What is new in Windows Server 2025
Check its advanced features and innovations
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Find information on known issues and the servicing status for Windows Server 2025. For immediate help with Windows update issues, click here if you are using a Windows device to open the Get Help app or go to support.microsoft.com. Follow @WindowsUpdate on X for Windows release health updates. If you are an IT administrator and want to programmatically get information from this page, use the Windows Updates API in Microsoft Graph.
Current status as of November 6, 2024
Windows Server 2025 is now generally available. It delivers security advancements and new hybrid cloud capabilities in a high performing, AI-capable platform. Windows Server 2025 is Microsoft’s latest Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release for Windows Server. To download a free 180-day evaluation, visit the Microsoft Evaluation Center.
Windows Server 2025 is offered as an Optional update for Windows Server 2022 and Window Server 2019 devices, if organizations want to do an in-place upgrade. We recommend you use these methods to deploy Windows Server feature updates as Windows Server 2025 is not automatically installed.
To learn more about Windows Server’s Lifecycle Policy, see the Windows Server 2025 lifecycle article.
- Get Windows Server known issues in Graph API
Data is available for supported Windows Server versions
Known issues
See open issues, content updated in the last 30 days, and information on safeguard holds. To find a specific issue, use the search function on your browser (CTRL + F for Microsoft Edge).
| Summary | Originating update | Status | Last updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Some Azure Virtual Machines with Trusted Launch disabled might fail to start This impacts a small subset of Gen 2 VMs on specific SKUs with VBS enabled after installing the July security update. | OS Build 26100.4652 KB5062553 2025-07-08 | Resolved KB5064489 | 2025-07-13 15:47 PT |
| Issues occur when using Microsoft Changjie Input Method Only devices using Traditional Chinese are affected. Reverting to the previous IME version prevents the issue. | OS Build 26100.4652 KB5062553 2025-07-08 | Confirmed | 2025-07-11 09:14 PT |
| Windows Server 2022 and Server 2019 unexpectedly upgraded to Windows Server 2025 This issue has been mitigated. It was observed when updates were managed through some third-party applications. | N/A | Mitigated | 2024-11-13 17:15 PT |
Issue details
July 2025
Some Azure Virtual Machines with Trusted Launch disabled might fail to start
| Status | Originating update | History |
|---|---|---|
| Resolved KB5064489 | OS Build 26100.4652 KB5062553 2025-07-08 | Resolved: 2025-07-13, 14:00 PT Opened: 2025-07-11, 00:18 PT |
A small subset of Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) running Windows Server 2025 or Windows 11, version 24H2, with Trusted Launch disabled, and Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) enforced via registry key might fail to boot after installing the July Windows security update (KB5062553).
To check if your virtual machine might be impacted:
- Check if your VM is created as “Standard”.
- Check if VBS is enabled. Open System Information (msinfo32.exe) and confirm that Virtualization-based security is running and that the Hyper-V role is not installed in the VM.
Resolution: This issue was resolved in the out-of-band (OOB) update KB5064489, which is available via the Microsoft Update Catalog. If your virtual machine configuration is impacted by this issue, we recommend installing this out-of-band update instead of KB5062553.
Administrators can receive updated VM images for all editions of Windows Server 2025, including hotpatch editions. The new media is documented in the article, Windows Server images for July 2025.
Note: You can also prevent this issue by enabling Trusted Launch. Trusted Launch is required for Virtual Machines running Windows 11.
Affected platforms:
- Client: Windows 11, version 24H2
- Server: Windows Server 2025
Issues occur when using Microsoft Changjie Input Method
| Status | Originating update | History |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmed | OS Build 26100.4652 KB5062553 2025-07-08 | Last updated: 2025-07-11, 09:14 PT Opened: 2025-07-11, 08:52 PT |
Following installation of the July 2025 Windows security updates (KB5062553), there might be issues when using the Microsoft Changjie IME (input method editor) for Traditional Chinese.
This issue only affects devices where Traditional Chinese is a preferred or common language or input method, and specifically where Changjie IME is used. Reported symptoms include:
- inability to form or select words after typing the full composition (associate phrase window)
- spacebar or blank key not responding
- incorrect or distorted word outputs
- the conversion candidate window fails to display properly
Microsoft Changjie is an IME that is included in Windows and available in currently supported versions.
Workaround: Windows IME supports a compatibility setting that allows using the previous version of an IME instead. Employing this option should help resolve this issue.
To revert to old version of the Microsoft Changjie IME, follow these steps:
- Open the Language & region setting. This can be accomplished by opening the Settings app, selecting Time & Language, then Language & Regions. You can also open the start menu and type "language" and select the top result.
- If Traditional Chinese is used on this device, the Chinese (Traditional) option will appear near the top. Select the three dots next to Chinese (Traditional) to open a menu and select Language Options.
- Under Keyboards, select the three dots next to Microsoft Changjie and select Keyboard Options from the menu.
- Under Compatibility, set the "Use previous version of Microsoft Changjie" option to On. Then select OK.
Next steps: We are working on a resolution and will provide more information when it is available.
Affected platforms:
- Client: Windows 11, version 24H2; Windows 11, version 23H2; Windows 11, version 22H2; Windows 10, version 22H2; Windows 10, version 1809; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2016; Windows 10, version 1607
- Server: Windows Server 2025; Windows Server 2022; Windows Server, version 1809; Windows Server 2016
November 2024
Windows Server 2022 and Server 2019 unexpectedly upgraded to Windows Server 2025
| Status | Originating update | History |
|---|---|---|
| Mitigated | N/A | Last updated: 2024-11-13, 17:15 PT Opened: 2024-11-09, 12:16 PT |
Windows Server 2025 is intended to be offered as an Optional upgrade in Windows Update settings for devices running Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server 2022. Two scenarios were observed in certain environments:
- Some devices upgraded automatically to Windows Server 2025 (KB5044284). This was observed in environments that use third-party products to manage the update of clients and servers. Please verify whether third-party update software in your environment is configured not to deploy feature updates. This scenario has been mitigated.
- An upgrade to Windows Server 2025 was offered via a message in a banner displayed on the device’s Windows Update page, under Settings. This message is intended for organizations that want to execute an in-place upgrade. This scenario has already been resolved.
The Windows Server 2025 feature update was released as an Optional update under the Upgrade Classification: “DeploymentAction=OptionalInstallation”. Feature update metadata must be interpreted as Optional and not Recommended by patch management tools.
We advise organizations to use Microsoft-recommended methods to deploy Windows Server feature updates.
Next steps: Microsoft is working with third-party providers to streamline best practices and recommended procedures. As an interim measure, Microsoft has also temporarily paused the upgrade offer via the Windows Update settings panel. We estimate it will be available in the first half of 2025. All other upgrading methods to install Windows Server 2025 are still available through the usual channels.
Once the offer via Windows Update resumes, IT administrators will be able to control the feature update offer banner by setting the target version to “hold” in the Group Policy “Select the target Feature Update version.” To learn how to manage feature updates via this group policy, see Manage Feature Updates with Group Policy on Windows Server.
Note: The Windows Server 2025 feature update was made available on November 1, 2024, as KB5044284, which was the same KB number used for Windows 11, version 24H2. This is the KB numbering for both client and server Windows updates. Future updates released for Windows Server 2025 and Windows 11, version 24H2 will share the same KB numbers, but will have different release note sites and links.
Affected platforms:
- Client: None
- Server: Windows Server 2025; Windows Server 2022; Windows Server 2019
Report a problem with Windows updates
To report an issue to Microsoft at any time, use the Feedback Hub app. To learn more, see Send feedback to Microsoft with the Feedback Hub app.
Need help with Windows updates?
Search, browse, or ask a question on the Microsoft Support Community. If you are an IT pro supporting an organization, visit Windows release health on the Microsoft 365 admin center for additional details.
For direct help with your home PC, use the Get Help app in Windows or contact Microsoft Support. Organizations can request immediate support through Support for business.
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