- If you’re upgrading from Windows 11 24H2, you won’t notice any new features in version 25H2, because they’re the same operating system.
- Currently, the only difference is that on Windows 11 25H2, devices will be supported until October 2027.
Windows 11 25H2 (2025 Update) is referred to as the fourth feature update for the operating system, which is expected to start officially rolling out to compatible devices on October 14, 2025, and since the update has already been finalized, many users who are now testing the final version have found out that this new version doesn’t include new features.
Why Windows 11 25H2 has no new features
The reason why Windows 11 25H2 doesn’t have any new features is that this version is virtually identical to version 24H2. Therefore, it doesn’t introduce any new features or significant changes compared to Windows 11 24H2, since they both share the same file system and servicing branch.
Initially, there is no difference between the two versions. However, this doesn’t mean that your computer didn’t receive any new features in 2025. Actually, all the new features planned for this year have already been incorporated through cumulative updates throughout the year.
Features shipped through cumulative updates in 2025
If you have been paying attention, in previous years, cumulative updates didn’t include new features. However, in 2025, virtually every update introduced a new feature or improvement. This means that, technically, we have been getting incremental updates of the new version throughout the year.
This is one way Microsoft is using to avoid users having to go through the upgrade process, minimize issues, and speed up the adoption of new features and improvements.
When full upgrades are still required
However, this doesn’t mean that upgrades will no longer be necessary. If the company has to introduce a new core system, then a complete reinstallation will be required. The last time we saw this was with the release of version 24H2, which required an operating system swap coming from version 23H2.
Shared features between 24H2 and 25H2
As a result of how the company handles changes to the operating system, any new designs created for 25H2 will also be available for version 24H2, at least for the foreseeable future.
If you also notice, since both operating systems are the same, the company has been releasing the same improvements for both the Beta and Dev Channels. While these channels have different build numbers, the knowledge base (KB) numbers are the same.
Enablement package upgrade path
Since there is no difference between these versions, the upgrade process only requires an enablement package (eKB) that installs as a regular monthly update to change the version number from 24H2 to 25H2 and renew the support until 2027.
If you’re coming from version 23H2 or an older release or from Windows 10, then the upgrade will require reinstallation, and you’ll see that version 25H2 comes with many new features and changes.
Finally, the release date is my estimate based on previous releases, and because the company is already testing the first cumulative update for this version, which should be released alongside all the other updates on the second Tuesday of October.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of Pureinfotech in 2010. With over 22 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.
Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.
Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.
You can follow him on YouTube, Threads, BlueSky, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].