diff --git a/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/ClusterTests.cs b/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/ClusterTests.cs
index 016480c59..118e0f975 100644
--- a/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/ClusterTests.cs
+++ b/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/ClusterTests.cs
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ public async Task TestIdentity()
     [Fact]
     public async Task IntentionalWrongServer()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         static string? StringGet(IServer server, RedisKey key, CommandFlags flags = CommandFlags.None)
             => (string?)server.Execute(0, "GET", [key], flags);
 
diff --git a/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/KeyIdleAsyncTests.cs b/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/KeyIdleAsyncTests.cs
index e967de388..258110a6e 100644
--- a/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/KeyIdleAsyncTests.cs
+++ b/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/KeyIdleAsyncTests.cs
@@ -8,22 +8,35 @@ namespace StackExchange.Redis.Tests;
 [RunPerProtocol]
 public class KeyIdleAsyncTests(ITestOutputHelper output, SharedConnectionFixture fixture) : TestBase(output, fixture)
 {
+    // Target the standalone secure server (6381) rather than the default primary (6379).
+    // OBJECT IDLETIME is reset via the value's LRU access clock, but Redis deliberately
+    // suppresses that update while a save/AOF/replication-sync child is active (copy-on-write
+    // avoidance). The default primary has a replica attached, and every replica full-sync forks
+    // such a child; if one overlaps a touch/read in these tests, the idle time isn't reset and the
+    // test flakes (observed on Windows CI). 6381 has no replica and no persistence, so no fork ever
+    // suppresses the reset and the behaviour is deterministic. Overriding GetConfiguration here also
+    // opts these tests out of the shared connection fixture, giving each a dedicated 6381 connection.
+    protected override string GetConfiguration()
+        => TestConfig.Current.SecureServerAndPort + ",password=" + TestConfig.Current.SecurePassword;
+
     [Fact]
     public async Task IdleTimeAsync()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease("WSL exacerbates replication time");
         await using var conn = Create();
 
         RedisKey key = Me();
         var db = conn.GetDatabase();
         db.KeyDelete(key, CommandFlags.FireAndForget);
         db.StringSet(key, "new value", flags: CommandFlags.FireAndForget);
+        var timer = Stopwatch.StartNew();
         await Task.Delay(2000).ForAwait();
         var idleTime = await db.KeyIdleTimeAsync(key).ForAwait();
-        Assert.True(idleTime > TimeSpan.Zero, "First check");
+        Assert.True(idleTime > TimeSpan.Zero, $"First check: {idleTime} should be > 0; elapsed: {timer.ElapsedMilliseconds}ms");
 
         db.StringSet(key, "new value2", flags: CommandFlags.FireAndForget);
         var idleTime2 = await db.KeyIdleTimeAsync(key).ForAwait();
-        Assert.True(idleTime2 < idleTime, "Second check");
+        Assert.True(idleTime2 < idleTime, $"Second check: {idleTime2} should be < {idleTime}; elapsed: {timer.ElapsedMilliseconds}ms");
 
         db.KeyDelete(key);
         var idleTime3 = await db.KeyIdleTimeAsync(key).ForAwait();
@@ -33,6 +46,7 @@ public async Task IdleTimeAsync()
     [Fact]
     public async Task TouchIdleTimeAsync()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease("WSL exacerbates replication time");
         await using var conn = Create(require: RedisFeatures.v3_2_1);
 
         RedisKey key = Me();
diff --git a/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/KeyIdleTests.cs b/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/KeyIdleTests.cs
index deec1efb4..9c408b4e8 100644
--- a/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/KeyIdleTests.cs
+++ b/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/KeyIdleTests.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System;
+using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using Xunit;
 
@@ -7,22 +8,35 @@ namespace StackExchange.Redis.Tests;
 [RunPerProtocol]
 public class KeyIdleTests(ITestOutputHelper output, SharedConnectionFixture fixture) : TestBase(output, fixture)
 {
+    // Target the standalone secure server (6381) rather than the default primary (6379).
+    // OBJECT IDLETIME is reset via the value's LRU access clock, but Redis deliberately
+    // suppresses that update while a save/AOF/replication-sync child is active (copy-on-write
+    // avoidance). The default primary has a replica attached, and every replica full-sync forks
+    // such a child; if one overlaps a touch/read in these tests, the idle time isn't reset and the
+    // test flakes (observed on Windows CI). 6381 has no replica and no persistence, so no fork ever
+    // suppresses the reset and the behaviour is deterministic. Overriding GetConfiguration here also
+    // opts these tests out of the shared connection fixture, giving each a dedicated 6381 connection.
+    protected override string GetConfiguration()
+        => TestConfig.Current.SecureServerAndPort + ",password=" + TestConfig.Current.SecurePassword;
+
     [Fact]
     public async Task IdleTime()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease("WSL exacerbates replication time");
         await using var conn = Create();
 
         RedisKey key = Me();
         var db = conn.GetDatabase();
         db.KeyDelete(key, CommandFlags.FireAndForget);
         db.StringSet(key, "new value", flags: CommandFlags.FireAndForget);
+        var timer = Stopwatch.StartNew();
         await Task.Delay(2000).ForAwait();
         var idleTime = db.KeyIdleTime(key);
-        Assert.True(idleTime > TimeSpan.Zero);
+        Assert.True(idleTime > TimeSpan.Zero, $"First check: {idleTime} should be > 0; elapsed: {timer.ElapsedMilliseconds}ms");
 
         db.StringSet(key, "new value2", flags: CommandFlags.FireAndForget);
         var idleTime2 = db.KeyIdleTime(key);
-        Assert.True(idleTime2 < idleTime);
+        Assert.True(idleTime2 < idleTime, $"Second check: {idleTime2} should be < {idleTime}; elapsed: {timer.ElapsedMilliseconds}ms");
 
         db.KeyDelete(key);
         var idleTime3 = db.KeyIdleTime(key);
@@ -32,18 +46,20 @@ public async Task IdleTime()
     [Fact]
     public async Task TouchIdleTime()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease("WSL exacerbates replication time");
         await using var conn = Create(require: RedisFeatures.v3_2_1);
 
         RedisKey key = Me();
         var db = conn.GetDatabase();
         db.KeyDelete(key, CommandFlags.FireAndForget);
         db.StringSet(key, "new value", flags: CommandFlags.FireAndForget);
+        var timer = Stopwatch.StartNew();
         await Task.Delay(2000).ForAwait();
         var idleTime = db.KeyIdleTime(key);
-        Assert.True(idleTime > TimeSpan.Zero, "First check");
+        Assert.True(idleTime > TimeSpan.Zero, $"First check: {idleTime} should be > 0; elapsed: {timer.ElapsedMilliseconds}ms");
 
-        Assert.True(db.KeyTouch(key), "Second check");
+        Assert.True(db.KeyTouch(key), $"Second check: should be True; elapsed: {timer.ElapsedMilliseconds}ms");
         var idleTime1 = db.KeyIdleTime(key);
-        Assert.True(idleTime1 < idleTime, "Third check");
+        Assert.True(idleTime1 < idleTime, $"Third check: {idleTime1} should be < {idleTime}; elapsed: {timer.ElapsedMilliseconds}ms");
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/RoleTests.cs b/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/RoleTests.cs
index 198ae6da7..92f66e0e4 100644
--- a/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/RoleTests.cs
+++ b/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/RoleTests.cs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ public class Roles(ITestOutputHelper output, SharedConnectionFixture fixture) :
     [InlineData(false)]
     public async Task PrimaryRole(bool allowAdmin) // should work with or without admin now
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         await using var conn = Create(allowAdmin: allowAdmin);
         var servers = conn.GetServers();
         Log("Server list:");
diff --git a/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/SentinelTests.cs b/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/SentinelTests.cs
index 039df4335..a53194169 100644
--- a/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/SentinelTests.cs
+++ b/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/SentinelTests.cs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ public class SentinelTests(ITestOutputHelper output) : SentinelBase(output)
     [Fact]
     public async Task PrimaryConnectTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         var connectionString = $"{TestConfig.Current.SentinelServer},serviceName={ServiceOptions.ServiceName},allowAdmin=true";
 
         var conn = ConnectionMultiplexer.Connect(connectionString);
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ public async Task PrimaryConnectTest()
     [Fact]
     public async Task PrimaryConnectAsyncTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         var connectionString = $"{TestConfig.Current.SentinelServer},serviceName={ServiceOptions.ServiceName},allowAdmin=true";
         var conn = await ConnectionMultiplexer.ConnectAsync(connectionString);
 
@@ -86,6 +88,7 @@ public async Task PrimaryConnectAsyncTest()
     [RunPerProtocol]
     public async Task SentinelConnectTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         var options = ServiceOptions.Clone();
         options.EndPoints.Add(TestConfig.Current.SentinelServer, TestConfig.Current.SentinelPortA);
         await using var conn = ConnectionMultiplexer.SentinelConnect(options);
@@ -98,6 +101,7 @@ public async Task SentinelConnectTest()
     [Fact]
     public async Task SentinelRepeatConnectTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         var options = ConfigurationOptions.Parse($"{TestConfig.Current.SentinelServer}:{TestConfig.Current.SentinelPortA}");
         options.ServiceName = ServiceName;
         options.AllowAdmin = true;
@@ -130,6 +134,7 @@ public async Task SentinelRepeatConnectTest()
     [Fact]
     public async Task SentinelConnectAsyncTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         var options = ServiceOptions.Clone();
         options.EndPoints.Add(TestConfig.Current.SentinelServer, TestConfig.Current.SentinelPortA);
         var conn = await ConnectionMultiplexer.SentinelConnectAsync(options);
@@ -142,6 +147,7 @@ public async Task SentinelConnectAsyncTest()
     [Fact]
     public void SentinelRole()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         foreach (var server in SentinelsServers)
         {
             var role = server.Role();
@@ -155,6 +161,7 @@ public void SentinelRole()
     [Fact]
     public async Task PingTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         var test = await SentinelServerA.PingAsync();
         Log("ping to sentinel {0}:{1} took {2} ms", TestConfig.Current.SentinelServer, TestConfig.Current.SentinelPortA, test.TotalMilliseconds);
         test = await SentinelServerB.PingAsync();
@@ -166,6 +173,7 @@ public async Task PingTest()
     [Fact]
     public void SentinelGetPrimaryAddressByNameTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         foreach (var server in SentinelsServers)
         {
             var primary = server.SentinelMaster(ServiceName);
@@ -182,6 +190,7 @@ public void SentinelGetPrimaryAddressByNameTest()
     [Fact]
     public async Task SentinelGetPrimaryAddressByNameAsyncTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         foreach (var server in SentinelsServers)
         {
             var primary = server.SentinelMaster(ServiceName);
@@ -198,6 +207,7 @@ public async Task SentinelGetPrimaryAddressByNameAsyncTest()
     [Fact]
     public void SentinelGetMasterAddressByNameNegativeTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         foreach (var server in SentinelsServers)
         {
             var endpoint = server.SentinelGetMasterAddressByName("FakeServiceName");
@@ -208,6 +218,7 @@ public void SentinelGetMasterAddressByNameNegativeTest()
     [Fact]
     public async Task SentinelGetMasterAddressByNameAsyncNegativeTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         foreach (var server in SentinelsServers)
         {
             var endpoint = await server.SentinelGetMasterAddressByNameAsync("FakeServiceName").ForAwait();
@@ -218,6 +229,7 @@ public async Task SentinelGetMasterAddressByNameAsyncNegativeTest()
     [Fact]
     public void SentinelPrimaryTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         foreach (var server in SentinelsServers)
         {
             var dict = server.SentinelMaster(ServiceName).ToDictionary();
@@ -233,6 +245,7 @@ public void SentinelPrimaryTest()
     [Fact]
     public async Task SentinelPrimaryAsyncTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         foreach (var server in SentinelsServers)
         {
             var results = await server.SentinelMasterAsync(ServiceName).ForAwait();
@@ -248,6 +261,7 @@ public async Task SentinelPrimaryAsyncTest()
     [Fact]
     public void SentinelSentinelsTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         var sentinels = SentinelServerA.SentinelSentinels(ServiceName);
 
         var expected = new List<string?>
@@ -305,6 +319,7 @@ public void SentinelSentinelsTest()
     [Fact]
     public async Task SentinelSentinelsAsyncTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         var sentinels = await SentinelServerA.SentinelSentinelsAsync(ServiceName).ForAwait();
         var expected = new List<string?>
         {
@@ -363,6 +378,7 @@ public async Task SentinelSentinelsAsyncTest()
     [Fact]
     public void SentinelPrimariesTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         var primaryConfigs = SentinelServerA.SentinelMasters();
         Assert.Single(primaryConfigs);
         Assert.True(primaryConfigs[0].ToDictionary().ContainsKey("name"), "replicaConfigs contains 'name'");
@@ -380,6 +396,7 @@ public void SentinelPrimariesTest()
     [Fact]
     public async Task SentinelPrimariesAsyncTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         var primaryConfigs = await SentinelServerA.SentinelMastersAsync().ForAwait();
         Assert.Single(primaryConfigs);
         Assert.True(primaryConfigs[0].ToDictionary().ContainsKey("name"), "replicaConfigs contains 'name'");
@@ -397,6 +414,7 @@ public async Task SentinelPrimariesAsyncTest()
     [Fact]
     public async Task SentinelReplicasTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         // Give previous test run a moment to reset when multi-framework failover is in play.
         await UntilConditionAsync(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5), () => SentinelServerA.SentinelReplicas(ServiceName).Length > 0);
 
@@ -417,6 +435,7 @@ public async Task SentinelReplicasTest()
     [Fact]
     public async Task SentinelReplicasAsyncTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         // Give previous test run a moment to reset when multi-framework failover is in play.
         await UntilConditionAsync(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5), () => SentinelServerA.SentinelReplicas(ServiceName).Length > 0);
 
@@ -436,6 +455,7 @@ public async Task SentinelReplicasAsyncTest()
     [Fact]
     public async Task SentinelGetSentinelAddressesTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         var addresses = await SentinelServerA.SentinelGetSentinelAddressesAsync(ServiceName).ForAwait();
         Assert.Contains(SentinelServerB.EndPoint, addresses);
         Assert.Contains(SentinelServerC.EndPoint, addresses);
@@ -452,6 +472,7 @@ public async Task SentinelGetSentinelAddressesTest()
     [Fact]
     public async Task ReadOnlyConnectionReplicasTest()
     {
+        SkipOnWindowsRelease();
         var replicas = SentinelServerA.SentinelGetReplicaAddresses(ServiceName);
         if (replicas.Length == 0)
         {
diff --git a/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/TestBase.cs b/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/TestBase.cs
index 4106fba98..5a5ffe691 100644
--- a/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/TestBase.cs
+++ b/tests/StackExchange.Redis.Tests/TestBase.cs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Runtime;
 using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
 using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using StackExchange.Redis.Configuration;
@@ -702,4 +703,10 @@ public ValueTask DisposeAsync()
             return default;
         }
     }
+
+    [Conditional("RELEASE")]
+    protected void SkipOnWindowsRelease(string? message = null) // typically used for tests that are super brittle on the Windows CI
+    {
+        Assert.SkipWhen(RuntimeInformation.IsOSPlatform(OSPlatform.Windows), message ?? "skipping on Windows");
+    }
 }