Windows Server 2025 is the fourteenth and current major version of the Windows NT operating system produced by Microsoft to be released under the Windows Server brand name.[3][4] It was released on November 1, 2024,[5] and is based on Windows 11, version 24H2.
Windows Server 2025 is the first version of Windows Server to be based on Windows 11, which was released over three years earlier.
Microsoft announced that the sudo command feature would be available for Windows Server 2025. However, with the release of Windows 11 build 26052, it later confirmed that the feature would be available exclusively on Windows 11. Nevertheless, some users found sudo command traces on the preview. Microsoft stated that it was added by accident and would be disabled in future releases.[6] Upgrades are also available from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2022.[7]
History
Windows Server 2025 was revealed to be the name of the next major release of Windows Server with the release of the first Windows Server preview build (version 26040) to users in the Windows Insider program on January 26, 2024.[8] It reached general availability on November 1, 2024.
Features
Windows Server 2025 has the following features:
- Server Flighting, the ability to upgrade to a new release via Windows Update[9][10]
- Pay-as-you-go subscription[11]
- SMB over QUIC[11]
- Hotpatching[12]
- Windows Package Manager[13]
Hardware requirements
References
- ^ "July 14, 2026—KB5099536 (OS Build 26100.33158)". Microsoft Support. Microsoft.
- ^ "Windows Server 2025 - Microsoft Lifecycle". Microsoft Learn. Microsoft. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
- ^ Lee, Brandon (September 19, 2023). "Windows Server 2025: Initial Glimpse with New Domain Functional Level". Virtualization Howto. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
- ^ "Windows Server updates can now be installed automatically". Techzine Europe. January 29, 2024.
- ^ "Microsoft Server 2025; Important information about Windows Server 2025". June 28, 2024.
- ^ Udin, Efe (February 12, 2024). "Microsoft confirms sudo command will not be available on Windows Server". Gizchina.com.
- ^ Xelu86. "Overview of Windows Server upgrades". learn.microsoft.com. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ https://rcpmag.com/articles/2024/01/26/microsoft-unveils-windows-server-2025-product-name.aspx
- ^ "Windows Server Preview Build 26040 adds Server Flighting; Windows Server 2025 branding". Neowin. March 13, 2024.
- ^ "Welcome to Windows Insider flighting on Windows Server".
- ^ a b "Windows Server 2025 Insider Preview Now Released -- Redmondmag.com". Redmondmag.
- ^ "Windows Server 2025: Everything we know". softtrader.eu.
- ^ "Windows Server 2025: New features and improvements for the future". Firestorm ISP. January 30, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
- ^ "Hardware requirements for Windows Server". Windows Server Portal. Microsoft. August 2, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024 – via Microsoft Learn.
- ^ "Windows Server 2025 system requirements?".
