[German]Microsoft has released the final version of Windows 11 25H2 on September 30, 2025. It can be installed as an ISO file, via the Media Creation Tool (MCT), or via an Enablement Update. Additionally, the administrative templates for Windows 11 25H2 have been released to administrators. Here's an overview.
Windows 11 25H2: A small update
The new feature update (an upgrade) has been announced by Microsoft for Professionals via the tweet shown below. Microsoft announced the release for professionals in the following tweet. In the Tech Community post An IT pro's guide to Windows 11, version 25H2, Microsoft provides some hints about new (AI) features and deployment in companies. More details may be read here.
For Windows 11 24H2 owners, Windows 11 25H2 represents a "minor update." In other words, both versions use the same code base and receive the same updates. The advantage of Windows 11 25H2 over 24H2 is that the support period of 24 months for Home and Pro, and 36 months for the Education versions, restarts (see also Windows 11 25H2: ISO installation image and enablement update available).
Feature update KB5054156 to version 25H2
Microsoft is providing the so-called Enablement Update for migrating from Windows 11 24H2 to 25H2 as a "Feature Update to Windows 11 25H2" under KB5054156 . In the description, Microsoft reiterates that Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 share a common core operating system with identical system files.
Therefore, the new features in Windows 11, version 25H2, are included in the latest monthly quality update for Windows 11, version 24H2, but are in an inactive and dormant state. These new features remain dormant until activated via the "Enablement Package," a small, quickly installed "master switch" that enables the Windows 11, version 25H2 features.
The Enablement Update will be rolled out automatically via Windows Update on systems running Windows 11 24H2. However, the August 29, 2025 Preview Update – KB5064081 (OS Build 26100.5074) or a later cumulative update must be installed to install the Enablement Update.
Preview update KB5065789 for Windows 11 24H2/25H2
The list of updates for Windows 11 can be viewed on this Microsoft page. The preview update KB5065789 was released for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 on September 29th. I briefly added this information to the blog post Windows 10 22H2/Windows 11 23H2-25H2: Preview Updates (September 23/25/29, 2025).
ISO installation images for clean installations
Anyone who wants to update from Windows 11 23H2 or even from Windows 10 22H2 to Windows 11 25H2 or reinstall the operating system needs a full installation image.
Microsoft provides a corresponding download page for this purpose in Englisch for instance.
- The Windows 11 Installation Assistant option downloads a small program that checks the system's compatibility upon startup and then performs an operating system upgrade. The user is guided through the upgrade dialogs.
- The Create Windows 11 Installation Media option downloads the Media Creation Tool. After launching, this tool can download the ISO installation image from Microsoft's servers and then create a bootable USB stick as the installation media. The user is guided through the upgrade dialogs to create the installation media.
- The Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices option guides the user through several prompts (currently only x64, ARM will be available later) in which they must select the language, then to a dynamically generated download link for the ISO installation file, valid only for 24 hours.
An ISO installation file can be mounted under Windows. The Setup.exe file can then be run to attempt an in-place upgrade, where the new Windows 11 is installed over an existing Windows installation. This may preserve data and installed programs.
The ISO installation image can also be written to a bootable USB installation medium using tools such as Rufus or Ventoy. Reinstallations are then possible, although these tools can also circumvent compatibility checks set by Microsoft.
As far as I know, there is only a 64-bit version of Windows 11 25H2 (no 32-bit version). The ISO file is a whopping 7.2 GB in size. There has already been a discussion about this update size in this German comment and subsequent posts. The reason for this is the so-called CheckPoint updates introduced some time ago, which have already increased the size of cumulative updates to a whopping 4 GB.
Windows 11 25H2: Administrative Templates
Bolko pointed out (thanks) that Microsoft also offers the administrative templates for Group Policy that administrators in corporate environments need for management. The template files can be downloaded from this Microsoft page.
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Windows 11 25H2: ISO installation image and enablement update available
Windows 10 22H2/Windows 11 23H2-25H2: Preview Updates (September 23/25/29, 2025)
Windows 11 23H2 is now generally available – new "Checkpoint" updates announced
