Microsoft says unexpected automatic upgrades for Windows Server 2025 were due to faulty third-party tools
- Some companies unexpectedly had their Windows Server upgraded to the new 2025 version
- Microsoft blames third-party tools after widespread problems are reported
- Some claim there was a bug on Microsoft’s side
Microsoft’s recent launch of Windows Server 2025 still seems to be causing aftershocks after many companies said they had automatically upgraded to the new software.
Multiple Windows Server 2019 and 2022 systems have reportedly been unexpectedly upgraded to Windows Server 2025 overnight, and Microsoft and third-party patch management service providers are now passing the blame among themselves.
The bug appears to have finally been fixed, but Microsoft has yet to explain to its customers how the upgrade can be rolled back.
Procedural error
“Some devices were automatically upgraded to Windows Server 2025 (KB5044284). This was observed in environments that use third-party products to manage client and server updates,” Microsoft explains. “Verify that third-party update software in your environment is configured not to deploy feature updates. This scenario has been resolved.”
In other words: it’s not Microsoft’s fault, it’s yours. The company also added that the update had the tag “DeploymentAction=OptionalInstallation,” which patch management tools should read as an optional, rather than recommended, update.
Upgrading to a brand new operating system comes with a lot of questions and risks, and in this case, some companies didn’t even have the necessary license.
Microsoft didn’t mention any names, but… BleepingComputer discovered that many of Heimdal’s customers were affected by the problem. The company blames the bug on a “procedural error on Microsoft’s part, both in terms of release speed and classification.” In total, 7% of its customers received the unwanted upgrade. At the time of writing, there were no details on how to roll back the update.
KB5044284 is a cumulative update, part of Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday effort, and Windows Server 2025 is said to be an optional update.
This optional update is actually the latest release in Microsoft’s Windows Server lineup and introduces several advanced features designed to improve security, performance, and hybrid cloud capabilities. Notable features include hot patching, improved storage and GPU support, and stronger AI and machine learning capabilities.
