Microsoft is rolling out a significant change for its enterprise customers, enabling “hotpatching” by default for all Windows 11 clients managed with its Autopatch service. The move promises to dramatically reduce the dreaded cycle of monthly reboots.
The technology applies critical security updates to running processes without forcing a system restart, cutting mandatory downtime to just four times a year. For IT administrators and users, this means enhanced security with minimal disruption, a major step in Microsoft’s broader strategy to modernize the Windows Update ecosystem.
The company confirmed the new default setting, stating: “Hotpatching Windows 11 devices at your organization just got easier. New quality update policies created in Windows Autopatch now have hotpatch updates enabled by default. This means fewer restarts and faster security updates for your managed devices.”
This shift directly addresses a long-standing pain point for IT departments that have struggled to balance security compliance with user productivity.
The End of the Monthly Reboot for Enterprise
The core of this new approach is a predictable quarterly cycle designed to maximize uptime. Each quarter begins with a “baseline” month, where a standard, comprehensive cumulative update is installed. This larger patch, which can include feature updates alongside security fixes, still requires a system reboot to be fully integrated.
However, for the two months that follow, all security updates are delivered as hotpatches. These smaller, targeted updates are applied directly to the code of running processes in memory. Microsoft emphasizes that this method is seamless, noting, “Hotpatch updates take effect immediately and don’t require user attention.” This cadence effectively transforms Patch Tuesday from a monthly disruption into a quarterly event.
Microsoft assures that this reboot-minimizing approach does not compromise security. According to company documentation, “Devices receive the same level of security patching as the standard monthly security updates released on Patch Tuesday.” This gives administrators confidence that they can maintain a strong security posture without the operational overhead of coordinating monthly restarts across their entire device fleet.
How Hotpatching Works: The Quarterly Cadence
The technology behind hotpatching has been refined over several years, first debuting on server platforms. It was a highlighted feature in Windows Server 2022 Azure Edition and later expanded with the launch of Windows Server 2025 in late 2024. This history in high-availability environments provided Microsoft with the data to bring the feature to its client OS.
The first operational hotpatch for Windows 11 Enterprise landed in mid-May 2025, following the general availability of the feature in April. The new default-on policy for Autopatch users represents the final step in making this a mainstream enterprise feature.
Eligibility and Requirements: Who Gets Reboot-Free Updates
Access to this reboot-free future is not universal; Microsoft has established clear and strict prerequisites. Hotpatching is exclusively available for devices running Windows 11 Enterprise or Education editions. Furthermore, organizations must have specific license agreements, such as Windows Enterprise E3 or E5, or equivalent Microsoft 365 plans.
Beyond licensing, device management is the key enabler. Systems must be joined to Azure AD and managed through Microsoft Intune. The policy to enable hotpatching is configured within Intune and deployed via Windows Autopatch, which automates the update process for enrolled devices.
Hardware support is another important limitation. Currently, hotpatching is only available for x64-based systems from Intel and AMD. Devices running on ARM64 architecture are, for now, excluded from the program, a critical detail for organizations exploring more diverse hardware fleets.
A Tale of Two Strategies: Client vs. Server
While hotpatching is now a unified technology across client and server, Microsoft is pursuing two distinct business models. For Windows 11 Enterprise clients, the feature is positioned as an included benefit—a value-add for its premium subscription licenses.
In stark contrast, the server-side implementation follows a different path. For on-premises Windows Server 2025 machines managed through Azure Arc, hotpatching is a paid, add-on subscription. As of July 1, 2025, this service costs $1.50 per CPU core per month.
This dual strategy is telling. It incentivizes the adoption of Microsoft’s cloud-managed ecosystem on the client side while simultaneously creating a new revenue stream from on-premises server infrastructure. It also serves as a powerful motivator for businesses to connect their servers to Azure Arc.
The move was praised by some for its potential to improve work-life balance for admins. Hari Pulapaka, a Microsoft General Manager, previously called the feature a “game changer,” stating, “This feature will be a game changer; simpler change control, shorter patch windows, easier orchestration… and you may finally get to see your family on the weekends.” Now, organizations must weigh that operational benefit against a direct subscription cost on the server side.
