Microsoft to Release Windows 11 LTSC in the Second Half of 2024

Windows 11

Microsoft announced updates for its Windows 11 and Windows 10 support roadmaps yesterday, and the biggest news is that a Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) version of Windows 11 will be released in the second half of 2024. This should be good news for organizations that have been waiting to upgrade their PCs to Windows 11 before Windows 10 reaches end of support in 2025.

The Redmond giant also revealed yesterday that Windows 10 version 22H2, the latest feature update for the OS released back in October 2022 will be the final version of the OS. In other words, there won’t be a 23H2 update for Windows 10 later this fall. 

Windows 11 LTSC is coming in the second half of 2024

For organizations waiting for a Windows 11 LTSC release, Microsoft said that Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC will be available in the second half of 2024. The company plans to share more details closer to release. 

LTSC editions of Windows are best used on special use devices that don’t need to receive updates as frequently as other devices. LTSC versions of Windows also receive updates for a longer period of time.  

Microsoft is already recommending organizations preparing to upgrade their PC fleets to Windows 11 to start testing their apps on devices using Windows 11 version 22H2. “It’s important for organizations to have adequate time to plan for adopting Windows 11,” the company emphasized.

Windows 10 version 22H2 will be the final version of the OS

It’s almost the end of the road for Windows 10, an OS released back in July 2015. Microsoft confirmed that Windows 10 version 22H2 will be “the final version of Windows 10,” and it will reach end of support on October 14, 2025. 

Until that date, Windows 10 will continue to receive monthly security updates, but the OS won’t receive any new features. The writing was already on the wall when Microsoft didn’t announce any new features in Windows 10 version 22H2 last fall. 

Even though support for Windows 10 will end on October 2025, that won’t be the case for LTSC versions of the OS. Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 will be supported until January 12, 2027, while Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 will reach end of servicing on January 13, 2032.