Windows Updates Issue | KB5068861 | Windows Server 2025 | Pending Restart |

If you are experiencing the issue where your Windows Server 2025 VMs show the status "Requires a restart to finish installing" after installing KB5068861, even after multiple reboots, there are a few steps you can take:

1. Verify Update Installation: Ensure that the update was installed correctly. Sometimes, updates may not apply fully due to various reasons.
2. Check for Additional Updates: Go to "Windows Update" in the "Windows Settings" app and check for any additional updates that may need to be installed. Sometimes, subsequent updates can resolve pending issues.
3. Known Issue Rollback (KIR): This issue may be addressed using Known Issue Rollback (KIR). Restarting your device might help the resolution apply faster.
4. Group Policy Configuration: If you are managing these devices in an enterprise environment, ensure that the Group Policy settings are configured correctly to allow the update to finalize.
5. Manual Installation: If the issue persists, consider manually downloading and installing the update from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, further investigation may be required, potentially involving Microsoft support for more complex scenarios.

References:

• Windows Server 2025 known issues and notifications
• Resolved issues in Windows Server 2025

Hi Philip Jr Pirah,

The behavior you’re seeing, where KB5068861 continues to show “Requires a restart to finish installing” despite multiple reboots, can occur if the update did not fully commit during the servicing process. In many cases, this is related to pending update metadata or incomplete cleanup of the update cache.

I recommend first running Windows Update Troubleshooter and then clearing the update cache by stopping the Windows Update service and deleting the contents of the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder. After that, restart the service and check for updates again. If the issue persists, you can manually download and install KB5068861 from the Microsoft Update Catalog to ensure the package is applied correctly.

Since you have multiple VMs affected, it’s also worth verifying that the update prerequisites are met and that no Group Policy or security software is blocking the installation. Running DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth followed by sfc /scannow can also help repair any system file corruption that may interfere with update completion.

Once you’ve tried these steps, the update status should clear and reflect correctly. If this guidance helps resolve your issue, please don’t forget to click “Accept Answer” so others can benefit from the solution as well 😊.

Jason.

Hi Philip Jr Pirah,

I hope everything is going well. Have you managed to fix the problem on your side? Or anything esle I can help with? If the solution worked for you, please consider selecting “Accept Answer” to help others find it more easily. Much appreciated!

Thank you Jason. Suggestion worked.