Exchange Server 2025 SE Prerequisites – Full Checklist Before You Install

Introduction

Microsoft’s latest on-premises messaging platform, Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE), is now the recommended version for all new deployments and upgrades. If you’re currently running Exchange Server 2019 CU15, the good news is that upgrading to Exchange 2025 SE RTM requires no additional licensing — the path is free and supported.

But before you run Setup, you need to meet every prerequisite on the list. Skip one, and the installer will remind you — loudly. This guide covers every requirement: supported operating systems, Active Directory conditions, Windows features, and the exact PowerShell commands tailored to your environment at server (DC: 192.168.91.129, FQDN: server.vmorecloud.com).

Key Highlights

Exchange 2025 SE supports Windows Server 2019, 2022, and 2025
.NET Framework version depends on your OS — 4.8 for WS2022, 4.8.1 for WS2025
MSMQ is no longer required and should be removed if present
AD prep can be handled by Setup automatically or manually via command line
Management Tools can also be installed on Windows 10/11 64-bit

Supported Operating Systems

Exchange Server 2025 SE can be installed on the following Windows Server versions:

Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2022
Windows Server 2025

For Exchange Management Tools only, you can also use:

Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)
Windows Server 2019, 2022, or 2025

Active Directory Requirements

Your Active Directory environment must be prepared before Exchange touches it. You need to be a member of the Active Directory Domain Users group, and the following software must be installed on your AD server.

.NET Framework

On Windows Server 2022: install .NET Framework 4.8
On Windows Server 2025: install .NET Framework 4.8.1

Since your domain controller (server.vmorecloud.com) runs Windows Server 2025, you need:

.NET Framework 4.8.1 — available from the Microsoft .NET download page.

Visual C++ Redistributables

Both of these must be installed on the AD server:

Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 (x64)
Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2013 (x64)

RSAT-ADDS (Remote Server Administration Tools)

Install the AD DS tools using PowerShell on server:

Install-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS

Once all dependencies are in place, your domain controller is ready for schema extension and AD preparation.

Mailbox Server Role Prerequisites

This is the most comprehensive set of requirements. Before running Exchange Setup for the Mailbox role, install all of the following on your server.

Required Software

.NET Framework — version appropriate for your OS (4.8.1 for Windows Server 2025)
Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012
Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2013
Unified Communications Managed API 4.0 (required if using Skype for Business)
IIS URL Rewrite Module (from iis.net)

Optional: Server Media Foundation (for Skype for Business integration)

Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation

Windows Features — Desktop Experience

Run the following command to install all required Windows features in one shot on server:

Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation, NET-Framework-45-Core, NET-Framework-45-ASPNET, NET-WCF-HTTP-Activation45, NET-WCF-Pipe-Activation45, NET-WCF-TCP-Activation45, NET-WCF-TCP-PortSharing45, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface, RSAT-Clustering-Mgmt, RSAT-Clustering-PowerShell, WAS-Process-Model, Web-Asp-Net45, Web-Basic-Auth, Web-Client-Auth, Web-Digest-Auth, Web-Dir-Browsing, Web-Dyn-Compression, Web-Http-Errors, Web-Http-Logging, Web-Http-Redirect, Web-Http-Tracing, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-ISAPI-Filter, Web-Metabase, Web-Mgmt-Console, Web-Mgmt-Service, Web-Net-Ext45, Web-Request-Monitor, Web-Server, Web-Stat-Compression, Web-Static-Content, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-WMI, Windows-Identity-Foundation, RSAT-ADDS

Windows Features — Server Core

If you’re running Server Core instead of Desktop Experience, use this version (note: RSAT-Clustering-Mgmt and Web-Mgmt-Console are excluded):

Install-WindowsFeature Server-Media-Foundation, NET-Framework-45-Core, NET-Framework-45-ASPNET, NET-WCF-HTTP-Activation45, NET-WCF-Pipe-Activation45, NET-WCF-TCP-Activation45, NET-WCF-TCP-PortSharing45, RPC-over-HTTP-proxy, RSAT-Clustering, RSAT-Clustering-CmdInterface, RSAT-Clustering-PowerShell, WAS-Process-Model, Web-Asp-Net45, Web-Basic-Auth, Web-Client-Auth, Web-Digest-Auth, Web-Dir-Browsing, Web-Dyn-Compression, Web-Http-Errors, Web-Http-Logging, Web-Http-Redirect, Web-Http-Tracing, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-ISAPI-Filter, Web-Metabase, Web-Mgmt-Service, Web-Net-Ext45, Web-Request-Monitor, Web-Server, Web-Stat-Compression, Web-Static-Content, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-WMI, RSAT-ADDS

Remove MSMQ (If Present)

MSMQ (Microsoft Message Queuing) is no longer a requirement for Exchange Server 2025 SE. If it is already installed on your server, remove it:

Remove-WindowsFeature NET-WCF-MSMQ-Activation45, MSMQ

Exchange Management Tools Prerequisites

For a server OS, install the following Windows features:

Install-WindowsFeature -Name Web-Mgmt-Console, Web-Metabase

For a Windows client OS (Windows 10 or 11):

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName IIS-ManagementConsole, IIS-Metabase -All

Also install a supported .NET Framework version and the Visual C++ 2012 Redistributable on whichever machine hosts the management tools.

Preparing Active Directory (Manual Method)

If Exchange Setup is handling a fresh install, it will prepare AD automatically. But if you want to do it manually — or you’re staging the install — here are the commands assuming the Exchange ISO is mounted at drive E: on server.

Extend the AD Schema

E:\Setup.exe /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms_DiagnosticDataON /PrepareSchema

Prepare Active Directory

E:\Setup.exe /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms_DiagnosticDataON /PrepareAD /OrganizationName:"vmorecloud"

Prepare All Domains

E:\Setup.exe /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms_DiagnosticDataON /PrepareAllDomains

Conclusion

Exchange Server 2025 SE is Microsoft’s most current on-premises messaging platform, and the prerequisites are deliberately strict. Before you run Setup, make sure every item on this list is checked off: the right .NET version for Windows Server 2025, both Visual C++ redistributables, all required Windows features, and MSMQ removed if it was previously installed.

Once your prerequisites are confirmed, you’re ready to extend the AD schema and proceed with the installation. If you’re upgrading from Exchange 2019 CU15, the in-place path to Exchange 2025 SE RTM is free of additional licensing costs — making now an excellent time to modernize your environment.

For questions specific to the Exchange Server infrastructure or deployment scenarios, drop a comment below.