Windows 11's 25H2 Update, Automatic Photo Sorting, and More: Windows Wednesday
This was another notable week for Windows PCs, with the release of the major Windows 11 2025 update and a few more changes being tested in the Insider channels. Here's everything Microsoft rolled out in Windows this week.
You can join the Windows Insider program to try out experimental features, but some changes are on a gradual rollout and not yet available to all Insider program members. You should not install Windows Insider builds on an important computer.
Windows 11 25H2
Microsoft just started rolling out Windows 11 25H2 , which is technically the major Windows update for 2025. However, the actual update is relatively minor: PowerShell 2.0 has been removed, and there's new Wi-Fi 7 options for enterprise use. The version change is mostly just for reference, and it serves as an indicator for service updates.
Many of the features Microsoft has tested throughout 2025 already rolled out, either through Microsoft Store app updates or smaller OS upgrades. The features still in development will just be released when they're done, either as updates to 25H2 or changes that apply to all supported versions.
Taskbar & System Tray
You can now start a network speed test straight from the taskbar, starting in the Dev and Beta Channels. When you right-click the network icon in the taskbar, there's a new 'Perform speed test' menu option that opens a speed test in your default browser.
Microsoft
The shortcut is also accessible from the Wi-Fi and Cellular pages in Quick Settings. I'm surprised it doesn't force-open in Microsoft Edge.
Microsoft Photos
The Photos app in Windows 11 has received many improvements over the last few years, and another change is on the way. If you have a Copilot+ PC, Photos will start automatically organizing your photos, without backing them up to a cloud service first.
Microsoft said in a blog post, "Auto-Categorization automatically detects and organizes your photo collection into meaningful categories like screenshots, receipts, identity documents, and notes using AI. It's designed to save time, reduce clutter, and make your photo library easier to navigate."
Microsoft
The categories are accessible from the left navigation list or the search bar. Right now, it's limited to just screenshots, receipts, identity documents, and notes.
This change is in Photos version 2025.11090.25001.0 or higher, which is now rolling out to all Insider channels through the Microsoft Store. It should be available to regular Windows 11 installations after any bugs are fixed. This update also enables Super Resolution across all Copilot+ PCs, including ones with Intel and AMD processors.
Other Changes
Microsoft started testing Emoji 16.0 support in Windows 11 earlier in September , which includes new emoji like Fingerprint, Splatter, and my personal favorite, 'Face with Bags Under Eyes.' Unfortunately, the new emoji aren't sticking around.
Microsoft
In the Windows 11 Dev and Beta Channels, Emoji 16 support has been temporarily removed. Microsoft says it will return "in a future release," and hopefully roll out to all Windows 11 PCs soon after that.
Also in the Dev and Beta Channels, there's new placeholder text in the search box for File Explorer on Copilot+ PCs. It might say something like "Try describing an image for file," so more people know about the semantic file search support .
