Windows 10 ltsc support lifecycle

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Microsoft сокращает жизненный цикл поддержки выпусков Windows 10 Enterprise Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) с десяти лет до пяти. После этого срока обновления функциональности Windows 10 выпускаться больше не будут.

Пользователям, которые не хотят обновлять версию Windows в течение более длительного времени, Microsoft советует перейти на выпуски Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC (бинарные эквиваленты релизов Enterprise), которые останутся на текущем 10-летнем жизненном цикле поддержки.

Изменения жизненного цикла LTSC вступят в действие со второй половины этого года, когда планируется запуск следующих версий LTSC IoT и Enterprise (скорее всего, помеченных как 21H2).

По словам Microsoft, изменения жизненного цикла были одобрены клиентами, которые заявили, что десять лет поддержки LTSC — это больше, чем им требуется.

«В ходе углубленных бесед с клиентами мы обнаружили, что многие из тех, кто ранее устанавливал версию LTSC для настольных компьютеров, не обнаружили потребности в полном 10-летнем жизненном цикле, — написал в официальном блоге старший менеджер по продуктам Джо Лури (Joe Luri). — В остальных случаях эти потребности часто лучше решаются с помощью Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC».

Выпуски Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2015/2016/2019 останутся на текущем десятилетнем жизненном цикле поддержки. Изменения коснутся только следующих версий Enterprise LTSC.

Windows 10 version 22H2 is currently the latest version and will be so for the remaining time. As announced by Microsoft, all Windows 10 operating systems will reach End of Life on 14th October 2025. It is likely that Windows 10 users will be forced to upgrade to the latest Windows version.

Previously, Microsoft released 2 versions each year for Windows 10, where one was released in the first half of the year, and the second in the second half. These were initially named after the year and the month they were released in. For example, Windows 10 version 1903 is named so because it was scheduled to be released in 2019 in the 3rd month (March). However, since the timeline wasn’t always perfect, the naming nomenclature later changed to using “H1” and “H2”, depicting the first and the second half of the year, respectively. This led to Windows versions being named as “21H2” and “22H2”.

Microsoft then changed the release schedule in 2021 and decided to release only one major Windows version every year. This eliminated the “H1” release every year and only the “H2” was released.

With many different Windows 10 versions available, each of them also has different editions. Windows 10 offers, the following editions: Home, Professional, Education, Enterprise, and IoT. Like its ancestors, the Education and Enterprise editions have longer servicing durations than the rest. However, all Windows 10 editions and versions will reach End of Life in 2025.

Normally, the Windows 10 versions released in the first half of the year usually received eighteen months of servicing, while the version released in the second half received 18 or 30 months (for Enterprise and Education editions) of servicing.

Understanding the concept of end of life for Microsoft Windows

While Microsoft follows modern lifecycle policy, which means that the devices on the latest Windows versions will be supported indefinitely, there are three main types of end of support/life dates:

End of mainstream support

This means Microsoft will not provide incident support, warranty claims, feature requests, or non-security related requests after the end of mainstream support.

1. No more free incident support.
2. No more warranty claims.
3. No more design changes and feature requests.
4. No more non-security hotfixes.

Usually, Microsoft provides 3 years of mainstream support after the product is discontinued.

End of extended support

The end of extended support means the following:

1. No more security updates
2. No more paid support
3. No more updated content (Knowledgebase etc.)

End of Long Term Service Channel support (LTSC)

LTSC channel is designed so that the product is treated as a stand-alone product. LTSC products features and functionality do not change throughout their lifecycle.  These products only get security updates throughout their lifetime.

Microsoft supports LTSC releases for 10 years. However, in the case of Windows 10, the last LTSC release was Windows 10 21H2 LTSC, whose support will be ending in 2025 as well.

Windows 10 Extended Security Update (ESU) Program

Microsoft now offers a subscription-based paid security update program for all Windows 10 versions well beyond its End of Life in October 2025. Individual users, as well as organizations, will be able to pay a monthly fee for security updates for an additional 3 years after Microsoft no longer supports it.

Note that this program will only offer security updates, which means that no new features or fixes will be offered beyond October 2025.

The security updates will patch up critical and important vulnerabilities that have been or can be exploited in the real world. Therefore, it is recommended that devices that cannot upgrade to Windows 11 subscribe to the Windows 10 ESU program to ensure that their devices are secure from online threats.

Microsoft is yet to disclose the pricing and the exact date till the ESU program for Windows 10 will be supported.

UPDATED 6/14/2024: It doesn’t matter if you have Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, or any other version (including Windows 11). They all have a lifecycle. This cycle begins when the product is first made available to the public and ends when Microsoft stops supporting it. In the case of Windows 10, being aware of the product’s lifecycle is helpful when upgrading.

On Windows 10, feature updates were released twice a year through the Semi-Annual Channel (SAC), governed by the new Modern Lifecycle Policy. However, since the release of version 21H2, the operating system only receives one feature update annually during the second half of the year via the General Availability Channel. This new policy means that the operating system is offered as a service, serviced and supported continuously, and never considered a complete product.

As long as you use the current version with a genuine license, Windows 10 will remain supported. Microsoft maintains a version (feature update) for at least 18 months since its original release to the public. (The Enterprise and Education variants of the operating system receive at least 30 months of support.) You want to continue installing cumulative updates (quality updates) during the supported time to keep your device secure and running smoothly. Usually, you want to upgrade to the latest version before the device’s release reaches its end of service.

Windows 10 downloads and installs cumulative updates automatically but no longer forces feature updates unless the version you have is nearing the end of service. If you do not know the version you are running, there are many ways you can check and figure out if you need to upgrade to stay supported.

Microsoft plans to end the support of Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. When Windows 10 was first announced back in 2015, the company touted it as the last version of Windows. However, the lifecycle page now states that the company will “continue to support at least one Windows 10 Semi-Annual Channel until October 14, 2025,” for the Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Educations versions.

The retirement date means that after October 14, 2025, devices running Windows 10 will no longer receive security and quality updates, and you will no longer be able to contact the company for support.

However, Microsoft plans to offer a paid subscription to allow regular consumers to keep getting security updates for up to three years after the support officially ends. The pricing of the subscription hasn’t been revealed, but for businesses, it will cost $61 per month per device, $122 during the second year, and $244 for the third year.

The lifecycle is different if you use the Windows 10 Long Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) editions. Windows 10 LTSB is perhaps the best edition if you’re not into feature updates. They are editions supported for up to 10 years, there’s no bloatware, and they don’t get feature updates.

Windows 10 LTSB is an option for Windows 10 Enterprise, and it is only available for Volume License customers or with an MSDN subscription.

Update June 14, 2024: This page has been updated to ensure accuracy and include the latest information.