Windows 11 25H2 ISO is Finally Available
After a short delay, Microsoft has finally released the official ISO file for Windows 11 version 25H2. While the update itself has been available in the Release Preview Channel for some time, the ISO download was held back for almost two weeks. Now, users can grab it directly from Microsoft’s official site.
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| no new start menu in Windows 11 25H2 |
How to Download Windows 11 25H2 ISO
To get the ISO file, visit the Windows Insider Preview Downloads page. You’ll need to log in with a Microsoft account. Once signed in:
Scroll down to the Select edition section.
Choose Windows 11 Insider Preview (Release Preview Channel) – Build 26200 (25H2).
Click Confirm.
Select your preferred language and confirm again.
Download the 64-bit ISO file.
The ISO is quite large—over 7GB, compared to around 5.4GB for the previous 24H2 version. This might be due to extra apps and system files included in the new build.
What’s New in Windows 11 25H2?
To be honest, if you’re expecting big changes, you might feel a bit let down. Based on both my experience and Microsoft’s own announcement on the Windows Blog, this version feels more like a continuation of 24H2 rather than a major update. Performance benchmarks show no noticeable improvements compared to 24H2.
Here’s what stood out to me:
It feels almost identical to 24H2, with very few new features.
I was hoping for the new Start Menu redesign, but it didn’t show up in this build.
The ISO is much larger than previous versions.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is now included, replacing the default Copilot branding.
My Installation Experience
While installing, I ran into the usual issue of Windows not letting me sign in with a Microsoft account right away. Even though I was connected to the internet, it kept saying “oops, lost connection.” So, I set up a local account first. I actually prefer doing this because it avoids automatic OneDrive syncing and a bunch of other bundled features. Once everything was set up, I switched over to my Microsoft account later.
Final Thoughts
For me, Windows 11 25H2 doesn’t feel like a big leap forward—it’s more of a polished continuation of 24H2. If you’re waiting for major changes like the redesigned Start Menu, those might come in the next release, maybe 26H2 or even Windows 12.
Still, if you want to test the new build or do a clean install, the ISO is finally available.
I’ve also made a video on this topic — you can watch it below.
Check out my other posts, I post useful tutorials and tech tips, maybe you will find something useful 😉.
