diff --git a/windows-release/azure-pipelines.yml b/windows-release/azure-pipelines.yml
index 0e8a6148..9f87474c 100644
--- a/windows-release/azure-pipelines.yml
+++ b/windows-release/azure-pipelines.yml
@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ parameters:
   displayName: "Build the JIT compiler for free-threaded builds (not used yet)"
   type: boolean
   default: false
+- name: vmImage
+  displayName: "VM Image"
+  type: string
+  default: windows-2025
 
 resources:
   pipelines:
@@ -156,6 +160,8 @@ stages:
 - ${{ if and(eq(parameters.BuildToPublish, 'current'), eq(parameters.BuildToPackage, 'current')) }}:
   - stage: Build
     displayName: Build binaries
+    pool:
+      vmImage: ${{ parameters.vmImage }}
     jobs:
     - template: stage-build.yml
       parameters:
@@ -180,6 +186,8 @@ stages:
   - stage: Sign
     displayName: Sign binaries
     dependsOn: Build
+    pool:
+      vmImage: ${{ parameters.vmImage }}
     jobs:
     - template: stage-sign.yml
       parameters:
@@ -194,6 +202,8 @@ stages:
     ${{ else }}:
       displayName: Generate layouts from prior build
       dependsOn: []
+    pool:
+      vmImage: ${{ parameters.vmImage }}
     jobs:
     - template: stage-layout-full.yml
       parameters:
@@ -232,6 +242,8 @@ stages:
   - stage: Pack
     dependsOn: Layout
     displayName: Pack
+    pool:
+      vmImage: ${{ parameters.vmImage }}
     jobs:
     #- ${{ if eq(parameters.DoEmbed, 'true') }}:
     #  - template: stage-pack-embed.yml
@@ -263,6 +275,8 @@ stages:
 
   - stage: Test
     dependsOn: Pack
+    pool:
+      vmImage: ${{ parameters.vmImage }}
     jobs:
     - ${{ if eq(parameters.DoEmbed, 'true') }}:
       - template: stage-test-embed.yml
@@ -286,6 +300,8 @@ stages:
     dependsOn:
     - ${{ if eq(parameters.BuildToPublish, 'current') }}:
       - Test
+    pool:
+      vmImage: ${{ parameters.vmImage }}
     jobs:
     - ${{ if eq(parameters.DoPyManager, 'true') }}:
       - template: stage-publish-pymanager.yml
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-build.yml b/windows-release/stage-build.yml
index a76aa472..1433b8ea 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-build.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-build.yml
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@ parameters:
 jobs:
 - job: Build_Docs
   displayName: Docs build
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
 
   workspace:
     clean: all
@@ -40,9 +38,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Build_Python
   displayName: Python build
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
@@ -176,9 +171,6 @@ jobs:
   - job: Build_Python_PGO_Native
     displayName: Python PGO build
 
-    pool:
-      vmImage: windows-2022
-
     workspace:
       clean: all
 
@@ -219,9 +211,6 @@ jobs:
     - job: Build_Python_PGO_1
       displayName: Python PGO build
 
-      pool:
-        vmImage: windows-2022
-
       workspace:
         clean: all
 
@@ -299,9 +288,6 @@ jobs:
       displayName: Merge PGO profile
       dependsOn: Build_Python_PGO_2
 
-      pool:
-        vmImage: windows-2022
-
       workspace:
         clean: all
 
@@ -339,9 +325,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: TclTk_Lib
   displayName: Publish Tcl/Tk Library
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   variables:
     IncludeLLVM: false
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-layout-embed.yml b/windows-release/stage-layout-embed.yml
index 4f077f86..6380e4d1 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-layout-embed.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-layout-embed.yml
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Make_Embed_Layout
   displayName: Make embeddable layout
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-layout-full.yml b/windows-release/stage-layout-full.yml
index 75917add..4839666e 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-layout-full.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-layout-full.yml
@@ -7,9 +7,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Make_Layouts
   displayName: Make layouts
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-layout-msix.yml b/windows-release/stage-layout-msix.yml
index 54dcf3d6..16df4133 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-layout-msix.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-layout-msix.yml
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Make_MSIX_Layout
   displayName: Make MSIX layout
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-layout-nuget.yml b/windows-release/stage-layout-nuget.yml
index 0cabcb9b..a1fb8782 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-layout-nuget.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-layout-nuget.yml
@@ -7,9 +7,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Make_Nuget_Layout
   displayName: Make Nuget layout
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-layout-pymanager.yml b/windows-release/stage-layout-pymanager.yml
index 5bae2f5f..2aeaf143 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-layout-pymanager.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-layout-pymanager.yml
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Make_PyManager_Layouts
   displayName: Make PyManager layouts
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-layout-symbols.yml b/windows-release/stage-layout-symbols.yml
index a890b51d..a1268a40 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-layout-symbols.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-layout-symbols.yml
@@ -22,9 +22,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Layout_Symbols
   displayName: Make symbols layout
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-msi.yml b/windows-release/stage-msi.yml
index 52904662..4342a470 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-msi.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-msi.yml
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Make_MSI
   displayName: Make MSI
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   variables:
   - ${{ if eq(parameters.SigningCertificate, 'PythonSoftwareFoundation') }}:
     - group: CPythonSign
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-pack-msix.yml b/windows-release/stage-pack-msix.yml
index 53bfa800..cb732b09 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-pack-msix.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-pack-msix.yml
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Pack_MSIX
   displayName: Pack MSIX bundles
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
@@ -95,9 +92,6 @@ jobs:
     dependsOn:
     - Pack_MSIX
 
-    pool:
-      vmImage: windows-2022
-
     workspace:
       clean: all
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-pack-nuget.yml b/windows-release/stage-pack-nuget.yml
index 2a0ab657..cc9735a9 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-pack-nuget.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-pack-nuget.yml
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Pack_Nuget
   displayName: Pack Nuget bundles
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-pack-pymanager.yml b/windows-release/stage-pack-pymanager.yml
index 30966514..84fc6911 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-pack-pymanager.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-pack-pymanager.yml
@@ -27,9 +27,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Pack_PyManager
   displayName: Pack PyManager bundle
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-publish-nugetorg.yml b/windows-release/stage-publish-nugetorg.yml
index e0dc889d..0b5db4e4 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-publish-nugetorg.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-publish-nugetorg.yml
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@ jobs:
   displayName: Publish Nuget packages
   condition: and(succeeded(), ne(variables['SkipNugetPublish'], 'true'))
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-publish-pymanager.yml b/windows-release/stage-publish-pymanager.yml
index a5a3df6b..f24f5073 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-publish-pymanager.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-publish-pymanager.yml
@@ -29,9 +29,6 @@ jobs:
   displayName: Publish PyManager packages to python.org
   condition: and(succeeded(), ne(variables['SkipPythonOrgPublish'], 'true'))
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   variables:
   - group: PythonOrgPublish
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-publish-pythonorg.yml b/windows-release/stage-publish-pythonorg.yml
index b6cdfc56..58d5fd7c 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-publish-pythonorg.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-publish-pythonorg.yml
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@ jobs:
   displayName: Publish python.org packages
   condition: and(succeeded(), ne(variables['SkipPythonOrgPublish'], 'true'))
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   variables:
   - group: PythonOrgPublish
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-sign.yml b/windows-release/stage-sign.yml
index 3a888414..a611e424 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-sign.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-sign.yml
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@ jobs:
   - job: Sign_Files
     displayName: Sign Python binaries
 
-    pool:
-      vmImage: windows-2022
-
     workspace:
       clean: all
 
@@ -80,9 +77,6 @@ jobs:
   - job: Mark_Unsigned
     displayName: Tag unsigned build
 
-    pool:
-      vmImage: windows-2022
-
     steps:
     - checkout: none
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-test-embed.yml b/windows-release/stage-test-embed.yml
index 293c5336..a42fa5ef 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-test-embed.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-test-embed.yml
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Test_Embed
   displayName: Test Embed
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-test-msi.yml b/windows-release/stage-test-msi.yml
index 3b02a5ed..abf4a408 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-test-msi.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-test-msi.yml
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Test_MSI
   displayName: Test MSI
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-test-nuget.yml b/windows-release/stage-test-nuget.yml
index 670a2e32..9ab4b48e 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-test-nuget.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-test-nuget.yml
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Test_Nuget
   displayName: Test Nuget
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all
 
diff --git a/windows-release/stage-test-pymanager.yml b/windows-release/stage-test-pymanager.yml
index a1f44583..667a6700 100644
--- a/windows-release/stage-test-pymanager.yml
+++ b/windows-release/stage-test-pymanager.yml
@@ -6,9 +6,6 @@ jobs:
 - job: Test_PyManager
   displayName: Test PyManager
 
-  pool:
-    vmImage: windows-2022
-
   workspace:
     clean: all