easier to run in an organization, rather than about new consumer settings. Quick machine recovery lets Windows recover when a critical error prevents booting, and backup and wireless changes help organizations manage devices.
Windows Backup for Organizations reached general availability around the same period. It backs up and restores user settings and Microsoft Store apps, so a device refresh or a move to Windows 11 causes less disruption. Microsoft states that this feature is available for multiple versions of Windows 11, and that a backup from Windows 10 version 22H2 can be restored to a supported version of Windows 11. For wireless networks, 25H2 adds support for Wi-Fi 7 enterprise access points. That support needs Wi-Fi 7 capable hardware, drivers, and access points. For taskbar management, administrators no longer need to restart explorer.exe to apply a pinning policy. Energy Saver settings can also be managed through group policies and mobile device management with Microsoft Intune, which limits background activity and dims the screen to extend battery life.
What are the system requirements, and which PCs get it?
Windows 11 version 25H2 uses the same base system requirements as Windows 11. Microsoft lists a 1 GHz processor with 2 cores or more, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI with Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, DirectX 12 graphics, and a 720p display larger than 9 inches.
Those minimums are the floor, not a promise that every feature will run well. A PC that meets the minimums can run Windows 11, but Copilot+ PC features need the separate hardware listed earlier, including a neural processing unit at 40 or more trillion operations per second, 16 GB of memory, and 256 GB of storage. A PC that already runs Windows 11 version 24H2 and is eligible is the clearest candidate for 25H2, because the enablement package path applies to that PC. A PC on Windows 11 version 23H2 or on Windows 10 needs a different path. Microsoft states that Windows 10 devices can be upgraded to Windows 11 version 25H2 using the same familiar processes, policies, and management solutions that were used to deploy Windows 10, but that path is a full upgrade, not an enablement package switch. A PC that does not meet the Windows 11 minimum requirements is not made eligible by 25H2. For managed PCs, availability also depends on the update channel. For managed PCs, 25H2 through Windows Server Update Services was available from October 14, 2025.
How do you check for and install 25H2?
To check for Windows 11 version 25H2, open Settings, select Windows Update, and select Check for updates. If the feature update is offered for the PC, select Download and install, then restart the PC when asked to finish the switch.
Before installing, check the current version first. Open Settings, select System, then About, and read the version and OS build. A PC on version 24H2 with OS build 26100 is on the path where the enablement package applies. A PC on version 25H2 with OS build 26200 is already on 25H2, and later monthly updates will keep it on 25H2 until a newer feature update is installed. If the PC is managed by an organization or a school, check with the administrator before installing, because managed PCs may receive updates through Windows Update client policies or Windows Server Update Services, and the administrator may control the timing. After the restart, open Settings, select System, then About again, and confirm that the version reads 25H2 and the OS build starts with 26200. Then check Windows Update once more.
What should you do if 25H2 does not appear, and what has not changed?
If Windows 11 version 25H2 does not appear in Windows Update, install any waiting monthly updates and check again. Microsoft rolls feature updates out in stages, and it can hold an update for a PC when it detects a driver or app compatibility issue.
A PC that is already fully updated on 24H2 but still does not see 25H2 may be waiting for a later stage of the rollout, or it may be managed by an organization that has not yet made the update available. A PC on an older version, such as 23H2, will not see 25H2 as a small switch, because the enablement package path starts from 24H2. That PC needs the full upgrade path to a supported version. The Windows 11 desktop, Start menu, and taskbar keep the same basic design. The minimum system requirements stay the same. Monthly security updates still arrive on the second Tuesday of each month, and they are still cumulative. A newer annual version, Windows 11 version 26H2, reached general availability on September 29, 2026, according to Microsoft’s release information, so 25H2 is no longer the newest annual version. It remains a supported choice, with Home and Pro updates until October 12, 2027, and Enterprise and Education updates until October 10, 2028.
Is Windows 11 25H2 a full reinstall?
No, not for an eligible PC that already runs Windows 11 version 24H2. That PC uses an enablement package, which Microsoft describes as a small, quick to install switch. A PC on an older version needs a full upgrade path instead.
Is the update free for eligible PCs?
Yes, for a PC that already has a licensed copy of Windows 11 and is eligible for the update, the feature update itself is delivered through Windows Update without a separate purchase. Some related features, such as Microsoft 365 AI actions, need their own subscription or license.
Will my files and apps stay after the update?
The enablement package path is designed to keep files and apps in place, and a restart is the main interruption. A backup is still good practice before any feature update, because a driver or app problem after an update is easier to handle when a backup exists.
Do I need a Copilot+ PC to use 25H2?
No. Any PC that meets the Windows 11 requirements and is eligible can run 25H2. A Copilot+ PC is only needed for the Copilot+ PC features, such as Recall in preview, Click to Do, improved Windows search with semantic indexing, and the agent in Settings.
What happens if I stay on Windows 11 24H2 Home or Pro?
Microsoft lists Windows 11 version 24H2 Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations as at end of updates. Those editions no longer receive monthly security updates on 24H2, so staying on 24H2 leaves those PCs without new security fixes for that version. Moving to 25H2 or a later supported version restores monthly update coverage.
How do I check which Windows version I have?
Open Settings, select System, then About, and read the version and OS build. Version 24H2 uses OS build 26100, and version 25H2 uses OS build 26200. A second check is to press the Windows key and R together, type winver, and press Enter.
Is 25H2 still a supported choice now that 26H2 exists?
Yes. Microsoft lists Windows 11 version 26H2 as generally available from September 29, 2026, but 25H2 remains supported. Home and Pro editions of 25H2 receive updates until October 12, 2027, and Enterprise and Education editions receive updates until October 10, 2028.
References
- Microsoft Learn, What’s new in Windows 11, version 25H2: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/whats-new-windows-11-version-25h2
- Microsoft Learn, Windows 11 release information: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/windows11-release-information
- Windows Insider Blog, Releasing Windows 11, version 25H2 to the Release Preview Channel: https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/08/29/releasing-windows-11-version-25h2-to-the-release-preview-channel/
- Microsoft, Windows 11 Specs and System Requirements: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications?r=1
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