Windows 11 25H2 Is Coming—A Small Update With Smart Tweaks
Microsoft has officially confirmed that the next version of Windows will be Windows 11 25H2, and it’s set to arrive later this year as a relatively minor update. While it won’t introduce sweeping changes like the troubled 24H2 release, Microsoft says 25H2 will still bring some useful refinements to the operating system, much like the more stable 23H2 version.
One of the most noticeable changes will be a redesigned Start menu. The new grid-based layout will let users organize their apps into customizable categories, such as games, creative tools, or social media. However, the grouped categories will only appear if there are enough apps in each one to justify it, helping to keep the layout clean and purposeful.
Power efficiency is also on Microsoft’s radar for 25H2. A new CPU throttling feature will kick in when the system is idle or left unattended for long periods, aiming to reduce energy consumption and extend battery life—a welcome addition for laptop users.
Windows 11 Insiders in the Canary Channel are already testing early builds of 25H2. After some initial stability problems led to a temporary pause in development, Microsoft appears to have resolved the major bugs. The update process itself is expected to be smoother than in previous cycles, requiring just one system reboot. However, users may still need to install 24H2 before moving on to 25H2.
While it may be small in size—just around 1MB—25H2 isn’t without purpose. Microsoft says it’s intentionally keeping expectations in check by not branding this as a full feature update. It’s also a way to return to stability after the 24H2 rollout caused widespread issues that needed emergency patches and rollout pauses.
The update is expected to land around October 2025, the same period when Windows 10 support was originally set to end. However, Microsoft recently extended free Windows 10 security updates for an additional year, though with caveats still to be clarified.
