Now in preview: Hotpatch for Windows Server 2025

You asked for it, and we made it happen. Standard and Datacenter editions Server Hotpatching – Security updates without reboot – Ready for evaluation. Windows Server 2025 Azure Arc Support Hot Patch Public Preview. This feature will be a game changer. Simpler change control, shorter patch windows, easier orchestration… and finally, you’ll be able to see your family on the weekends.

Windows Update showing that hot patches have been installed without requiring a reboot

Hotpatch is a non-reboot OS security update. It works by patching the in-memory code of a running process without requiring the process to be restarted. This provides the following benefits:

• Fewer reboots means less workload impact. Instead of 12 mandatory reboots per year on “Patch Tuesday,” Quarterly scheduled reboots (It is unlikely that a reboot will be required in the month in which the hotpatch is nominally applied).
• Fewer binaries mean updates download and install faster, while using less disk and CPU resources.
• Patch orchestration and change control made easier.
• Optional integration with Azure Update Manager.

Hotpatches have been available for several years. Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure EditionThis is a tried and tested technology. The real change is how and where you get security updates. HotPatching is available as an option through the power of Azure Arc. Azure Arc enables management and runs a Windows Server internal licensing service for HotPatch to ensure HotPatch updates are delivered to customers.

Hotpatching is enabled thanks to Azure Arc. Evaluate Windows Server 2025 Datacenter and Standard Editions Machines can be registered in just a few clicks. Simply register via the built-in Azure Arc agent settings. Windows Server 2025 Evaluation, Enable Hotpatch PreviewAnd you start a business.

The Azure Arc installation agent running on Windows Server shows that the requirements are met.

Azure Portal page showing Hotpatch preview

Hotpatching has been available for years in Windows Server 2022 Azure Edition, but it always required running VMs on Azure or Azure Stack HCI. When Windows Server 2025 becomes generally available, you can run your edition on-premises, in Azure, or anywhere else. You’ll have the option to hotpatch a Windows Server 2025 physical server or virtual machine, and that VM can run on Hyper-V, VMware, or anywhere else that supports Microsoft’s protection-centric virtualization-based security standards.

We believe Windows Server 2025 HotPatching will change the way enterprises operate. Start your evaluation today!