The next Windows 11 Update won’t change much
Microsoft is putting the finishing touches on its next big Windows 11 update, version 25H2, and it’s just about ready to roll out. The final build (26200.6584) has already been uploaded to Microsoft’s servers, meaning PC makers can start preloading it on new devices. For everyone else, the release should arrive within the next couple of weeks, right in line with the late September or early October timeline.
Interestingly, 25H2 isn’t a feature-packed upgrade. Instead, it’s what Microsoft calls an enablement package, a small update that simply “switches on” features already included in Windows 11 version 24H2. In other words, most of what’s new in 25H2 is technically already on your machine if you’re running 24H2.
The biggest highlight is a redesigned Start menu, which ditches the “Recommended” section and trims the layout into a cleaner, single panel. But here’s the twist: this new Start menu isn’t exclusive to 25H2. Microsoft confirmed it’s also coming to 24H2 users through a phased rollout. In fact, depending on how updates land, 24H2 users might even see it before those on 25H2.
So what’s the point of upgrading? Beyond the refreshed support timeline (an extra year compared to 24H2), 25H2 may include small under-the-hood tweaks to stability and performance, though early tests haven’t shown any major speed boosts. Still, some refinements could make the interface smoother in daily use.
For now, the update is more about continuity than excitement. If you’re already on 24H2, you won’t be missing much, but if you prefer to stay on the latest branch with extended support, 25H2 will be worth installing once it rolls out.
