Microsoft Gives All Eligible PCs the Green Light for Windows 11 25H2
Following the end of support for Windows 10, Microsoft is making a concerted effort to move its vast user base onto its modern platform.
The new feature update, Windows 11, version 25H2, is now available for download and installation for all PCs that meet the necessary hardware requirements for Windows 11.
For users running Windows 10 or an earlier version of Windows 11, the upgrade can be initiated manually. Microsoft states, “If you have an eligible Windows 10 or Windows 11 device, you can check if the update is available by selecting Settings > Windows Update and selecting Check for updates.” If your machine is ready, you will see the option to download and install Windows 11, version 25H2, directly.
A key factor in seeing the update is ensuring the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle is enabled in your Windows Update settings.
Automatic rollout for home users
In addition to the manual option, Microsoft has also begun a hands-off, intelligent rollout for certain users.
The company has confirmed it is using a machine learning-based approach to automatically upgrade a segment of its users. This “intelligent rollout” has started for devices running the “Home and Pro editions of Windows 11, version 24H2 that are not managed by IT departments.”
Microsoft explains that this process will be gradual, and these devices “will automatically receive the update to Windows 11, version 25H2 when they’re ready.” Crucially, this means the update will download in the background. Users will still maintain control over the final installation, with the choice to either restart their device to apply the update or postpone it.
Bugs still linger, but Microsoft says it’s working on fixes
The timing of this upgrade push comes during a wave of reported Windows issues. Neowin recently highlighted shell and UI glitches affecting Start, Taskbar, and File Explorer in some versions, especially on enterprise systems. Forbes also flagged warnings from Windows Latest, which reported that updates “can fail to install due to errors like 0x80070306” and may cause trouble for File Explorer dark mode and Intel Arc GPU drivers.
Neowin stresses that these issues “mainly affects certain enterprise systems,” though personal computers may still see side effects. Microsoft has acknowledged the problems and says it is “working on a resolution,” according to a Forbes report. No timeline has been given.
For affected home users, the fix depends on future cumulative patches. Managed business PCs will depend on IT support teams for guidance.
Why the sudden push now?
The bigger background is adoption — or lack of it. Forbes previously reported that up to 500 million devices capable of running Windows 11 have still not been upgraded. Many remain on Windows 10 even though support has ended.
This widespread hesitation comes from several factors, including reports of ongoing bugs and frustration over Microsoft’s increasing use of AI features inside Windows. But with Windows 10 now out of support, Microsoft is trying to unify users around a single, secure version of Windows 11, and 25H2 is now its new baseline.
Windows 11 version 25H2 itself is not a major overhaul. It’s essentially a small update that changes the version number and extends the support lifecycle by an additional year. It doesn’t bring big new features, but it resets the clock on device support, pushing the end date to Oct. 12, 2027.
This makes it a practical update for users who want longer support without switching to next year’s much larger 26H2 release.
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