Microsoft Preview Unveils Windows Server 2025: Key Features and Removed Functionality

Microsoft has released a preview version of Windows Server 2025, which is based on Windows 11. The official release is planned for October 2024, allowing businesses using Windows Server 2012 through 2022 to upgrade directly to Windows Server 2025, making migration convenient.

However, with the new version, Microsoft has removed some outdated features and deprecated others, meaning they will no longer be actively developed and will only receive security fixes. IT administrators and businesses need to review these changes, as they may impact their operations. If a deprecated feature is critical, they should consider delaying the upgrade or developing alternatives compatible with Windows Server 2025.

Here are the features removed in Windows Server 2025:

IIS 6 Management Console: This feature was deprecated in Windows Server 2019 and is now completely removed. Businesses should migrate from IIS 6.0 to a newer version.

Wordpad: This ancient application is removed from both Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025.

SMTP Server: Microsoft does not provide a replacement for the SMTP Server, which is removed in this version.

Windows PowerShell 2.0 Engine: Applications and components should migrate to PowerShell 5.0+ as this engine is removed.

The following features are still available but are no longer actively developed and may be removed in future updates of Windows Server 2025 or later versions:

Computer Browser: An outdated and insecure device discovery protocol, with related drivers and services deprecated.

NTLM: Available in Windows 11 24H2 and Windows Server 2025, but will be completely removed in future versions.

Remote Mailslots: A very old feature dating back to MS-DOS, which will be completely removed later.

WebDAV Redirector Service: This deprecated feature remains usable for now but will be removed in future versions.

WMIC: Disabled by default but can be manually enabled. Newer PowerShell for WMI should replace WMIC.

VBScript Scripting Engine: Also disabled by default but can be manually enabled. It will be completely removed around 2027.

TLS 1.0/1.1: These outdated and insecure protocols are disabled by default. Websites must use at least TLS 1.2+ to connect.