Windows 11 25H2 originally shipped as an “enablement package” on September 30th. That is, it is a minor release with no noticeable changes. Still, Microsoft has opted for a phased rollout and is now nearing the penultimate phase. From now on, Windows 11 25H2 will automatically start downloading on the “most eligible PCs”, but only on unmanaged ones.
Microsoft has secretly updated its documentation to confirm two things. First, Windows 11 version 25H2 now appears in Downloads and Installs when you toggle on Get the latest updates…
Previously, you wouldn't see this year's updates when you turned on the toggle, but now you'll only see a suggestion to install version 25H2, regardless of whether you're using Windows 10 or version 23H2.
I've already noticed this issue on Windows 10, and Microsoft recently confirmed that it will upgrade unsupported 23H2 PCs to 25H2. The 25H2 is now connected to the toggle.
But there's another part of Microsoft's updated documentation that most people aren't aware of. As reported by Windows Most, Microsoft says it has started using a “machine learning”-based approach to automatically upgrade PCs to version 25H2.
“A machine learning-based intelligent deployment has been initiated for devices running Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 version 24H2 that are not managed by IT departments,” Microsoft warned in updated documentation. “As part of a phased rollout, these devices will automatically receive updates to Windows 11 version 25H2 when they are ready.”
Now, some people may be confused by this expression. But Microsoft isn't talking about simply “offering” it like a regular download-and-install feature update. Instead, Windows Update silently downloads version 25H2 in the background and lets you decide whether to install the update or defer it.
“You don't need to do anything. You can choose to restart your device or postpone the update,” Microsoft confirmed.
Microsoft uses “machine learning” to identify the most eligible PCs, but don't worry, the company has been doing this for years, long before ChatGPT and Copilot.
This year's feature update is official
Windows 11 25H2 “Windows 11 2025 Update” is one of the releases that we recommend not to skip if you are using Windows 11 24H2. In our testing, version 25H2 is as small as 166 KB on modern Windows. Just invert the OS version or build number.
After installing the update, I noticed no visible changes. A new start menu? Or a colorful battery icon? There is also version 24H2. If you experience issues after installing Windows 11 25H2, the problem may be caused by one of the monthly cumulative updates released around the same time.
Windows 11 25H2 is essentially the same as 24H2, but it's important because it involves a lifecycle reset. Support for version 24H2 ends on October 13, 2026, while 25H2 will be supported until October 12, 2027.
Sure, it's the same release, but it'll be available for another year ahead of next year's big release, Windows 11 26H2. Microsoft is also preparing version 26H1 in the first half of this year, but it will only ship on ARM hardware such as Snapdragon X.
