Quote:Microsoft has fixed a known issue that caused Windows Server 2019 and 2022 systems to automatically upgrade to Windows Server 2025 without user approval. The solution was confirmed in a Windows release health update on Tuesday, more than a year after the problem was first acknowledged in September 2024. "This issue is resolved and Microsoft has re-enabled the upgrade offer via the Windows Update settings panel," the company stated.

How the Windows Server Upgrade Bug Worked

In September 2024, administrators reported that servers had been automatically upgraded overnight to Windows Server 2025, in some cases to versions for which their organizations did not have licenses. Microsoft said part of the issue was due to third-party update management software that was not configured properly.

Software vendors disagreed, claiming the problem was caused by a procedural error on Microsoft's part, pointing to the speed of the release and how the update was classified. At the time, Microsoft did not offer a detailed explanation of the root cause and did not respond to press inquiries when the issue was first reported.

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