Windows 10 LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) is an Enterprise edition of Windows 10 that receives only security and quality updates, never feature updates, and is designed for fixed-purpose devices such as medical equipment, ATMs and factory controllers. Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 is supported until 12 January 2027, and the IoT Enterprise version until 13 January 2032.
| Windows 10 LTSC release | Based on | Released | Support ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise LTSB 2016 | Version 1607 | 2 August 2016 | Ended 13 October 2026 (paid ESU available) |
| Enterprise LTSC 2019 | Version 1809 | 13 November 2018 | 9 January 2029 |
| IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019 | Version 1809 | 13 November 2018 | 9 January 2029 |
| Enterprise LTSC 2021 | Version 21H2 | 16 November 2021 | 12 January 2027 |
| IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 | Version 21H2 | 16 November 2021 | 13 January 2032 |
What is Windows 10 LTSC?
Windows 10 LTSC is a servicing model, delivered as a separate Enterprise edition, in which devices receive monthly security and quality updates for years but no feature updates. It exists so that specialised machines, which must behave the same way every day, can stay patched without the interface or components changing underneath them.
Microsoft's Windows Enterprise LTSC overview says LTSC "isn't intended for deployment on most or all the PCs in an organization". It is meant for "special-purpose devices and environments" that do a single important task. The channel was called the Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) until 2019.
Because nothing changes between releases, LTSC is popular with equipment makers and regulated industries that must re-certify any software change. That stability comes with trade-offs covered below.
When does Windows 10 LTSC support end?
It depends on the release. Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 support ends on 12 January 2027, Enterprise and IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019 end on 9 January 2029, and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 continues until 13 January 2032. Enterprise LTSB 2016 ended on 13 October 2026, with paid Extended Security Updates available.
The dates come from Microsoft's lifecycle pages for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021. Microsoft publishes them in Pacific Time, so the final update day can appear as the following date in some listings.
Cause and effect: Enterprise LTSC 2021 received a five-year lifecycle, half that of earlier LTSC releases, while the IoT version kept ten years. That split is why the two editions, built from the same code, end five years apart.
What is the difference between LTSC and IoT Enterprise LTSC?
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC share nearly the same code and features, but they are licensed differently and, for the 2021 release, supported for different lengths of time. Enterprise LTSC is sold through Microsoft volume licensing to organisations; IoT Enterprise LTSC is licensed through device makers for dedicated, fixed-purpose devices.
The 10-year lifecycle of IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 is why it is often recommended online as a way to "keep Windows 10 until 2032". Legitimately, though, it comes preinstalled on embedded equipment such as kiosks, point-of-sale terminals and industrial PCs, under the device maker's licence terms.
Who is Windows 10 LTSC for?
LTSC is for devices that perform one fixed job and must not change: medical systems, manufacturing controllers, point-of-sale terminals, ATMs, air traffic and laboratory equipment, and digital signage. It is not designed for general office desktops, home PCs or gaming machines, where users expect current apps, browsers and hardware support.
- Good fit: a machine certified with specific software versions, where any change triggers re-validation.
- Good fit: kiosks and signage players that run one locked-down application.
- Poor fit: a family PC or laptop used for browsing, Microsoft 365 and new peripherals.
- Poor fit: gaming PCs, which rely on Store apps, Xbox components and frequent driver updates.
What we commonly see: home users install an LTSC ISO to escape Windows 10 end of support, then discover that the Microsoft Store, Xbox app and some drivers are missing, and that the licence they used was never valid for a personal PC. The time saved on upgrades is usually lost to workarounds.
What is missing from Windows 10 LTSC?
LTSC leaves out components that Microsoft updates with new features. The overview states that "Microsoft Edge and in-box Windows apps" are not included, and LTSC editions also lack the Microsoft Store and its Store-delivered apps. You get the core operating system and long-term security patches.
Missing components affect more than convenience. Some hardware utilities, printer apps and media codecs are distributed only through the Store, and Microsoft warns that external tools may stop supporting older LTSC releases over time. New CPUs and graphics cards can also fall outside what an older LTSC release supports.
How is Windows 10 LTSC licensed?
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC is a commercial product available through Microsoft volume licensing, in per-device or per-user models depending on the programme, and LTSC use rights are included with Windows Enterprise E3. Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC is licensed to device makers for fixed-purpose devices. Neither is sold as a retail key for home PCs.
Microsoft's Windows commercial licensing overview describes the LTSC use right as "intended for highly specialized devices that require limited changes due to regulations and certification". Retail and OEM Windows 10 Pro keys do not activate LTSC, and LTSC keys do not activate Pro.
Advanced nuance: websites offering cheap "Windows 10 LTSC keys" or pre-activated LTSC images are a red flag. A legitimate LTSC licence arrives through a volume licensing agreement or preinstalled on a dedicated device, so a standalone low-cost key typically points to a misused volume key or an unlicensed activator. Our article on the risks of pre-activated Windows ISOs explains why those images are dangerous.
Can I use LTSC to stay on Windows 10 at home?
It is not a good route for most home users. LTSC licensing targets organisations and fixed-purpose devices, it lacks the Store and in-box apps, and you cannot upgrade Home or Pro to LTSC in place, so it needs a clean install. For a personal PC that cannot run Windows 11, consumer ESU until 12 October 2027 is the simpler supported option.
A properly licensed Windows 10 Pro installation enrolled in ESU keeps your apps, the Store and normal driver support. If the PC is compatible, the free move to Windows 11 Pro is better still. Our guide to Windows 10 end of support and what to do now compares every option side by side.
Windows 10 LTSC vs Windows 10 Pro: which should you choose?
Choose Windows 10 Pro for any general-purpose PC: it has the Store, Edge, full app and driver compatibility, and a free upgrade path to Windows 11 Pro. Choose LTSC only when your organisation licenses it for a fixed-purpose device that must stay unchanged. For home users and most small businesses, Pro is the correct edition.
| Factor | Windows 10 Pro | Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Who can buy it | Anyone (retail or OEM) | Organisations via volume licensing |
| Feature updates | Ended with 22H2 | None by design |
| Microsoft Store and in-box apps | Included | Not included |
| Security updates | Via ESU (consumer to 12 Oct 2027) | To 12 January 2027 |
| Free upgrade to Windows 11 | Yes, to Windows 11 Pro | Not in place; needs a new LTSC or Enterprise licence |
If you need Windows 10 on a general-purpose PC, a Windows 10 Pro key is the edition designed for it; our guide on whether a Windows 10 Pro key is worth buying in 2026 covers when that still makes sense. For compatible hardware, a Windows 11 Pro key is the longer-term choice.
What replaces Windows 10 LTSC?
The successor is Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024, released on 1 October 2024 and based on Windows 11 version 24H2. Enterprise LTSC 2024 is supported until 9 October 2029, and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 until 10 October 2034. Moving requires Windows 11-compatible hardware and a matching LTSC licence.
Microsoft recommends planning these moves well before an LTSC release ends, because ESU is only a temporary bridge. Organisations still on LTSB 2016 after 13 October 2026 can buy up to three years of ESU through volume licensing or a Cloud Solution Provider while they migrate.
Frequently asked questions
Is Windows 10 LTSC free?
No. Microsoft offers a time-limited evaluation of Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC for testing, but production use requires a licence through volume licensing or, for IoT Enterprise LTSC, a device maker. Retail Windows 10 Pro keys do not convert an evaluation copy into a licensed LTSC installation.
Does Windows 10 LTSC get security updates?
Yes. LTSC releases receive monthly security and quality updates for their full lifecycle: Enterprise LTSC 2021 until 12 January 2027, Enterprise and IoT LTSC 2019 until 9 January 2029, and IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 until 13 January 2032. They never receive feature updates during that time.
Is Windows 10 LTSC good for gaming?
Generally not. LTSC lacks the Microsoft Store, Xbox app and related components that many games and launchers rely on, and older releases may not support the latest graphics hardware. The small reduction in background apps rarely improves frame rates enough to offset those compatibility problems on a gaming PC.
Can I upgrade Windows 10 Pro to LTSC without reinstalling?
No. LTSC is a separate edition, and Microsoft does not provide an in-place edition upgrade from Home or Pro to LTSC. Moving requires a clean installation with properly licensed LTSC media, followed by reinstalling apps and restoring data. Organisations normally deploy LTSC through imaging tools rather than upgrades.
What does LTSB mean?
LTSB stands for Long-Term Servicing Branch, the original name for this servicing model. Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 and 2016 were LTSB releases. From 2019 Microsoft renamed the channel Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC), so LTSB 2016 and LTSC 2019 follow the same idea under different names.
Related guides
- Windows 10 end of support: what to do now
- Windows 10 Home vs Pro: which do you need?
- OEM vs retail vs volume licence keys explained
- Windows 11 end of support: version-by-version dates
Links in this guide
| Link | Type | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Enterprise LTSC overview (Microsoft Learn) | External | Official description of LTSC and who it is for |
| Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 lifecycle (Microsoft) | External | Official support end date |
| Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 lifecycle (Microsoft) | External | Official 2032 extended support date |
| Windows commercial licensing overview (Microsoft Learn) | External | How Enterprise LTSC is licensed |
| Pre-activated Windows ISO risks | Internal | Why unofficial LTSC images are unsafe |
| Windows 10 end of support: what to do | Internal | Compares supported options for home PCs |
| Windows 10 Pro key | Internal | The edition designed for general-purpose PCs |
| Is a Windows 10 Pro key worth buying in 2026? | Internal | When Windows 10 Pro still makes sense |
| Windows 11 Pro key | Internal | Longer-term choice for compatible hardware |
| Windows 10 Home vs Pro | Internal | Feature comparison of the mainstream editions |
| OEM vs retail vs volume licences | Internal | Explains licence channels, including volume |
| Windows 11 end of support dates | Internal | Lifecycle dates for Windows 11 releases |