Since 1985, Microsoft has been releasing and regularly updating its Windows operating system to coincide with the evolving needs of its users. Used from personal devices to enterprise systems and more, the history of releases includes milestone updates such as the addition of the Start menu and taskbar for Windows 95, the first industrial OS in 1996 with the Windows Embedded Compact OS, and its successor, Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, released in 2015. Becoming familiar with the different editions of Windows and deciding on the best option for an industrial computer can be a daunting task. Hardware requirements, software compatibility, long-term availability, security updates and licence type all need to be considered before an operating system is chosen. This updated article explains the two main Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC options for industrial and embedded systems: Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021. It also covers Microsoft’s Entry, Value and High-End licence structure. Updated for 2026: When this article was first published in February 2024, Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC had not yet been released. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 is now available, while Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 remains a supported long-term option for existing deployments. This changes the decision for many industrial projects from “wait for Windows 11 LTSC” to “choose the right Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC licence for the hardware, application and lifecycle”. Current editions What is LTSC? Current LTSC options Pricing structure Version guidance FAQs Current Windows Editions and Versions Explained Windows 11 was released on 5 October 2021 and was the first major Windows release since Windows 10 in 2015. For general desktop use, Windows 11 is available in familiar editions such as Home, Pro and Enterprise. For industrial and embedded systems, the most relevant options are usually found under Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC. Windows IoT Enterprise is a full version of Windows Enterprise designed for dedicated and fixed-purpose devices. In industrial applications, it can be used for systems such as machine controllers, HMIs, kiosks, digital signage, embedded computers, rugged PCs and specialist edge devices. The biggest change since 2024 is the release of Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024. This gives industrial projects a Windows 11-based long-term servicing option, while Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 remains relevant for existing systems, legacy software and platforms already validated on Windows 10. What is LTSC? LTSC stands for Long-Term Servicing Channel. It is a release model used by Microsoft to provide stability and long-term support for devices where frequent feature updates may not be practical or desirable. This model is particularly suitable for embedded systems, industrial devices and other fixed-function applications that require a consistent and reliable software platform. Large feature changes, user interface changes or frequent operating system upgrades can create unnecessary disruption where a system needs to run consistently over a long service life. With LTSC, devices continue to receive quality and security updates, but the core feature set is designed to remain more stable than a general availability Windows release. Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC releases are supported for 10 years, with features and functionality intended to remain consistent across that lifecycle. Important licensing note: Moving from one Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC release to the next should be treated as a planned upgrade, not as a routine feature update. Microsoft states that upgrading from one Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC version to another requires a new licence. Where a device was supplied with a preinstalled LTSC image, the device maker should be consulted about upgrade options. Current Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC Options for Industrial Applications The best Windows option depends on the hardware, application, deployment environment and expected service life of the system. For most industrial projects, the most relevant choice is between Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 for new long-life systems and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 for existing or compatibility-led deployments. Latest LTSC Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 A long-term servicing release based on Windows 11, version 24H2. It is intended for special-purpose and fixed-function devices and is supported until 10 October 2034. Windows 10 LTSC Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 A long-term Windows 10 IoT release that remains relevant for existing deployments, legacy applications and systems already validated on Windows 10. It is supported until 13 January 2032. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 vs Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 For industrial customers, the decision is usually less about chasing the newest Windows features and more about lifecycle, compatibility, validation and hardware support. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 is usually the stronger starting point for new systems, while Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 remains valuable where an existing system, application or hardware platform has already been validated on Windows 10. Question Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 is usually stronger when... Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 is usually stronger when... Is this a new system? The hardware and application stack support Windows 11 and the project needs a long support window. The system is already built, tested or deployed on Windows 10 and continuity is the priority. What matters most? A current Windows 11 platform, long-term servicing and support through to 2034. Application compatibility, driver support, existing validation and minimising change. What about hardware? The industrial PC, panel PC or embedded system meets the required Windows 11 platform requirements. The hardware is older, already qualified or better supported by a Windows 10 image. What type of project is it? New fixed-function industrial PCs, HMIs, kiosks, machine controllers and dedicated systems. Maintained systems, repeat builds, legacy applications and projects where revalidation needs to be limited. Windows Pricing Structure In order to price its Windows IoT Enterprise licences, Microsoft uses an EVH structure with three pricing categories: Entry, Value and High-End. While all three categories provide the same operating system features and support, the different categories are aligned to different processor models, so checking your hardware before purchasing is essential. Simply put, Entry is for base-level processors, Value is for mid-range processors and High-End is for higher-performance processors. When the digital licence is used in the installation process of a new OS edition on a device to authenticate it, it conducts an internal check of the computer’s hardware hash to ensure that a genuine and properly licensed copy of the operating system is being installed. Each licence has a product key, a unique 25-character alphanumeric key associated with the Windows operating system. Previously, Microsoft would supply a separate product key for each category. Now, each pricing category includes a usable product key for the same OS, and it is down to the user or system supplier to ensure the chosen category is compatible with the computer’s hardware. Price category Typical processor positioning Common examples Entry Base-level processors used in lower-power or cost-sensitive embedded devices. Intel Atom, Intel Processor, Pentium, Celeron, selected AMD embedded ranges and equivalent processors. Value Mid-range processors used in many mainstream industrial PCs and embedded systems. Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core M, selected Intel Atom and Xeon models, AMD Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, selected AMD embedded ranges and equivalent processors. High-End Higher-performance processors used in demanding industrial, edge, workstation or server-style applications. Intel Core i7, Core i9, Xeon, AMD Ryzen 7, Ryzen 9, EPYC and other supported CPUs not explicitly covered by Entry or Value. As a broad guide, the categories can be understood as follows: Entry: Intel Atom, Intel Processor, Pentium, Celeron; selected AMD R-Series, E-Series, A-Series, G-Series, V-Series and Athlon processors; and VIA processors. Value: Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core M; selected Intel Atom and Xeon models; selected AMD RX-Series, FX, A-Series, V-Series, Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5 and EPYC 3000 processors; selected Qualcomm Snapdragon and Microsoft SQ processors. High-End: Intel Core i7, Core i9 and Xeon; AMD Ryzen 7, Ryzen 9, EPYC and other supported CPUs not explicitly listed in lower categories. Processor lists can change: the EVH examples above are intended as a practical guide, not a guaranteed compatibility list. For a confirmed licence category and supported processor list, check the relevant Microsoft technical documentation, speak to your Windows IoT distributor or contact our Sales team for advice. Which Windows Version Should You Choose? There is no single Windows version that fits every industrial application. The right choice depends on the hardware platform, the application, the update strategy and the expected lifecycle of the finished system. Use Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 when... You are specifying a new fixed-function industrial system and need a Windows 11-based platform with long-term support, controlled updates and a stable deployment image. Use Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 when... You are supporting an existing Windows 10 platform, maintaining legacy software compatibility or using hardware that has already been validated on Windows 10. In many new projects, Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 will be the natural starting point. In maintained systems, Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 may still be the better route if changing the operating system would require extra driver work, application changes or full system revalidation. What Has Changed Since Early 2024? A couple of years ago, Windows 11 IoT Enterprise did not yet offer an LTSC version and Windows version 24H2 was expected later in 2024. That has now changed. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 is now available and is the main Windows 11 long-term servicing option for new fixed-function industrial systems. It is also important to distinguish between standard Windows 10 IoT Enterprise and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC. Standard Windows 10 reached the end of support on 14 October 2025, but existing LTSC releases continue to follow their own lifecycle dates. Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 remains supported until 13 January 2032. For new systems, Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 will often be the strongest starting point where the hardware and software stack support it. For existing systems, Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 may still be the better route where continuity, validation and compatibility are more important than moving to Windows 11 immediately. Windows IoT Licence FAQs Is Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 the best choice for every new industrial PC? It is often the best starting point for new fixed-function industrial systems, but it should still be checked against the application, hardware platform, driver support, security requirements and expected lifecycle. If the system is already validated on Windows 10, Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 may be the more practical option. Can Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 still be used? Yes. It remains relevant for existing deployments, legacy applications and hardware platforms already validated on Windows 10. It should not be confused with standard Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 22H2, which has reached the end of its support lifecycle. Should new industrial systems use Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024? In many cases, yes. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 provides the current Windows 11 platform with a long-term servicing model, making it suitable for new fixed-function industrial PCs, HMIs, embedded systems and dedicated devices where a stable image and long lifecycle are important. Can a system be upgraded from one LTSC release to another? An LTSC upgrade should be treated as a controlled project rather than a routine feature update. Microsoft states that moving from one Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC release to the next requires a new licence, and the device maker should be consulted where the system was supplied with a preinstalled LTSC image. How do I choose between Windows 11 IoT LTSC 2024 and Windows 10 IoT LTSC 2021? Start with the hardware, application and support lifecycle. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 is usually stronger for new systems with compatible hardware and software. Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 is usually stronger where the system is already validated on Windows 10 or relies on legacy drivers, applications or hardware. Need to Know More? Choosing or upgrading a Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC licence can require hardware, lifecycle and software compatibility checks. Our team can help specify an embedded or industrial system that supports the right Windows version, including memory, storage, I/O, image requirements and long-term availability. From our home base in Newcastle-under-Lyme, we can install, configure and test Windows on your systems, and install your software prior to shipping where required. Call: +44 (0)1782 337 800 | Email: sales@impulse-embedded.co.uk Speak to our team View operating systems About the author Louisa Rochford Content Marketing Manager | Impulse Embedded Louisa works on technical content for Impulse Embedded, helping to translate industrial computing, networking, embedded technology, automation, edge AI and hardware-selection topics into practical resources for customers. Her work focuses on making complex product, lifecycle and specification decisions easier to understand for engineers, buyers and project teams.