Microsoft is enabling hotpatch security updates by default in Windows Autopatch starting with the May 2026 Windows security update. Hotpatching installs security updates without requiring a system restart, with changes taking effect immediately. Devices must run Windows 11 24H2 or later with an eligible license and the April 2026 update installed. Quarterly baseline updates still require a restart. Administrators can opt out at the tenant or policy level starting April 1, though the short notice window is criticized. The change respects existing update deferral and ring policies, but adds another variable to an already rocky update year for Microsoft.
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