Windows’ Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC), previously known as the Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB), provides a stable, feature-locked operating system for extended periods, specifically designed for critical, highly regulated, or restricted operational environments.
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</div>Windows 11 now offers a long-term servicing option, known as the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC), which was formerly called the Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) in Windows 10. This option remains a vital component for businesses operating in specialized sectors.
Understanding Windows 11 LTSC
LTSC represents a specialized version of Windows 11 Enterprise, specifically tailored for devices demanding the highest level of stability. Functionally and visually, Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC largely mirrors other Windows 11 editions. The primary distinction lies in the frequency of feature updates.
The standard Windows 11 servicing approach, known as the General Availability Channel (GAC), delivers significant feature upgrades annually, often alongside additional enhancements in monthly “quality updates.” In contrast, Windows Enterprise LTSC releases occur every two to three years and maintain a static feature set throughout their supported lifespan.
This approach results in fewer system changes over a given period, simplifies upgrade processes, and minimizes disruptions. It also reduces the likelihood of application incompatibilities arising from operating system modifications.
LTSC is specifically engineered for deployment in environments that are highly regulated or have strict operational constraints, where frequent feature updates could be problematic or hinder operations. This includes specialized equipment like medical devices, automated teller machines (ATMs), or point-of-sale (POS) systems. Given their dedicated functions, these devices do not require the frequent feature updates typically needed by other enterprise systems. The core objective of LTSC is to ensure the maximum possible stability and security for these devices, rather than introducing disruptive interface changes.
It is crucial to understand that LTSC is not designed for broad deployment across an enterprise’s general-purpose devices, which usually include those running Microsoft Office.
Available Editions of Windows 11 LTSC
Microsoft currently offers two distinct LTSC versions, each designed for different device categories:
- Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024: This edition targets specialized enterprise PCs and comes with a five-year support lifecycle (mainstream support concludes on October 9, 2029).
- Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024: Tailored for special-purpose, fixed-function devices such as ATMs, MRI machines, industrial controllers, POS terminals, and kiosks. It boasts a 10-year support lifecycle (mainstream support ends October 9, 2029; extended support continues until October 10, 2034).
Windows 11 LTSC Update Schedule Explained
While seemingly straightforward, the question of LTSC update frequency requires a detailed explanation.
- Windows 11 LTSC systems do receive the standard monthly quality and security updates, which can be deferred by customers.
- The annual feature upgrades pushed to devices on the General Availability Channel are not applied to LTSC systems.
- Microsoft releases new LTSC “builds” approximately every two to three years. However, these build upgrades are entirely optional. Organizations can choose to implement them as in-place upgrades or bypass them entirely, based on their specific business needs.
- LTSC releases support the processors and chipsets available at the time of their release. As new CPU generations emerge, Microsoft incorporates support in subsequent LTSC releases, which customers can then independently deploy.
Historical LTSB/LTSC Releases
The LTSB designation first appeared with Windows 10 in July 2015, followed by four subsequent releases in both standard and IoT versions. The transition to the LTSC branding occurred in late 2018, coinciding with the release of Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019.
- Windows 10 LTSB 2015 / Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB 2015 (released 7/29/2015)
- Windows 10 LTSB 2016 / Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 (released 8/2/2016)
- Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 / Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019 / Windows 10 IoT Core LTSC (released 11/13/2018)
- Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 / Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 (released 11/16/2021)
- Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 / Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 (released 10/01/2024)
Evolving Lifecycle Support
Windows Enterprise LTSC adheres to Microsoft’s Fixed Lifecycle Policy, and consistent with other Windows versions, Microsoft has progressively shortened its support periods. Earlier LTSB/LTSC iterations benefited from a 10-year lifecycle: five years of mainstream support and an additional five years of extended support. For example, the initial Windows 10 LTSB 2015 release enjoyed extended support until October 14, 2025.
However, starting with Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, Microsoft transitioned to a five-year lifecycle for the standard LTSC version. The lifecycle documentation for Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 illustrates this change, showing five years of mainstream support concluding on October 9, 2029, with no mention of extended support.
Conversely, the IoT Enterprise LTSC releases have maintained the traditional 10-year lifecycle, with extended support for Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 slated to end on October 10, 2034.
Innovations in the Latest Windows 11 LTSC
Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 became available on October 1, 2024, precisely three years after Windows 11’s initial release. This version incorporates cumulative enhancements in security, control, and device/application management introduced across Windows 11 versions 21H2, 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2.
Built upon the Windows 11 24H2 codebase, this release introduces several features absent in previous long-term versions:
- Security Enhancements: Includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus, Microsoft Pluton, advanced phishing protection, Credential Guard enabled by default, blocking of malicious and vulnerable drivers, personal data encryption, passkeys and passwordless capabilities, Windows Local Admin Password Solution (LAPS), and more.
- Management Capabilities: Features Microsoft Intune mobile app management (MAM) and mobile device management (MDM), alongside various other administrative controls, restrictions, policy settings, and customization options.
- Sudo for Windows: A significant convenience upgrade for developers, enabling administrators to execute elevated commands directly from an unprivileged console.
- Connectivity Features: Provides native support for Wi-Fi 7 and High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC).
- Removed Components: Internet Explorer has been removed (replaced by Microsoft Edge), and Microsoft Publisher is no longer part of the package.
For more comprehensive information, refer to Microsoft’s dedicated What’s new in Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 page.
Microsoft’s Rationale for Offering LTSC
Simply put, the LTSC option was introduced to address early criticisms regarding Windows 10’s accelerated development and release cycle.
Customers were accustomed to upgrading Windows every three years or even longer, particularly within enterprise settings. The announcement of a shift to multiple annual releases—initially three per year—came as a significant surprise.
Microsoft sought to mitigate this impact by providing a schedule closely resembling the slower cadence familiar to IT departments: upgrades roughly every three years, with minimal or no feature changes between releases, and a servicing model focused solely on security and bug fixes.
Despite this, Microsoft has consistently emphasized over the years that the majority of PCs within large organizations should utilize Windows 11 Enterprise, serviced through the GAC, rather than LTSC.
Ideal Candidates for LTSC Deployment
Microsoft outlines specific criteria for devices considered suitable for LTSC:
“Specialized systems — such as PCs that control medical equipment, point-of-sale systems, and ATMs — often require a longer servicing option because of their purpose,” the company’s primary Windows-as-a-service documentation states. “These devices typically perform a single important task and and don’t need feature updates as frequently as other devices in the organization. It’s more important that these devices be kept as stable and secure as possible than up to date with user interface changes.”
Regarding devices that are *not* suitable for LTSC:
“As a general guideline, a PC with Microsoft Office installed is a general-purpose device, typically used by an information worker, and therefore it is better suited for the General Availability channel [than LTSC].”
Key Takeaways Regarding LTSC
Windows 11 LTSC remains a crucial choice for organizations that prioritize long-term stability and predictable operation over continuous enhancements, particularly in regulated or fixed-function environments. However, this approach involves certain compromises in terms of flexibility, application support, and future hardware compatibility.
As Microsoft increasingly favors its more profitable cloud-first servicing models, organizations should implement LTSC thoughtfully, account for lifecycle limitations, and diligently monitor security developments.
This story was originally published in November 2018 and updated in February 2025.
