Microsoft confirms Windows 11 version 25H2 will have no new features — it actually removes some, and will be available soon

Windows 11 version 25H2 is now available in the Release Preview Channel, which is the last stop before general availability. It also confirms the update includes no new features over version 24H2.

Windows 11 version 25H2 is almost here. Microsoft is finally testing it in the Windows Insider Release Preview Channel, which is usually the last stop before an update is made generally available to the public. With 25H2 now in Release Preview testing, the company has also confirmed that the update will include no new features at launch and will share feature parity with version 24H2 for the foreseeable future.

"Windows 11, version 24H2 and version 25H2 use a shared servicing branch. [This] means that they also share the same new features and enhancements delivered through our continuous innovation efforts" says a Microsoft blog post announcing the availability of the update in the Release Preview Channel. This confirms that 25H2 will not introduce any exclusive new features that aren't already available on version 24H2.

Interestingly, version 25H2 does remove a couple of features. PowerShell 2.0 and Windows Management Instrumentation command-line (WMIC) are no longer available when upgrading to the 25H2 release. These features are likely not in use by many people, so their omission is unlikely to be impactful to most people.

With Windows 11 version 25H2 sharing the same platform release and servicing stack as version 24H2, users who upgrade to it from 24H2 will experience a much faster download and install experience. The update should only require a single restart once it's ready to install, and the reboot process will only take a few minutes. This is because 25H2 is delivered as an enablement package, and not a full-blown OS upgrade.

There are also benefits from a compatibility perspective, too. There should be zero compatibility issues or concerns between version 24H2 and 25H2, meaning all your apps and games should work with no problems when upgrading to the newest version. Ultimately, even though there are no new features, the company has made updating to 25H2 as smooth as possible.