diff --git a/windows/deployment/update/catalog-checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md b/windows/deployment/update/catalog-checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md
index a537aea3fa..cef752e648 100644
--- a/windows/deployment/update/catalog-checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md
+++ b/windows/deployment/update/catalog-checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ ms.localizationpriority: medium
appliesto:
- ✅ Windows 11, version 24H2 and later
- ✅ Windows Server 2025
-ms.date: 01/27/2025
+ms.date: 01/30/2025
---
# Checkpoint cumulative updates and Microsoft Update Catalog usage
diff --git a/windows/deployment/update/includes/checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md b/windows/deployment/update/includes/checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9e266ddb65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/windows/deployment/update/includes/checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+---
+author: mestew
+ms.author: mstewart
+manager: aaroncz
+ms.subservice: itpro-updates
+ms.service: windows-client
+ms.topic: include
+ms.date: 01/30/2025
+ms.localizationpriority: medium
+---
+
+
+Starting Windows 11, version 24H2, Microsoft may periodically release cumulative updates as checkpoints. The subsequent updates will consist of:
+- The update package files associated with the checkpoints, and
+- New update package files that contain incremental binary differentials against the version of binaries in the last checkpoint.
+
+Multiple checkpoints may be shipped during the lifecycle of a given Windows release. Devices updating from Windows Update and WSUS can continue to seamlessly install the latest monthly security update regardless of whether there are any preceding checkpoint cumulative updates, **no change is needed to their update process**. Catalog users can review [Checkpoint cumulative updates and Microsoft Update Catalog usage](catalog-checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md) for reference.
diff --git a/windows/deployment/update/release-cycle.md b/windows/deployment/update/release-cycle.md
index 7df3d99935..449627bbbe 100644
--- a/windows/deployment/update/release-cycle.md
+++ b/windows/deployment/update/release-cycle.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ ms.localizationpriority: medium
appliesto:
- ✅ Windows 11
- ✅ Windows 10
-ms.date: 01/27/2025
+ms.date: 01/30/2025
---
# Update release cycle for Windows clients
@@ -54,13 +54,8 @@ Monthly security update releases are available through the following channels:
Many update management tools, such as [Microsoft Configuration Manager](/mem/configmgr/) and [Microsoft Intune](/mem/intune/), rely on these channels for update deployment.
-Starting Windows 11, version 24H2, Microsoft may periodically release cumulative updates as checkpoints. The subsequent updates will consist of:
-- The update package files associated with the checkpoints, and
-- New update package files that contain incremental binary differentials against the version of binaries in the last checkpoint.
-
-Multiple checkpoints may be shipped during the lifecycle of a given Windows release. Devices updating from Windows Update and WSUS can continue to seamlessly install the latest monthly security update regardless of whether there are any preceding checkpoint cumulative updates, **no change is needed to their update process**. Catalog users can review [Checkpoint cumulative updates and Microsoft Update Catalog usage](catalog-checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md) for reference.
-
-
+
+[!INCLUDE [Checkpoint cumulative updates](./includes/checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md)]
## Optional nonsecurity preview release
@@ -78,11 +73,9 @@ To access the optional nonsecurity preview release:
- Use [Windows Insider Program for Business](https://insider.windows.com/for-business)
- Use the [Microsoft Update Catalog](https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Home.aspx).
-Starting Windows 11, version 24H2, Microsoft may periodically release cumulative updates as checkpoints. The subsequent updates will consist of:
-- The update package files associated with the checkpoints, and
-- New update package files that contain incremental binary differentials against the version of binaries in the last checkpoint.
+
+[!INCLUDE [Checkpoint cumulative updates](./includes/checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md)]
-Multiple checkpoints may be shipped during the lifecycle of a given Windows release. Devices updating from Windows Update and WSUS can continue to seamlessly install the latest monthly security update regardless of whether there are any preceding checkpoint cumulative updates, **no change is needed to their update process**. Catalog users can review [Checkpoint cumulative updates and Microsoft Update Catalog usage](catalog-checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md) for reference.
## OOB releases
@@ -97,6 +90,9 @@ Some key considerations about OOB releases include:
- Critical OOB releases are automatically available to WSUS and Windows Update for Business, just like the monthly security update releases.
- Some OOB releases are classified as noncritical.
- Noncritical releases only go to the Microsoft Update Catalog for users or organizations to voluntarily obtain the update.
+
+
+[!INCLUDE [Checkpoint cumulative updates](./includes/checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md)]
## Continuous innovation for Windows 11