Windows Server 2025 has been available as a preview for a long time and is now finally available for everyone on November 1, 2024. The new server-focused operating system introduces many new features while removing some old features and apps like WordPad.
We have been using Windows Server 2025 for a while now. In our tests, Windows Latest observed that it's a solid operating system and does not have too many major issues that you need to watch out. Windows Server 2025 system requirements haven't changed much compared to Windows Server 2022. Let's discuss them first.
What is required to run Windows Server 2025?
Only the SSE4.2 and POPCNT requirements are new. Microsoft has made it mandatory for all Windows 11 24H2 editions, so it isn't a surprise for Windows Server 2025. POPCNT began shipping in 2008, so processors that don't have it are probably too weak to run Server 2025 as well.
Here's the full list of supported Intel CPUs for Windows Server 2025:
If you want to run Server 2025 in a VM, Microsoft suggests allocating 800MB or more memory for the virtual machine.
Storage
32 GB minimum. You'll need more space if you use more than 16GB RAM for certain OS functions like hibernation, which occupies some storage every time you hibernate the PC.
Network
A PCI Express-certified Ethernet adapter capable of at least 1 Gbps throughput.
Other Requirements
Here are the following new additions to Windows Server 2025:
There are many more feature upgrades listed on the official support page of this new build.
Windows Server 2025 gets rid of Windows PowerShell 2.0 Engine, SMTP server, and IIS 6 Management Console.
Good-old WordPad is no longer a part of the OS, forcing users to switch to another text editor for viewing and editing files.