When news broke that Microsoft would be releasing its newest server, in the form of Windows Server 2025, it’s safe to say that users were apprehensive, as was the case with Windows Server 2022.
Nevertheless, in November 2024, Microsoft released its fourteenth iteration of its integral NT Operating System, and users have generally been pleasantly surprised. Is it flawless and without fault? Of course not, but the bugs and glitches present are, for the most part at least, minor, and the OS is still proving more popular than Windows Server 2019.
As well as the standard server, Microsoft also released its 2025 Windows Server Datacenter operating system, designed specifically with commercial businesses and advanced datacenters in mind.
The newest, and current (as of this writing) server, boasts a wide range of advanced features and is designed to help boost security and improve performance in the process. But what are some of the newest features found in the latest Windows Server 2025? Well, that’s what we’re going to find out today.
DTrace
One of the most prominent new Windows Server 2025 features and upgrades is DTrace.
For those who are unaware, DTrace, or ‘Dynamic Tracing’, functions as a command-line utility designed to help users troubleshoot and monitor the performance of their system in real time. It basically gives you an inside glimpse of what is happening.
With the 2025 Windows Server, DTrace comes as a native tool, which is very useful indeed. The tool is incredibly handy and helps to support a wide range of analysis techniques and data collection methods, for both user-space and kernel applications.
Bluetooth Upgrades
Whereas Bluetooth is hardly considered a new and innovative creation, it still plays a very prominent role in computing, technology, and everyday life in general.
While the Bluetooth capabilities of Windows Server 2019 were average at best, we did see a noticeable improvement when it came to Windows Server 2025. For the latest Windows server, however, we’ve seen further upgrades still.
With the latest version, Bluetooth enables users to wirelessly connect a wide range of devices, including headsets, keyboards, headphones, audio devices, and plenty more, in no time at all.
New File Compression
Another new feature found in the Windows Server 2025 upgrade is a new file compression function.
As well as the ever-faithful, tried and tested ZIP, the new operating system upgrade allows users to compress files into a wide range of other formats as well. These include TAR and 7z. Each one also provides several unique compression method options at the same time.
Enhanced WI-FI Connectivity Options
Whereas connecting to WI-FI on Windows Server 2019 was hardly considered difficult or time-consuming, it could sometimes take longer than it should have, which could become frustrating.
Sa Windows Server 2025, however, the wireless LAN Service feature comes pre-installed by default, with the wireless startup service being set to manual. This means you can automatically connect to WI-FI in a matter of seconds, sometimes less than that.
WinGet Installed by Default
WinGet, also known as Windows Package Manager, now comes automatically installed by default with the newest Windows Server.
This package manager tool is designed to allow users to update, install, remove, and discover a wide range of applications on Windows Server 2025, as well as Windows 10 and Windows 11.
With previous versions, the tool had to be installed manually. This time, however, it comes automatically installed by default, meaning it’s ready to go.
Dev Drive
Storage is another fundamental aspect of the latest Windows Server 2025 that has seen a very distinct update, this time coming in the form of Dev Drive.
Dev Drive serves as a storage volume which is designed to improve the performance of vital developer workloads, along with security as well.
Think of it as a separate drive which utilizes Resilient File System (ReFS) tech to provide enhanced levels of control over both security and storage volume settings. It essentially gives administrators a great deal more control over attached filters, antivirus settings, and security settings in general, while also overhauling storage options simultaneously. Basically, it puts you, the user, in control.
Windows Containers
Another upgrade we’ve seen with the newest Windows Server is Windows Containers portability.
This is a very prominent feature when it comes to container management as it allows users to seamlessly transfer container images, as well as any connected data, between a number of different environments and hosts. Best of all, is that this can be achieved without the need for modifications. With this new feature, users are able to create a container image on a particular host before they install it onto another. The bonus here is that there is no need to worry about any compatibility issues.
