In-place upgrade from Windows Server 2022 to Windows Server 2025

Prepare Before Starting

1. Backup Your Data: Ensure a complete backup of all critical data, domain controllers, configuration files, and applications. Create system snapshots in case need to roll back..

2. Check Hardware Compatibility: Verify that all hardware components (drivers and firmware) are updated to meet the Windows Server 2025 specifications.

3. Ensure Cluster Health: If upgrading a cluster, confirm that the cluster is healthy with no errors or critical warnings 1.

4. Download Windows Server 2025 ISO: Obtain the free retail Windows Server 2025 ISO download from Microsoft or contact keyingo support for the  download link.

5. Application Compatibility: Check that all applications and services are supported on Windows Server 2025

 Step-by-Step In-Place Upgrade Instructions:

In this section, you use Windows Server Setup to select the settings for the in-place upgrade. Windows Server Setup uses these settings to update your version of Windows Server. During the update, your computer restarts several times.

1. Open File Explorer, go to the Windows Server 2025 ISO media, and then open setup.exe. 

   

   Depending on your security settings, the User Account Control dialog might prompt you to allow the setup to make changes to your device. If you agree to the conditions, select Yes.

2. By default, the setup automatically downloads updates for the installation. If you’re okay with the default settings, select Next to continue.
3. If prompted, select “I previously installed Windows Server on this PC”. then enter the generic Windows Server 2025 product key D764K-2NDRG-47T6Q-P8T8W-YP6DF,  it is only for installation, not for activation and then select Next.
4. Select the edition of Windows Server you want to install, and then select Next.
5. Review the applicable notices and license terms. If you agree to the terms, select Accept.
6. To do an in-place upgrade, select Keep files, settings, and apps, and then select Next.
7. After the setup finishes analyzing your device, it displays the Ready to install screen. To start the in-place upgrade, select Install.

The in-place upgrade starts, and the progress is displayed on the screen. After the in-place upgrade finishes, your server restarts.

Windows Server 2025 Activation

As you can see, the activation state is “Not active”. To fix this, click on Change.

Enter the Product Key and click next, if you do not have a retail Windows Server 2025 product key, you can get one from Keyingo.com, then your Server 2025 activation state will be activate.