Microsoft's Windows 11 25H2 update is officially coming, and if you were expecting a major OS upgrade or new features as with its 24H2 update, you may be sorely disappointed.
Announced in a blog post, Microsoft has released Windows 11 version 25H2 in the Release Preview Channel, meaning it'll be available on general release to all users very soon. However, the tech giant isn't bringing any new features with the update. In fact, it's removing some.
With Windows 11 25H2, Microsoft will use a shared servicing branch with version 24H2, meaning they will "share the same new features and enhancements." While sharing the same platform makes upgrading to 25H2 a faster process, there won't be any fresh features to note — seeing as it will be "delivered as an enablement package" rather than a big OS overhaul.
Microsoft also states it's removing two features in the next update, including PowerShell 2.0 (a command-line shell) and Windows Management Instrumentation command-line (WMIC). If you're an everyday user, you won't hugely miss this, but if you're a power user, you might not be scrambling to install the update.
At the very least, the shared platform between 25H2 and 24H2 means you can expect minimal changes to apps, settings and more when making the update, which should make for a hassle-free move to the next version. Plus, it's likely that version 24H2 will still be supported and get upcoming features, as with 25H2.
Windows 11 25H2 should be available to all users this fall, sometime in late September or October. However, it's available to try now for those in the Windows Insider Release Preview Channel, too. That said, without any big features to try out, I can imagine most of you won't be rushing to get the update.
More features down the line
This doesn't mean more features won't be coming down the line, as Microsoft often releases major updates to its OS throughout the year.
That includes the recent Windows 11 AI features that arrived earlier this summer. It included a new AI agent in Windows Settings that allows users to find and change settings by describing what they need, a Relight feature in the Photos app to adjust lighting with just a click, more tools in Click To Do and a perfect screenshot feature in the Snipping Tool.
More features are sure to come down the line for version 25H2, but it's not the big update with new features we've come to usually expect. Perhaps Microsoft is saving major features for its rumored Windows 12 update, but only time will tell what this OS will deliver.
In the meantime, Microsoft will likely be putting focus on shifting users to Windows 11, as Windows 10 will die this fall.
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