Microsoft made new improvements to Windows release information toolbox

If you manage Windows updates for your organization, you need resources you can rely on for clear, accurate, and up-to-date information. Over the past year, we've rolled out several improvements to the way we document and communicate details related to Windows monthly and features updates. Based on your feedback, we have focused on improving accessibility, discoverability, localization, and the overall user experience across our channels. As much has changed since my last post on this topic, catch up on the resources available to you, how they can help, and when to best use them in your update management cycle.

The first stop: Windows release health​

Looking for easy access to official information on Windows updates? Bookmark the Windows release health hub on Microsoft Learn at Windows release health. There you'll find the Windows 11 release information page. It lists current versions by servicing model and a list of all monthly security and non-security preview updates released for Windows 11. Quickly access release notes, details about known or resolved issues and safeguards, and important announcements related to updates and product lifecycle.


The Windows release health home page shows recent announcements in the Windows message center. It features tiles with quick links for supported versions of Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows Server.

Windows release health is localized in 10 languages and is a great resource to help you plan your next update. Looking for greater technical detail about known issues and earlier reminders about important milestones like end of service? Access an enhanced Windows release health experience in the Microsoft 365 admin center.


Access Windows release health and the message center in the Microsoft 365 admin center by expanding the Health section of the left navigation menu.

Windows message center​

Bookmark the Windows message center to keep track of upcoming changes. Find new and changed features, planned maintenance, and other important announcements. You'll learn about enhancements to your Windows experience and the way we help keep devices updated. Plan for major changes with 90-, 60-, and 30-day notices about end of servicing, end of support, or security hardening requirements.

If you are an IT admin managing devices on behalf of an organization, find additional details in the message center in the Microsoft 365 admin center. Want to opt in to receive a weekly digest via email for Windows-related updates posted to the message center?

1. Go to Preferences and select the Email tab.
2. Select or add the email address where you'd like to receive notifications from the message center.
3. Select the box for Send me a weekly digest about services I select.
4. You can then opt into weekly digest messages for specific services—including Windows.

You can also choose to receive email messages for major updates and data privacy. (Note that you can enter up to two additional email addresses to receive those notifications.)

If you are interested in retrieving the data available in the Microsoft 365 admin center experience, use the Windows updates API in Microsoft Graph. Available data includes updates from the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy site, known issues, and Windows release information pages.

Recent improvements to Windows release health​

With hotpatching now generally available for Windows 11 Enterprise, version 24H2 clients, the Windows 11 release information page features the Windows 11 hotpatch calendar. Devices enrolled in hotpatch updates receive a baseline cumulative update the first month of each quarter in the calendar year. The hotpatch calendar lets you quickly see a list of baseline and hotpatch updates with build number and associated KB article.

Working on smaller screens? Expand tables to full screen width on all pages featuring table-based information, such as the release information and known issue pages.


Windows 11 hotpatch updates are displayed in a table view by calendar year on the Windows 11 release information page. Use the option at the top of the table to expand it to full-screen width.

We plan to continue building new functionality for you and add more data classes in the future. If you have suggestions on how we can improve Windows release health to make it better work for your organization, leave a comment below!

Keep track of monthly updates: release notes and update history pages​

Each month, we update Windows with fixes, quality improvements, and—as part of continuous innovation—new features and capabilities designed to keep you protected and productive. Windows release notes outline what is included in each monthly security update, optional non-security preview release, or out-of-band update. For easy access, each version of Windows has its own update history page with a convenient list of all release notes published to date.


The update history page for Windows 11, version 24H2, offers a summary of what’s new in version 24H2 and provides quick access to monthly release notes for version 24H2 in the left navigation menu.

Release notes and update history pages are available for all in-market versions of Windows client and Windows Server, including:

• Windows 11, version 24H2
• Windows 11, version 23H2
• Windows 11, version 22H2
• Windows 10, version 22H2
• Windows Server 2025
• Windows Server 2022
• Windows Server 2019

Short on time? Check out our release note videos for Windows 11, version 24H2. They summarize key highlights from each monthly security update and feature bonus tips to help you get more from your Windows 11 experience.

Recent improvements to Windows release notes​

We continue to enhance navigation and visual hierarchy, making sure that the release notes layout is optimized for mobile and tablet viewing. We've added expandable sections to release note pages, making it easier for you to scan the full page quickly and get detailed information when you need it. We've categorized highlights and improvements, so you can see which are available now for all devices (normal rollout) and which are rolling out gradually as part of continuous innovation. We've worked to improve screen reader compatibility, keyboard-based navigation, and support for high-contrast viewing.


The Highlights section of a Windows release notes page offers expandable sections for both gradual rollout and normal rollout.

Windows 11 incorporates various AI components and features to enhance the user experience, productivity, and security. Windows 11 release note pages now clearly list which AI components have been updated and to which version.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/s/gxcuf89792/images/bS00NDMwOTgwLTFScTVzVg?image-dimensions=999x631&revision=8[/IMG
][I]The AI Components section of the Windows 11 release note page lists the AI components that have been updated and the current version number for each component. The list in this example includes Image Search, Content Extraction, and Semantic Analysis.[/I]

In addition to inline links to helpful documentation, release note pages now offer tooltips that offer guidance on common actions. For example, learn how to install updates using common Windows and Microsoft release channels or how to remove the LCU if you are installing a combined SSU and LCU package.

[IMG]https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/s/gxcuf89792/images/bS00NDMwOTgwLUNob3VIOA?image-dimensions=999x733&revision=8
A tooltip shows that the update will automatically sync with WSUS if Products and Classifications are configured for Windows 11 and Security Updates.

Finally, we've introduced separate release note pages for hotpatch updates for Windows 11 Enterprise, version 24H2. If you've enrolled devices in hotpatch updates, access these release notes and the hotpatch release calendar from the Hotpatch update history page for Windows 11, version 24H2 Enterprise clients.

Windows Roadmap​

One of the biggest asks when it comes to Windows documentation is for greater transparency on what's coming next and when. This year, we introduced the Windows Roadmap. Use intuitive filter controls to see what's coming to a specific version of Windows for the different release channels and device types (Copilot+ PC, Windows 11 PC) or check on the latest status of improvements and new features. Specifically, you can find information on Windows 11 improvements and features that:

• Are currently available to validate in the Windows Insider Program.
• Are gradually rolling out.
• Are generally available (fully enabled in the monthly non-security update).

You'll also find instructions on how to access new features and improvements before they're enabled by default in your estate. Bookmark Windows Roadmap | Microsoft Windows for Business and check back often for the latest.


The Windows Roadmap home page is filtered to show features for 24H2 across all platforms and channels.

Read, watch, and learn​

If you want to learn how to manage Windows updates more effectively, you can find timely practical guidance from our engineers through the Windows IT Pro Blog on the Microsoft Tech Community. Sign in to the community and follow the blog to be notified of new content. You can also follow the Windows Server News and Best Practices Blog for the latest announcements for Windows Server admins.

We work to provide a rich community for IT pros managing Windows. Follow our @WindowsUpdate and @MSWindowsITPro handles on X, Windows Update on Bluesky, or Windows IT Pro on LinkedIn. There you can stay on top of important announcements about features, servicing technology advances, policy management, upcoming events, and more.

You can also engage with us via a regular beat of digital events:

• Join us every third Thursday of the month for Windows Office Hours! This chat-based series offers you an opportunity to submit questions in advance or live. Get answers, tips, and insights from engineering team members across Windows, Microsoft Intune, Windows 365, security, public sector, and more.
• Save the date for, or catch on demand, Windows editions of Tech Community Live. That's where we assemble experts from the engineering teams for a series of live, on-camera Ask Microsoft Anything (AMA) sessions.
• For the biggest product updates of the year, check out Microsoft Ignite in person or on demand. Then access digital deep dives, AMAs, and feedback sessions at Microsoft Technical Takeoff.

Looking for turnkey videos to help people at your organization learn how to get more from their Windows 11 experience? Bookmark and subscribe to our Windows community channel on YouTube. Have users that are new to Windows or Windows 11? Check out Day 1 with Windows 11.


A sample of Windows 11 tips available on the Windows community YouTube channel featuring videos on live captions, widgets, and quickly navigating apps, files, and settings.

Troubleshooting and planning for change​

Even when you do everything right, there are elements beyond your control that you may need to address. It could be an issue with the latest update, a discovered vulnerability that requires hardening actions, or an important upcoming change that requires proactive planning. Here is where you can turn for information and assistance:

• Known issue documentation on Windows release health – To view details about known and resolved issues for each version of Windows, visit Windows release health on Microsoft Learn or in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
• Known issue email alerts – If you'd like to be proactively notified about known issues for the versions of Windows you support in your environment, sign up for email alerts in the Microsoft 365 admin center. Anytime the status of an issue changes, you'll get a notification, including recommended resolution steps.
• Feedback Hub – Whether you encounter issues on a Windows client or server device, log the issue, or provide feedback, via Feedback Hub. To help your users do the same, start with our user-friendly guide.
• If you need immediate help, please use the Get Help app.

If you see devices in your organization not being offered a new version of Windows, use Windows Update for Business reports for insight into the active safeguard holds that are preventing devices from updating or upgrading. For safeguard holds associated with publicly discussed known issues, search Windows release health for the safeguard hold ID on the Known issues page for the relevant release. For more information, see our documentation on Safeguard holds.

We'd love your feedback​

While we do run surveys on our release note and Windows release health experiences, we would love to hear your feedback anytime. How can we improve our documentation and information experiences to make it easier for you to manage updates for your Windows estate? Drop a comment below and keep your ideas and suggestions coming!