Windows 11 will be force-updated to version 25H2 using machine learning

[Alfonso Maruccia]

Editor's take: Redmond is preparing to roll out yet another controversial move in the already chaotic world of Windows updates. The company recently confirmed that the latest major release of Windows 11 will eventually be forced onto most users within the year. Machine learning – dismissed in Copilot's own documentation as little more than a joke – is now considered capable of managing one of the most sensitive procedures a Windows PC can undergo.

According to Microsoft's latest timeline, Windows 11 25H2 will soon be rolled out to all devices running the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 24H2. The latter is set to reach the end of official support on October 13, 2026, and Redmond is clearly aiming to move as many users as possible to the newer version of Windows.

Windows 11 25H2 was released in October 2025 and primarily introduced a handful of notable features for enterprise customers. Microsoft plans to support the release until October 12, 2027, with an additional year of support for education, enterprise, and IoT editions. The company is now using a machine learning – based approach to automatically download and install the upgrade on all eligible 24H2 Home and Pro systems, excluding PCs managed by enterprise IT administrators.

Microsoft said the 25H2 upgrade will be deployed to a 24H2 PC only when the device is "ready," though it did not clarify what that entails. Users are not required to take any action, but they will have the option to choose when to restart their system or postpone the upgrade for a limited time.

Judging from Microsoft's recent track record with Windows updates, letting a machine learning model manage a major OS upgrade seems like a truly risky idea. Monthly patches now bring frustrating issues, including failing entirely due to unexpected problems with patches themselves.

Microsoft recently stated that its developers will "rethink" how they work on Windows code – a sign that the "Microslop" moniker has struck a nerve, even among AI enthusiasts like Satya Nadella. At the very least, Redmond seems to acknowledge that machine learning – based AIs like Copilot are inherently unreliable for handling critical workloads.

Copilot's documentation warns that customers use the chatbot at their own risk, but the Windows Update team plans to employ the same underlying technology to push Windows 11 25H2 to millions of machines. Concerned power users, however, can still rely on tried-and-true third-party utilities to completely disable Windows Update until they are ready to make the switch.

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Windows 11 will be force-updated to version 25H2 using machine learning

 

[Hotdog1n]

And I’m going to force myself to not update

 

[toooooot]

Windows tried to update my PC again. And for the fourth time it broke boot.
I disabled it in GP. I will probably reinstall when not updating starts giving me problems.
The microslop term was not created for nothing.

I just wonder if it has anything to do with certain groups who, when hired, always
hire their own people rather than the most skilled. In any case, this is the worst Windows
I remember.

 

[Rocky4040]

I have had 25H2 for quite a while now and have removed the AI parts and have had no problems with this version. Even before gutting the AI this version was fine, but I just didn't want my PC to start doing things on its own if MS decided to roll out an update that made the AI part start deciding stuff for me without my consent. I do not know if that would have happened but I was not going to take any chances lol.

 

[Str8Shot]

If you hate updates, like me, and in fact have noticed that your computer works better without them, then you need Windows Update Blocker and it'll take care of updates using one click (Sordum Windows Update Blocker):

https://www.sordum.org/9470/windows-update-blocker-v1-8/

 

[daffy duck]

I have had 25H2 for quite a while now and have removed the AI parts and have had no problems with this version. Even before gutting the AI this version was fine, but I just didn't want my PC to start doing things on its own if MS decided to roll out an update that made the AI part start deciding stuff for me without my consent. I do not know if that would have happened but I was not going to take any chances lol.

Yeah, no problems with 25H2. With explorerpatcher and a lot of stuff removed, it's now feels like Windows 10. I could of stayed on 10 until October, but with a new build I decided not to put off the inevitable. Linux is not an option for me as none of my required photo software has Linux native binaries and I will not dual boot or do virtualization.

 

[Infernus]

Windows 11 LTSC IoT user here no forced updates, no AI crap, no bloat, and better for gaming. People need to push this version more and stop using home/pro. While everyone complains about how bad home/pro are I just watch and smile

 

[acrossthestars]

Concerned power users, however, can still rely on tried-and-true third-party utilities to completely disable Windows Update until they are ready to make the switch.

Given how badly Microslop has bungled Windows 11's feature and patch updates, there is no "ready". There will never be a "are you ready, kids?" The question is not "will people switch?", but "how badly did the process go?" after the upgrade occurs, because it's inevitable, but unwanted. Because, like, "ready to make the switch" to what, exactly? A worse version of Windows? Oh yeah, I'm definitely "ready" for my Windows experience to degrade over time. Like...what?

It's the same thing with iOS 26. Apple has seen an adoption rate of 45%: amazing by Android standards, but utterly absymal by their own. People don't hold out for improvements, they hold out for jank― poorly-implemented features, unresolved bugs and glitches galor. It's almost becoming a game of "waiting out the company's bad decision-making, to see just how bad they f*ck up this time". These are not signs of a healthy product ecosystem, full of happy customers. They are a signs of participant resignation and defeat.

 

[BbN48]

Windows 11 LTSC IoT user here no forced updates, no AI crap, no bloat, and better for gaming. People need to push this version more and stop using home/pro. While everyone complains about how bad home/pro are I just watch and smile

Same!

 

[MasterMace]

I've been considering upgrading downwards from 10 to 7

 

[daffy duck]

Windows 11 LTSC IoT user here no forced updates, no AI crap, no bloat, and better for gaming. People need to push this version more and stop using home/pro. While everyone complains about how bad home/pro are I just watch and smile

Yeah true, I have an older system that wasn't 11 upgradable, but I bypassed all that crap. I should just install the LTSC IOT on it and test it out as it's not being used for much.

 

[GrayDragon]

I don't really know why I don't already have the update. I fixed a problem where my partition didn't have enough space for updates, but I don't know how much is "enough" for 25H2, so it's hard to be sure. I use partitioning to have a separate place to install extra programs, it's just a personal preference. Just checked and it's way more than the 40 GB recommended. Still don't know why it hasn't updated.

 

[FF222]

" The company recently confirmed that the latest major release of Windows 11 will eventually be forced onto most users within the year."
No. Microsoft did that exactly a year ago. But someone stumbled across the documentation page about this, which has "Current status as of March 27, 2025" written over it, and didn't realize it's now 2026, not 2025.