Microsoft Prepares Windows 11 25H2 Installation Media for Upcoming Public Rollout

Recent insights have confirmed that, as anticipated by Windows Latest, the forthcoming update for Windows 11, labeled 25H2, is set to be a minor release. The rollout is scheduled to commence in mid-October, although a limited release may begin as early as late September, contingent on the absence of critical bugs. Currently, this update is available in the Release Preview Channel, and Microsoft is poised to release installation media in ISO format shortly.

Microsoft has recently made a subtle update to its announcement from August 29 regarding Windows 11 25H2, indicating that the installation media will be provided soon. Although the arrival of the preview ISOs was initially expected in the first week of September, it appears that there has been a delay. Nevertheless, this should not impact the planned general release of the operating system.

In an update on September 4, 2025, Microsoft stated: “The ISOs for Windows 11, version 25H2 are delayed and coming soon, ” providing clarity on the status of the installation files.

While the ISO files will be considerable in size, following the pattern seen with version 24H2, users upgrading from an existing 24H2 installation will experience a seamless transition. This is primarily due to the light footprint of the 25H2 update, which is less than 5 MB when applied through Windows Update.

The update is delivered via an enablement package, containing an.ekb file, necessitating only a single restart to implement changes. Essentially, this upgrade activates previously dormant features included in version 24H2 and modifies the OS build numbers

Users might question the origins of these new features; they are embedded within previous monthly cumulative updates for Windows 11 24H2 but remain hidden until activated. Installing Windows 11 25H2 through Windows Update simply engages these features.

Microsoft elaborated that, “New features we develop for Windows 11, version 25H2, are part of the version 24H2 branch. When the new code is complete, we include it in the monthly LCUs for Windows 11, version 24H2, in a Disabled state.”This means that the upgrade to version 25H2 merely flips their status from Disabled to Enabled, unlocking all the enhancements.

Further updates will continue to emerge for both 24H2 and 25H2, given they share the same core framework. Notably, Microsoft has also successfully minimized the size of recent cumulative updates by 40%, enhancing the accessibility of new features in the coming months.

Exploring Windows 11 25H2 via the Release Preview Channel

If you’re interested in testing Windows 11 25H2, you can currently join the Release Preview Channel to gain access. Once the update transitions to general availability, users can easily opt out of the Insider Program while still receiving monthly cumulative updates without risking device warranty.

After several weeks of using Windows 11 2025 Update on my main device, I can affirm that it closely resembles version 24H2 in terms of functionality.

If your system is already running an updated version of Windows 11 24H2, the transition to Windows 11 25H2 will yield minimal discernible changes. This implies that any existing issues present in version 24H2 will persist in this update, effectively having no new features.

While the new Start menu that allows users to hide the Recommended feed will be available, this feature will also be rolled out in version 24H2 over the coming weeks, thus not maintaining exclusivity.

Interestingly, when inquiring about the exclusivity of the updated Start menu, Microsoft clarified that all modifications introduced in version 25H2, including power efficiency advancements, would be accessible to all users.

In addition, new colorful battery icons are integrated, a feature also set to arrive on Windows 11 24H2.

The key distinction remains that Windows 11 25H2 will come pre-equipped with these features, while users on 24H2 will experience a staggered rollout of the updates.

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