Windows Server 2025

Windows Server 2025
Version of the Windows NT operating system
Screenshot of Windows Server 2025
DeveloperMicrosoft
Written inC, C++, C#, Assembly language
OS familyWindows Server
Working stateCurrent
Source modelClosed-source
General
availability		November 1, 2024; 2 months ago (2024-11-01)
Latest release24H2 (10.0.26100.2894) (January 14, 2025; 6 days ago (2025-01-14)[1]) [±]
Marketing targetBusiness
Available in110 languages
Update method
Package managerWindows Package Manager
Platformsx86-64, ARM64
Kernel typeHybrid (Windows NT kernel)
Default
user interface		Windows Shell
LicenseProprietary
Preceded byWindows Server 2022 (2021)
Official websitemicrosoft.com/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2025
Support status
  • Start date: November 1, 2024; 2 months ago (2024-11-01)
  • Mainstream support: Until October 9, 2029; 4 years' time (2029-10-09)
  • Extended support: Until October 10, 2034; 9 years' time (2034-10-10)
Part of a series of articles on
Windows 11
Siblings
Related

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.[2] [3] It was released on November 1, 2024.[4]

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.[5]

It is also the first Windows Server operating system to support ARM64 architecture.

Features

Windows Server 2025 has the following features:

  • Server Flighting, the ability to upgrade to a new release via Windows Update[6][7]
  • Pay-as-you-go subscription[8]
  • SMB over QUIC[8]
  • Hotpatching[9]

Hardware requirements

Minimum hardware requirements for Windows Server 2025[10][11]
Hardware Minimum requirement
CPU x86-64-v2 processor, or ARMv8.1 ARM64 processor
RAM 512 MB for Server Core or 2 GB for Server with Desktop Experience
Hard disk space At least 32 GB free space
Display 1024 x 768 pixels resolution (only required for certain features)
Network
  • A wireless adapter that supports 802.11, or
  • An Ethernet adapter capable of at least 1 Gbit per second throughput, or
  • NIC card with a minimum bandwidth of 1 Gbit
Firmware UEFI 2.3.1c-based system and firmware that supports secure boot (only required for certain features)

ARM64 versions of Windows Server 2025 requires UEFI firmware with ACPI protocol

Security Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (only required for certain features)

References

  1. ^ "January 14, 2025—KB5050009 (OS Build 26100.2894)". Microsoft Support. Microsoft.
  2. ^ Lee, Brandon (September 19, 2023). "Windows Server 2025: Initial Glimpse with New Domain Functional Level". Virtualization Howto. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  3. ^ "Windows Server updates can now be installed automatically". Techzine Europe. January 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "Microsoft Server 2025; Important information about Windows Server 2025". June 28, 2024.
  5. ^ Udin, Efe (February 12, 2024). "Microsoft confirms sudo command will not be available on Windows Server". Gizchina.com.
  6. ^ "Windows Server Preview Build 26040 adds Server Flighting; Windows Server 2025 branding". Neowin. March 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "Welcome to Windows Insider flighting on Windows Server".
  8. ^ a b "Windows Server 2025 Insider Preview Now Released -- Redmondmag.com". Redmondmag.
  9. ^ "Windows Server 2025: Everything we know". softtrader.eu.
  10. ^ "Hardware requirements for Windows Server". Windows Server Portal. Microsoft. August 2, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024 – via Microsoft Learn.
  11. ^ "Windows Server 2025 system requirements?".