How to Get Windows 11 25H2 if It Doesn’t Show in Windows Update 

Windows 11 hasn’t had the best track record with major software updates. Windows 11 24H2, for example, and occasionally cause bugs and driver conflicts for many PCs, leading many owners to roll back to a more stable version. For 25H2, Microsoft is performing a staggered release, providing the option to compatible machines with no known driver conflicts to mitigate risk.

If you’re confident your PC is up to the task, though, and aware of the possible caveats, there are ways to get this update for your machine, even if it isn’t showing up automatically. This article will be your guide.

Controlling the Release

Windows 11 25H2 should be considered as a lightweight enablement package rather than a major software update. Compared to its yearly predecessor, the update is small and designed to work over the existing 24H2 code. It enhances and enables, rather than replaces.

The new update offers improvements to Copilot functionality and includes a 64-bit command-line editor. For many users, compared to the trauma of 24H2, this “update” aims to be much more gradual. Part of this involves releasing 25H2 to select devices. Here are the current requirements:

• The standard Windows 11 requirements (UEFI, Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, etc.)
• No known driver conflicts that might harm your computer during or after updating
• The machine must be signed up to receive the latest updates as soon as they become available

Windows 11 25H2 if It Doesn’t Show in Windows Update and How to Fix That

If you’re not seeing the option to install 25H2 in Windows Updates, then there are a few ways to get it. Before you do, though, just be aware of the potential bugs and risks involved with installing an update not yet widely distributed, including audio and GPU conflicts. Let’s get started:

Enable Updates

A quick way to get the latest update through on your PC is to ensure you’re signed up to having all the latest updates downloaded and installed on your machine as soon as possible. Here’s what to do:

Step 1. Open Settings (Win + I) and click “Windows Update” in the sidebar.

Step 2. In the main window, navigate to the “More options” subheader and drag the slider next to “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” to “On.”

Step 3. Click the “Check for updates” button at the top of the window and see if the option to install 25H2 appears.

Step 4. If so, click the “Download & install” button and let your PC do the rest. Restart afterwards.

Use the ISO File From Microsoft

Another method is to go straight to Microsoft itself and download the necessary installation files in the form of an ISO (a virtual disc image). To do this:

Step 1. Visit the Microsoft Software Download Page.

Step 2. Scroll down to “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices” and select the Windows 11 ISO from the dropdown menu.

Step 3. Click the “Confirm” button and (importantly), select your installation language. For English, ensure that the region you choose matches that of the installation language of your PC.

Step 4. Download the ISO file, then double-click it to mount the image.

Step 5. Follow the wizard’s steps to install the update.

Finding that the option to install Windows 11 25H2 passed you by? We show you how to fix the update not showing up on your PC and how to get it.