- December 2025 Security Updates release notes
- List of software updates for Microsoft products
- List of the latest Windows Updates and Services Packs
- Security Updates Guide
- Microsoft Update Catalog site
- Our in-depth Windows update guide
- How to install optional updates on Windows 10
- Windows 11 25H2 Update History
- Windows 11 24H2 Update History
- Windows 10 Update History
The last Windows security updates of 2025 are here
It is December 2025 already and Microsoft has released the last security updates of the year for its Windows operating system just a moment ago. The updates are available for all supported versions of Windows, including Windows 10, which is on life-support already with extended support releases.
Our weekly overview provides home users and system administrators with actionable information. While it depends on Microsoft to a large margin, it gives a quick overview of the updates that Microsoft released, the severity of security issues and more. It also links to support pages and downloads, and lists all confirmed issues by Microsoft.
As announced last month already, Windows 11, version 23H2 Home and Pro editions do not receive updates anymore. Users should be able to update to a newer version of Windows 11 to continue receiving updates.
Microsoft Windows Security Updates: December 2025
You may download the following Excel spreadsheet to get a list of released updates. Click on the following link to download the archive to the local device: Windows security updates December 2025
Executive Summary
- Microsoft released a total of 57 security updates for various Microsoft products and 13 security update for non-Microsoft issues (e.g. Chromium).
- No critical issues for Windows client and server systems according to Microsoft.
- Windows clients with issues:
- Windows 10: none
- Windows 11: 24H2 and 25H2
- Windows Server clients with issues:
- Windows Server 2008, 23H2, 2022, 2025
Product overview
Each supported version of Windows and their critical vulnerabilities are listed below.
- Windows 10 version 22H2: 31 vulnerabilities, 0 critical, 31 important
- No critical vulnerabilities.
- Windows 11 version 24H2: 36 vulnerabilities, 0 critical, 36 important
- No critical vulnerabilities.
- Windows 11 version 25H2: 36 vulnerabilities, 0 critical, 36 important
- No critical vulnerabilities.
Windows Server products
- Windows Server 2008 R2 (extended support only): 11 vulnerabilities: 0 critical, 11 important
- No critical vulnerabilities.
- Windows Server 2016: 18 vulnerabilities: 0 critical, 18 important
- No critical vulnerabilities.
- Windows Server 2019: 29 vulnerabilities: 0 critical, 29 important
- No critical vulnerabilities.
- Windows Server 2022: 32 vulnerabilities: 0 critical, 32 important
- No critical vulnerabilities.
- Windows Server 2025: 36 vulnerabilities: 0 critical, 36 important
- No critical vulnerabilities.
Windows Security Updates
Windows 10 version 22H2
- Support Page: KB5071546
Updates and improvements:
- [Powershell] The Invoke-WebRequest command now includes a confirmation prompt with a security warning of a script execution risk. This prevents script execution from web content without user authorization.
- Security updates.
Windows 11 version 24H2 and 25H2
- Support page: KB5072033
Updates and improvements:
- Fixed: This update addresses an issue where Ask Copilot didn’t activate the Click to Do window as expected
- Fixed: This update addresses an issue where File Explorer briefly flashes white when you navigate between pages.
- Fixed: This update fixes an issue where external virtual switches lose their physical network adapter (NIC) bindings after a host reboot.
- [Powershell] The Invoke-WebRequest command now includes a confirmation prompt with a security warning of a script execution risk. This prevents script execution from web content without user authorization.
- Security updates.
Known Issues
Windows 11 version 24H2 and 25H2
- [NEW] Password buttons may be missing or invisible in the lock screen sign-in options.
- Workaround: The issue is mitigated using Known Issues Rollback. Users can hover over the invisible password button to click and activate it.
Security advisories and updates
- ADV 990001 -- Latest Servicing Stack Updates
Microsoft Office Updates
You find Office update information here.
How to download and install the December 2025 security updates
Microsoft distributes security updates automatically to consumer devices and non-managed devices by default. It make take hours or days before they are offered on a particular system, but there is a workaround for getting them right away.
Here is how you install the update immediately on a system:
- Open the Start menu, type Windows Update, and select the result.
- Activate the "check for updates" button. This runs a manual check for updates.
- Activate the "download & install all" button, if the update is not downloaded automatically.
I suggest you create a system backup before installing any updates for Windows.
Direct update downloads
Below are resource pages with direct download links, if you prefer to download the updates to install them manually.
Windows 10 version 22H2
-
KB5071546 -- 2025-12 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 22H2
Windows 11 version 24H2 and 25H2
-
KB5072033 -- 2025-12 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 version 24H2 and 25H2
Additional resources
No January 2026 update page? Why?
So since Martin has left Ghacks will we have any info on updates? I can see they are missing for January.
This has been my “to go to” site for this info. Should I just look somewhere else for this info now?
Wow! They deleted my comment about the new ownership, on all three pages that I left the question, asking where the comment count went. I see a new regime is here at Ghacks now.
Hey Kerstin. Thanks for noticing it. We will be posting updates about Windows more often
No updates anymore, this was the primary reason to visit website.
Already removed Ghacks from my bookmarks. I’m just checking in to see how it takes for the new owners to remove my comments :D
I manually installed latest Windows Update KB5072033 for 25H2 by downloading .msu file from Microsoft Update Catalog website.
Update installed successfully but for some reason when i go to Windows Update in Settings and check for update, it tries to download KB5072033 again. Even though in Update History section, it clearly states Security Update for Windows (KB5072033) Successfully installed on ?11-?12-?2025.
Even in winver it clearly says OS Build is now 26200.7462 so there is no doubt Update successfully installed.
Another new bug from Microsoft?
Nope, been like that forever. Windows doesn’t understand the concept of manually installing updates so it tries to download the behemoth updates over and over. Eventually, if you turn off your computer every day, it will stop downloading the already installed updates. But yeah, quite retarded. One would assume that after decades Microsoft would have mastered their OS… I always download the updates from Microsoft Update Catalog, first I check for updates in Windows and take note of the cumulative update KB number and then I download it manually while Windows is sloooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOwly downloading it via Windows Update. Once I have downloaded the update, I disconnect from the internet so Windows doesn’t churn away trying to download that same update forever, and I install the one I just downloaded manually and then restart. On my machine this takes about 10 minutes. If I would let Microsoft and Windows do it, then it takes anything between an hour or two. On my linux computers these things just work, and fast.
This update breaks the Realtek HD audio for versions 6.0.9850.1 and higher. A beautiful BSOD is shown with the always weird ntoskrnl.exe advice. Incredible, really incredible folks.
I like how Windows 11 Pause Updates takes its sweet time to pause when Checking for Updates is in progress.
Fixed: This update addresses an issue where File Explorer briefly flashes white when you navigate between pages.
This problem was also present on Windows 10. I suffered from it for years and years.
A big white flash in my face every time I opened File Explorer and moved forward or backward in a folder. No matter the driver, it happened 9.9/10. When I upgraded to Windows 11, it was the same thing. This completely ruined the usefulness of having a dark mode, even if it only lasted for a nanosecond. Technically, it probably took them at least five years to fix this problem.
Glad they finally realized it and fixed it.
It’s nice to observe Windows 7 codebase being updated!
I take it that Server 2008 (equivalent to Vista) is no longer being updated (even in ESU). Is that correct?
There will be last final update in January 2026 for Windows Server 2008R2 / Windows 7.
I don’t have information if it is compatible with Windows Server 2008 / Vista.
I’m on Windows 10 IoT Enterprise version 22H2.I will be holding off on installing KB5071546. Would like to know what type of issue the update is having. Nobody has said what it is yet.
“This update addresses an issue where File Explorer briefly flashes white when you navigate between pages.”
No it doesn’t. Press “+” to create a new tab and your eyes will explode. Ifyou suffer from epilepsy, you will drop dead. Not one bit surprised that Microsoft can’t fix their shit but to claim that they have when they have not is a yet another low, even for Microsoft.
SWEET LORD HOW WINDOWS 11 SUCKS.
Why would you install any update from Microsoft without waiting at least a month to let them sort out the inevitable problems that seemingly occur with every update? Why would you want to have to worry about whether or not the update will render your computer unusable until Microsoft gets around to patching it or, worse yet, you have to attempt to reinstall a backup. I don’t even remotely understand why anyone would consider doing what is in essence acting as a beta tester for Microsoft.
On the other hand I guess there are actual users who are all excited to be first in line to install a new bug infested preview update, so what do I know?
Depends if the update fixes zero-day security bugs being actively exploited?
Windows 10 LTSC–had an issue with KB5071546–make sure to have a full image backup.
A bit puzzled at this point, why?
Wait for news–other experiences.
I’ll see what happens on another machine running the same.
Windows 11 25H2, no issues.
Thanks!
Which revision? Was it LTSC 2019?
The last problems, issues and bugs of the last security update of this year 2025, such a disgrace.