Microsoft Acknowledges Unintended Windows Server 2025 Upgrades

The unexpected upgrades were linked to third-party patch management tools, leading to licensing issues for affected users.

Microsoft confirmed that some Windows Server 2019 and 2022 systems were automatically upgraded to Windows Server 2025 due to a misclassification in patch management tools.
The issue arose when a security update was mislabeled, leading to the installation of Windows Server 2025 on machines not licensed for the upgrade.
Heimdal, a cybersecurity company, reported that approximately 7% of its customers were impacted before they could block the update.
Microsoft has not yet provided a rollback tool, leaving affected administrators to rely on backups or purchase new licenses for Windows Server 2025.
Efforts are underway to work with third-party providers to improve update labeling and prevent future occurrences.