Microsoft changes Windows Update identifiers to make things clearer

Starting this month, certain Windows users will see more changes in Windows updates. Until now, Microsoft bundled Windows Server 2025 update identifiers (those long KB numbers) with Windows 11 version 24H2/25H2 identifiers, meaning there was technically one KB for three different Windows versions. For example, KB5072033 is the December 2025 security update for Windows Server 2025, Windows 11 version 25H2, and Windows 11 version 24H2. Next week, Microsoft will change that.

Release notes for the December 2025 security update for Windows Server 2025 reveal that Microsoft is about to move Windows Server 2025 to separate update identifiers. This move will make things clearer for administrators and make it easier to distinguish updates for consumer Windows versions from updates for server versions:

KB Identifier changes for Windows Server 2025 starting January 2026

 

Starting with the January 2026 security update, Windows Server 2025 will have its own KB identifiers. These identifiers are separate from those for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. This change improves clarity for administrators. Installation and management processes remain the same.

This month's security updates for all supported Windows versions, including Windows 10 in the Extended Security Updates program, are coming January 13. Therefore, expect to see separate KBs for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 (these are built on the same branch, hence identical KB identifiers) and Windows Server 2025.

New update identifiers for Windows Server 2025 join recently introduced changes for Windows Update. In October, Microsoft announced simplified update names in Windows 11, but in November, the company promised to undo some of those changes, as users claimed the company had gone a bit too far with simplification. As such, Windows Update now displays the update type, its date, KB identifier, and the build number.

Via Deskmodder

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Posted Sunday 11 January 2026 at 5:32 am AEST (my time).

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