We’re pleased to announce the availability of the latest release for Windows Admin Center, version 2606!

This update focuses on improving the overall reliability, accessibility, security, and user experience of the platform based on customer feedback and development partner-reported issues. It delivers important quality improvements that make everyday administration smoother and more dependable.

Version 2606 is exclusively an Administration Mode release. Not sure what this means? Check out our blog post explaining the differences between “Windows Admin Center: Administration Mode” and “Windows Admin Center: Virtualization Mode.”

We know we updated version 2511 multiple times. We’re exploring a more frequent release cadence in the future so that new features, enhancements, and fixes reach you sooner.

If you’d like to see more frequent releases, give this post a 👍🏼. We’d also love your feedback. Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know what release cadence works best for you!

The Windows Admin Center: Virtualization Mode public preview build has been updated

Earlier this year, we announced an update to the public preview build of Windows Admin Center: Virtualization Mode. We’ve reviewed the ample feedback and have refreshed the build again to address critical bugs and asks. Check out the  latest blog post to learn more!

What’s new in Windows Admin Center 2606

Platform updates

• Fixed an issue where users trying to install on a standalone machine with a non-English OS were receiving an error message about high availability installations not being supported


• Fixed an issue where users were unable to add Allowed Groups containing spaces in the Access tab of gateway settings


• Hardened security posture


• Addressed major accessibility issues
  
  
  
  • Improvements to keyboard navigation, dialog accessibility, screen reader support, and ARIA compliance across key management experiences
  
  
  • Common workflows are now easier to navigate using assistive technologies and help improve compliance with accessibility standards
  
  
  
  

Extension updates

• The GPU tool is now available for Windows Server 2025 standard edition


• Fixed an issue with volume deletion operations present in versions of the Cluster Manager extension lower than 5.2.6


• Fixed an issue where scheduled task status was not changing after starting task


• Import VM
  
  
  
  • A network summary has been added to the review tab of the Import VM workflow
  
  
  • Fixed an issue where the VHD destination was not displaying correctly in the Storage Summary section of the review tab of the Import VM workflow
  
  
  • Fixed an issue where VM name was not displaying correctly in the Review tab of the Import VM workflow
  
  
  
  


• Fixed an issue where copying a physical hard disk in virtual machine settings was not working


• Increased maximum network adapter limits for Gen2 virtual machines from 8 to 64 (8 is still the Gen1 virtual machine maximum)


• Updated Secure Boot logic and status in the Security tool with clearer messaging and next steps 


• Improved error handling in the platform and tools such as Files & file shares, Processes, Virtual machines, and Services


• Software-defined networking (SDN)
  
  
  
  • Virtual networks
    
    
    
    • We now block deletion of virtual networks and deletion and editing of virtual subnets that are in use by virtual gateways. Previously, customers were accidentally modifying these resources which would result in a failed provisioning state. 
    
    
    • Implemented critical bug fixes such as allowing the removal of network security groups from the virtual subnet resource
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Virtual gateway
    
    
    
    • Included a host IP form field to support a critical fix in the l3 fast path feature.  
    
    
    • Added an option for users to set the unit of measurement for their bandwidth allocation
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Logical networks
    
    
    
    • Implemented a bugfix that allows users to update their logical networks with default network policies (no address prefix)
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

Partner Ecosystem

The Windows Admin Center management experience would not be complete without our development partners, who make managing your hardware and firmware through Windows Admin Center a streamlined experience. Since the last generally available release of Windows Admin Center, two partners have made updates to their extensions.

• The Dell OpenManage Integration extension has been upgraded to version 3.6.0—this version contains the following improvements:
  
  
  
  • Hardware Alert Polling – Provides configurable hardware alert polling, and severity thresholds to ensure timely and consistent notifications across all servers and clusters.
  
  
  • WDAC support for Windows Server 2025 – OMIMSWAC is supported on Windows Server 2025 with Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) enabled by using Dell provided supplemental policies.
  
  
  • Custom Hardware Alert Configuration – Allows user to configure or remove iDRAC hardware alerts at the cluster or individual node level by offering granular control over alert categories, subcategories, and severity.
  
  
  • Warranty Status Improvements – Improves the accuracy of warranty reporting by identifying cases where node data is unavailable and marking them as Unknown. Adds node-level warranty information in tooltips for quicker insight and easier diagnostics
  
  
  • Azure Policies Onboarding Quota Handling – Provides clear information when Azure policy onboarding fails due to quota restrictions and provide guidance to help resolve the issue efficiently.
  
  
  • Enhanced Hardware Configuration Policies – Extended configuration compatibility for HCP/SCP (on‑premises) and Azure onboarding policies by recognizing either On or Last as compliant for AC Power Recovery settings
  
  
  • BitLocker Improvements – Ensures more reliable BitLocker management during updates and cluster expansion by reliably suspending and resuming protection. Restores the original state regardless of job status as failure, cancellation, or successful completion.
  
  
  • Added support for Multi Cloud (APEX MC) platform for Azure Local.
  
  
  • Added support for PowerEdge 17G models: R7725xd and R770AP
  
  
  • Added support for IPv6 while connecting with iDRAC through Remote NDIS adapter.
  
  
  • HCI Configuration Profile is enhanced to support a minimum of two storage drives for Azure Stack HCI operating system per server for all-flash configurations.
  
  
  • AX 16G clusters now support mixed processor generations, allowing Sapphire Rapids and Emerald Rapids based nodes to run together for greater deployment flexibility
  
  
  
  


• The Fujitsu ServerView Health extension has been rebranded to FSAS Technologies ServerView Health with the extension ID fsastech.sme.serverview.health-extension—this extension has also been upgraded to Angular 15


•  The Fujitsu ServerView RAID extension has been rebranded to FSAS Technologies ServerView RAID with the extension ID fsastech.sme.serverview.raid-extension—this extension has also been upgraded to Angular 15

Download today!

Thanks for reading along and continuing to support Windows Admin Center! We hope you enjoy this new version and the various new functionality now available.   

Download now! 

As always, thanks for your ongoing support, adoption, and feedback. Your contributions through user feedback continue to be vital and valuable to us, helping us prioritize and sequence our investments.  

Windows Admin Center is continuously evolving and growing as a tool and a platform, and we are beyond thrilled to have you part of our journey.  

Thank you,  

Windows Admin Center Team (@servermgmt)