According to a recent change in Windows 11 preview build 26058 in the Canary and Dev channels, Windows 11 might soon introduce a feature allowing updates without needing a system reboot. Microsoft is sending updates to testers to test the servicing pipeline for Windows 11, version 24H2. Notably, users with Virtualization Based Security (VBS) enabled may not have to restart after installing these updates.
The ability to run updates without rebooting referred to as “hot patching,” could become a reality in the upcoming major update for Windows 11 later this year (24H2). Of course, this method is more convenient for users. However, it’s clarified that this hot patching feature would apply to monthly cumulative updates, not major upgrades like 24H2, as significant changes under the hood make hot patching impractical or even impossible for such updates.
It’s worth saying that not all cumulative updates would be able to bypass the need for a reboot, as hot patching relies on a baseline update that must be refreshed every few months. While this information should be taken with a grain of salt, Microsoft’s ongoing testing, specifically mentioning 24H2, suggests they are exploring this update approach.