Microsoft releases Archives

Winsage

September 11, 2025

Microsoft releases official ISOs for Windows 11 version 25H2 after short delay — upgrade to the next release now

Microsoft has released the ISO media for Windows 11 version 25H2, indicating that the update will soon be generally available. Users can download the ISOs from the Windows Insider Program website, and they are considered production-ready for installation on non-Insider PCs. The release was postponed from an earlier planned date without specified reasons. Version 25H2 has been tested with Insiders since June and will soon be distributed via Windows Update. It does not introduce new features beyond version 24H2, as both versions share the same platform release and will receive updates together. However, version 25H2 resets the support timeline, offering 24 months of support for Home and Pro editions and 36 months for Enterprise and Education editions. The update will be delivered through an enablement package for version 24H2, requiring minimal time for download and installation. Users can download the ISO immediately by selecting the appropriate option from the dropdown menu on the Windows Insider Program website. The ISO can be used for in-place upgrades or to create bootable USB media for fresh installations. The link for the ISO will be valid for 24 hours.

Winsage

August 30, 2025

Microsoft Releases New Builds to All Four Windows Insider Preview Channels

Microsoft has released new Windows 11 builds across all four Windows Insider Preview channels, with version 25H2 debuting in the Release Preview channel. This version can be downloaded as an enablement package, sharing its servicing branch with version 24H2. Users must enroll in the Release Preview channel and check for updates to install it. Windows 11 version 25H2 will not include Windows PowerShell 2.0 or WMIC, and ISOs will be available for download next week. In the Dev channel, build 26220.5770 is being updated with KB5064093, while the Beta channel is receiving build 26120.5770 with KB5064089. New features include a Microsoft 365 text action in Click to Do, Live Persona Cards from Microsoft 365, a Braille viewer in Narrator, and improvements to Windows Share. Various fixes are also included, though there are known issues, such as a recurring audio problem. Additionally, Windows 11 build 27934 has been released to the Canary channel, focusing on general improvements and bug fixes, with several known issues still present.

Winsage

August 28, 2025

Microsoft releases Windows Backup for Organizations to ease migration of user settings to Windows 11

Windows Backup can back up settings for devices running Windows 10 version 22H2 and Windows 11 version 22H2 or later, but restoration is only available for Windows 11 version 22H2 or newer. Users on Windows 10 cannot restore their settings. The new tool may help organizations transition to Windows 11, especially with Windows 10 support ending on October 14, 2025. To use Windows Backup for Organizations, the August 2025 Windows security update must be applied. Systems are typically Entra-joined, but hybrid joined organizations can also use this feature. The Restore setting is being gradually rolled out, and users may need to wait about a week for it to appear in their Intune tenant. The backup process will occur automatically every eight days.

Winsage

August 20, 2025

Microsoft releases emergency fix for broken Windows PC reset feature

Microsoft released emergency patches, known as "out-of-band" updates, to address critical issues with its operating systems. The updates include KB5066189 for Windows 11 versions 23H2 and 22H2, KB5066188 for Windows 10 versions 22H2 and 21H2, and KB5066187 for Windows 10 LTSC 2019. These updates fix problems caused by the August 2025 security update, which led to installation failures (error code 0x8007007F) and disrupted reset and restore functionalities on Windows devices. The updates are available through Windows Update, but users must manually select and install the appropriate patch.

Winsage

August 12, 2025

Microsoft releases lightweight Office taskbar apps for Windows 11

Microsoft is introducing lightweight taskbar apps for Microsoft 365 on Windows 11, which will automatically launch at startup. The People companion app allows users to access an organizational chart and communicate via Teams or email. The File Search companion app enables quick retrieval of Microsoft 365 files by searching for file names, authors, or keywords, and includes a preview feature. The Calendar app provides an overview of upcoming events and allows users to search for appointments or join meetings. These apps are being rolled out to all business users of Microsoft 365 this month, with automatic installation for those who have Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 11, though IT administrators can prevent this, and users can stop the apps from launching at startup.

Winsage

July 28, 2025

Microsoft Releases New Windows 11 Pre-Release Builds to Dev and Beta Channels

Users enrolled in the Dev or Beta channels of the Windows Insider Program can now install the preview cumulative update KB5062669. This update advances Windows 11 version 25H2 to build 26200.5722 for Dev channel users and updates Windows 11 version 24H2 to build 26120.5722 for Beta channel participants. The update introduces several features: - An Agent in Settings for AMD/Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs is now available for Snapdragon X-based Copilot+ PCs. - The Second Chance Out of Box Experience (SCOOBE) has been redesigned for a more intuitive setup process, with an option to disable it. - A new tutorial for Click to Do guides users on actions with images and text. - Windows Search now includes a grid view for image results in the left pane of the Search highlights result pane. There are also minor adjustments to the Lock screen configuration, updates to the Notification center, enhancements in Task Manager, and various fixes and newly identified issues.

Winsage

July 16, 2025

Microsoft releases emergency fix for Azure Virtual Machines issue caused by Windows 11 update

Microsoft released the KB5062553 update for Windows, which caused boot failures in some Generation 2 Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) with Trusted Launch disabled. In response, Microsoft issued an emergency patch, KB5064489, applicable to Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025, to address these issues. Affected VMs may experience boot failures if Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) is enforced via registry key. Users are advised to check if their VMs are created as “Standard” and if VBS is enabled. The KB5064489 update is not automatically deployed and must be manually downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog, with specific installation methods outlined.

Winsage

June 17, 2025

Microsoft releases patch after Surface Hubs v1 bricked

Microsoft has released an out-of-band update to fix an issue with Surface Hub v1 devices that arose from the June Patch Tuesday updates, specifically related to KB5060533 for Windows 10 versions 21H2 and 22H2. This issue caused some Surface Hub v1 units to become inoperable, displaying a "Secure Boot Violation: Invalid signature detected" error message. Microsoft paused the update on June 11 and issued a patch a week later. The problem does not affect Surface Hub 2S and 3 models. Users have reported inconsistent success using a disk re-imaging tool, and the Surface team is investigating potential recovery methods. Microsoft is working on a solution for the affected devices and will provide updates as they become available.

Winsage

June 11, 2025

Microsoft Windows Secure Boot Bypass Confirmed

The second Tuesday of each month is when Microsoft releases monthly security updates for Windows. A significant zero-day vulnerability, CVE-2025-3052, has been identified, affecting all Windows users and allowing a Secure Boot bypass. This vulnerability could compromise system integrity by enabling malware to infiltrate Windows PCs and servers. CVE-2025-3052 is classified as a memory corruption issue within a module signed with Microsoft’s third-party UEFI certificate and can execute unsigned code during the boot process, potentially allowing attackers to install bootkits.

Winsage

May 26, 2025

Microsoft releases an update to tackle a built-in issue in Windows images, but who is it for?

Microsoft encourages users to adopt the latest version of Windows or a version eligible for monthly security updates to protect against security threats. Older Windows ISOs are vulnerable due to outdated security updates and antimalware software. Microsoft has released an update for Microsoft Defender to enhance the security of these older Windows images. This update includes the latest Microsoft Defender binaries, which must be applied offline to WIM and VHD files for Windows 11, Windows 10 (Enterprise, Pro, Home), Windows Server 2022, 2019, and 2016. The update improves both the anti-malware client and engine, with package sizes of 78.2 MB for ARM64, 128 MB for x86, and 132 MB for x64 systems. Users need a 64-bit version of Windows 10 or later, PowerShell 5.1 or later, and specific modules to implement the update. Regular updates every three months are recommended for optimal security.