Microsoft Bans Manual MSU Installations: What You Need to Know

When it comes to keeping your Windows setup in tip-top shape, the advice from Microsoft is typically gospel. But now, the tech giant has thrown a curveball: a big no-no on manually installing the Windows Update Standalone Installer (MSU) packages for the most recent iterations of Windows 11 24H2 and Windows Server 2025. Let’s dive into what this means, why it's happening, and how this may impact you.

What’s the Issue Here?​

Back in July 2024, Microsoft announced a new approach to delivering updates for these operating systems with what they’re calling "Checkpoint Cumulative Updates" (Checkpoint CU). These were billed as the next big thing, designed to reduce download sizes, speed up installations, and lighten the load on Microsoft’s update servers. Sounds great, right?
The trouble began shortly afterward. By September 2024, users reported that manually installing these updates via the traditional MSU files sometimes led to cryptic “Operation is not supported” errors. This primarily affected updates related to Features on Demand (FoD) and Language Packs (LP), key components typically used by enterprises and multilingual setups. Microsoft initially outlined a workaround involving a manual installation process. However, things have now changed—Microsoft has rescinded this method altogether.

Out with the Old: No More Manual MSU Installs​

Microsoft updated its support documents late in 2024, flat-out removing manual installation guidance for these newer updates. Previously, they suggested two methods to install MSU updates:

• Manually install MSU packages one by one—a classic drag-and-drop approach using individual files.
• Using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool (DISM)—an administrative command-line method.

In the revised guidance, Method 1 has been scraped off the page like a typo in an email you shouldn't have sent. You’re now left with Method 2: rolling with DISM. If you’re unfamiliar with DISM, it’s a robust Swiss Army knife that helps admins manage Windows images, including adding these MSU packages.
But why has Microsoft taken this drastic step? This isn’t just a random policy change; it’s all about better compatibility with Checkpoint Updates going forward. Put bluntly, manual MSU installation now introduces more hurdles than it’s worth.

The Bigger Picture: Why “Checkpoint Updates” Change the Game​

First, let’s talk about what Checkpoint Cumulative Updates actually are. Microsoft introduced this process as a way to make update delivery smoother. Here's the elevator pitch:

• These updates are modular, breaking changes into smaller, incremental pieces.
• This reduces download sizes for users—saving bandwidth—and minimizes update strain on Microsoft's update services such as WSUS (Windows Server Update Services).

Unfortunately, these smaller, feature-specific chunks make MSU packages (i.e., standalone updates) problematic, especially when installed piecemeal or out of sequence. If you’re trying to stack updates in the wrong order manually, the system throws errors. That issue previously plagued users fixing FoD or LP, but it’s just as disruptive for anyone DIY’ing updates.
This incompatibility marks a shift in how Windows updates should now be handled. It’s no longer about the good old days of downloading .msu files from the Microsoft Update Catalog and calling it a day. Instead, Microsoft is evolving toward a more controlled, automated, and streamlined system, ideally managed through either:

• Windows Update (for consumers and many small businesses).
• Tools like WSUS or DISM (for IT Pros and enterprise environments).

Bottom line? The fewer hands-on interventions, the smoother everything runs.

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What This Means in Practice​

So, if you’re still itching to bypass Windows Update or manually handle installations, here’s how this change impacts you:

• DISM First, DISM Always
  For anyone who updates outside the typical automatic Windows Update process, DISM commands will now be the officially sanctioned way to handle .msu files. Example command:
  

  bash
  
     DISM /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:path_to_your_msu_file

  It’s faster—once you get the hang of it—and more reliable.
• DIY Wannabes, Stop Here
  If you’re a casual user who manually installs updates (don’t pretend you’re not out there), the easiest and safest approach is now sticking with the default Windows Update service. No more scouring third-party blogs for update strategies.
• Enterprise IT: Time to Adjust Scripts
  Anyone working at scale—particularly IT admins—will want to audit any automation scripts or routines that rely on MSU updates. Swap manual installation steps for DISM commands or configure systems to retrieve updates directly via WSUS. This ensures compatibility with Checkpoint Updates moving forward.

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Why Should You Care?​

This change has several ripple effects for different audiences:

• For Enterprises: This could be a blessing in disguise. While the old manual method offered flexibility, its unreliability wasted time and resources. Now, automated tools like DISM are positioned as the permanent solution.
• Home Users: If you’ve ever fought through an MSU package only to see error messages that make zero sense, Microsoft basically just saved you a headache. Rely on Windows Update—and don’t look back.
• Developers and Techies: The shift to Checkpoint Updates underlines Microsoft’s move toward smaller, faster updates. If this sounds familiar, it’s probably reminiscent of Linux-style updates, where granular, module-based updates have long been the norm.

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Final Thoughts: Embracing the Evolution of Updates​

This isn’t just about eliminating a manual method—it’s a peek into the future of Windows updates altogether. Periodic mega-updates are dead. In their place are nimble, efficiency-driven packets designed for speed, ease, and compatibility.
So, while this might feel like “one more thing” Microsoft’s taking away, it’s worth considering what you’d trade for a smoother, error-free update system. For most of us, less hassle means more time focusing on everything else that makes computing fun—or at least bearable.
What do you think about Microsoft pulling the plug on manual MSU installations? Are you willing to embrace new update methods, or do you prefer the old-school hands-on control? Let us know in the forum comments below.

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Source: Neowin Microsoft now says not to manually install Windows 11 24H2/Server 2025 MSU updates