Windows Server 2025: Upgrade is now also possible via Windows Update
Microsoft is expanding the upgrade options for its server platform: Admins can now switch to Windows Server 2025 directly via Windows Update. This means that in many cases the usual use of physical installation media is no longer necessary.
Microsoft urges caution
After Declarations The company’s new feature is aimed primarily at organizations that want to update existing systems more quickly and with less effort. The new in-place upgrade process is intended to ensure that the majority of existing applications and services continue to run stably. Complete compatibility cannot be guaranteed, but it is the stated goal. To ensure a smooth migration, Microsoft recommends careful preparation. These include, among other things, clearly defined maintenance windows, correct configuration of group policies and checking license and activation requirements, for example via a Key Management Service (KMS). Equally important is sufficient free storage space on the system drives. Only then should administrators make the necessary changes to the system registry to trigger the update.
However, Microsoft advises against a direct upgrade of domain controllers. These should still be updated to the current version by reinstalling them. The group generally recommends setting up a test environment first to check the process. In practice, less critical servers should then be updated first. The actual upgrade process, including backup, can take on average around two hours per server, but this depends heavily on the respective infrastructure and usage.
Feedback requested
After successful installation, several additional work is required: Administrators should check the functionality of all applications and, if necessary, restore a backup. Activation via KMS, Active Directory or appropriate tools is also necessary. Additional steps include controlling telemetry and network settings and removing old system files to free up memory. The new upgrade option is currently available for systems based on Windows Server 2019 and 2022. Microsoft actively accepts feedback on the function in order to further improve the process.
