Windows 11 25H2 update hits its last stop before release to the general public

Microsoft is on the brink of rolling out its latest update for Windows 11, as the Insider team has confirmed that the Windows 11 25H2 version has now moved into the Release Preview Channel. This marks the last step before the update becomes accessible to the wider public. This development comes approximately two months after the initial builds for the 25H2 update were released across various preview channels. The transition to the Release Preview Channel can be likened to the traditional 'release to manufacturing' phase from previous years, a time when updates were physically produced on media. The build numbers for this update begin with 26200, a shift from the 24H2 version, which had a starting build number of 26100. While the 25H2 update itself may not introduce a vast array of new features, it does reset the timeline for Microsoft's security updates, ensuring that this yearly release will receive two years of security support. Interestingly, Microsoft notes that the 24H2 and 25H2 updates share a common servicing branch, indicating minimal significant differences between them. The installation of the 25H2 update could enable certain features that were previously available on the 24H2 but turned off by default. Notably, the update will remove deprecated components like PowerShell 2.0 and the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line tool. Additionally, IT administrators will gain the ability to automatically uninstall certain preinstalled Windows apps from the Microsoft Store through Group Policy settings. However, Microsoft has not provided much information regarding any major new user-facing features exclusive to the 25H2 update, echoing the quieter nature of the 23H2 update from two years ago.