W11 LTSC specific updates - avoid mainstream updates and their lot of problems

Hello !

I’m interested to use windows 11 24h2 iot LTSC (I know what LTSC is) but I have a few questions please, if you don’t mind. Thank you for your imput.

While LTSC is supposed to be updated with monthly security only updates, monthly I don’t see any update specific to LTSC. It means, if I’m right, that the same general monthly update for 24h2 is for now applicable to all versions, like home, pro, enterprise, entrepriseS (LTSC) without any difference. Sadly, we know that almost every month there are complaints on those updates breaking something. Moreover, those updates may additionally contain features updates, since 24h2 is for now the mainstream version. So, I wonder if 24h2 LTSC may be affected negatively by those monthly updates. I’m affraid that it makes windows LTSC unstable, unreliable, as it happens for other versions. I would have imagined a specific update, monthly, limited to security only updates, no fuss, slimmed down for LTSC. But it seems it’s not like this. I really want a W11 LTSC remaining stable. What are your thoughts about this ? (Please no need to talk about why LTSC instead of pro, and that a debloated pro could achieve the same level of stability, it’s another topic). Thank you so much !

Windows 11 LTSC primarily receives monthly quality updates, including security patches, and critical bug fixes, but does not receive feature updates as frequently as other Windows 11 editions. New LTSC releases are typically offered every few years as in-place upgrades.

• Quality Updates:
  LTSC editions receive monthly quality updates, which are cumulative and include bug fixes, security patches, and other improvements.
  
  
• No Feature Updates:
  LTSC editions do not receive feature updates as part of the regular Windows Update process.
  
  
• LTSC Releases:
  New LTSC releases, which include cumulative enhancements from previous feature updates, are offered every few years as an in-place upgrade.
  
  
• Extended Support:
  LTSC releases are supported for a longer period than other Windows 11 editions, with the support duration varying depending on the specific release and edition.
  
  
• Debloated:
  LTSC editions are typically "debblotted" with fewer pre-installed apps compared to standard Windows 11 editions, as described in this YouTube video with the somewhat exstatic woman on the front, exploring Windows 11 LTSC 24H2:

LTSC is only legitimate as part of a volume licence agreement.

Have you got a legitimate licence to use LTSC?

We are not permitted to discuss ways of accessing it without such an agreement.

About a legit way to get the license, a Microsoft Partner is permitted to provide it, and it's how I'll get it, yes. I feel concerned too about this for sure.
About LTSC edition receiving monthly quality updates only, why can't we find these updates offline, even any doc about them, like we do for example on Microsoft Update Catalog? I can't see them anywhere. Thank you.

Windows Enterprise can be got legally via retail - not sure if the extra cost is worth it and I don't think it's the LTSC corporate model. If you want stabilty at the USER level and are prepared to forego newer hardware support and possibly newer apps relying on that hardware you could install the Free business trial 180 day version of Windows 2025 SERVER -- you can extend for a further 5 X 180 days via slmgr -rearm command. You need to register but a Free account.

When you've installed it - (choose the standard not the data centre edition plus install the Desktop experience - do the following things to make it behave as a standard workstation desktop -- : (These are quite simple to do and just run as a VM on HYPER-V if you want to try it).

1) eliminate ctrl-alt-delete to logon
2) eliminate nag warning when you shut the server down
3) change the password restrictions
4) change ownership and user to your user
5 ) eliminate "Maintenance" dialog that appears at startup
6) Now add features and optional features as per "Normal Windows" including HYPER-V, themes, and if you need it, SMB1 also if you need it,OPENSSH-Server, and other user apps that you want installed. Most including Office will install without needing "The Server version". Macrium will require a Server version but the stand alone boot version OK.

The server installs on a bigger hardware set than the more restrictive later versions of W11. Plus you can get to learn something about servers too. Ths server is quite efficient, bloat free and can even be installed successfully in just 4GB RAM system. It takes the best features of W10 and W11 and Networking DOES work properly.

OK slightly odd way of going about the OP's problem but it answers the main critera of access to a legally available way yo an LTSC system.

As for IOT -- this is really meant for embedded devices, dedicated devices operating in Kiosk mode, and other stuff which will become part of "The Internet of Things" - although why say a timed heating system or a fridge doing automatic re-ordering when you remove food should need a full blown Windows system -- search me ??. W11 IOT won't be available publically (legally) unless its via a corporate / OEM partner.

Cheers
jimbo

I would like to thank you for your answers, extensive answers.
For now I'm on Windows 10 21h2 (on purpose, I won't elaborate in details why 21h2 and not 22h2), and it works well. I know about october 2025 EOL Win10 22h2, of course, and the 1year subscription $30 for one year more. My project of migration to win11 is not because of windows 10 is EOL 2025. People also say that a 21h2 LTSC iot is maintained until 2032 - yes, we know that. I would love to continue ion Windows 10 as many but, I think many forget something also important : How 3rd party software updates are going to remain supported on w10 after let's say 2025/2026, when only win10 ltsc will be supported? In 2 years, yes, win10 2021 LTSC will be supported, but maybe Zoom, Teams, will have support for Win11 only. I hate these updates from Zoom that look like planned obsolescence for previous OS. Our Office 2010 still works on win10, and it can I know on win11 too (even if unsupported). But this is the reality. Do you think like me that in, let's say, 2 years, new pieces/upgrades of software will be available for win11 only? thanks.

The way I read Microsoft's Guidance, an 'enterprise' using LTSC devices needs to design its own servicing strategy for those devices:

See the second bullet point in the link below.


Windows X-Lite would seem to offer a similar startpoint for 'non-enterprise' users, if the X-Lite graphical modifications were to be removed and wanted features added. Plus only requires a 'normal' Windows Home or Pro License.

jimbo45 said:

Windows Enterprise can be got legally via retail

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It’s a wonder then how “Microsoft Partners” can get away with selling volume licensing keys, which some do.

I’m not saying StackSocial sell LTSC licenses but after a recent episode of a failed Windows 11 Pro key, I had a lengthy conversation with support.
The reasons they gave me could only be justified if the key was in fact a Volume Licensing Key.
A) Because a retail key bought from Microsoft wouldn’t fail
B) Because Microsoft wouldn’t instruct me to activate the product “immediately” to avoid problems.
When I put that to them, they neither confirmed or denied it, but changed the subject dramatically and gave me a new key and reimbursed me for the original one.

I believe this is all a grey area.

And for the record, I have made it very clear in here that I do not endorse the unethical registration of any software. I find it criminal and report it in here if there is even so much of a whiff of it mentioned.

"It’s a wonder then how “Microsoft Partners” can get away with selling volume licensing keys, which some do."
Well, your're right, some do this for years, and I checked one vendor to be sure he's really a partner. He is. So I wonder, if this vendor, Microsoft Partner, sells in this setting keys for LTSC - and MS can see that - who am I to find fault with him? Am I more "righteous" than Microsoft who tolerates this? It's not on ebay, it's not from an unknown source, it's from a society in UK with an adress, contacts, office hours, "proud" to tell they do this business for 5 years now. I really try to find an honest way to get the LTSC license. If I can't I won't, period, even if it's easy to find things illegal on the web. So aftr much researches, I understand, I assume that I can get legally a LTSC license from a subscription with Microsoft (Visio) - which means a minimum package of things for quite price - or get it from an authorized Microsoft Partner. It seems it has some "authority" to distribute those licenses with MS backing. This is my understanding. For me it sounds reasonable. Of course I may be totally wrong. And I'm flexible, opened to your remarks. And eventually I may decide not to buy from this Partner, and 100% give up on LTSC. Thank you!

So my purpose is NOT to get an illegal license. Would I have such a goal, in 5mn I would find this on the web. But, Cereberus, it's not what I'm looking for, definitely.

So if this is all above board, then you wouldn’t mind sharing the link to where you got this licence or where it is you’re planning to get this license from?

It’s nice to share.

sure!

zungu said:

Hello !

I’m interested to use windows 11 24h2 iot LTSC (I know what LTSC is) but I have a few questions please, if you don’t mind. Thank you for your imput.

While LTSC is supposed to be updated with monthly security only updates, monthly I don’t see any update specific to LTSC. It means, if I’m right, that the same general monthly update for 24h2 is for now applicable to all versions, like home, pro, enterprise, entrepriseS (LTSC) without any difference.

Click to expand...

Correct

zungu said:

Sadly, we know that almost every month there are complaints on those updates breaking something. Moreover, those updates may additionally contain features updates, since 24h2 is for now the mainstream version. So, I wonder if 24h2 LTSC may be affected negatively by those monthly updates.

Click to expand...

It can. One of my installs of IoT LTSC got hosed in March from the regular update (KB5053598); even an in-place re-install/repair couldn't fix it. Was nothing critical, but Macrium to the rescue.

zungu said:

I’m affraid that it makes windows LTSC unstable, unreliable, as it happens for other versions. I would have imagined a specific update, monthly, limited to security only updates, no fuss, slimmed down for LTSC. But it seems it’s not like this. I really want a W11 LTSC remaining stable. What are your thoughts about this ? (Please no need to talk about why LTSC instead of pro, and that a debloated pro could achieve the same level of stability, it’s another topic). Thank you so much !

Click to expand...

In my opinion, IoT LTSC isn't worth it for home use. We use it at work on some medical equipment, but those devices are not exactly regular use machines. They also don't get updates pushed via Windows Update.

What you're looking for really doesn't exist yet for Windows 11 as far as I'm aware. Something akin to Windows 7 ESU, where only CVE's were patched but nothing else. All current flavors of Win11 will get "quality" updates that can touch non-critical aspects of the OS and, like you suspect, can be more likely to cause issues.

thank you. It seems that windows 10 LTSC 2021 gets now specific updates, since mainstream support for 21h2 is over. it means that no specific update may be issued before EOL of 24h2 for enterprise, october 2027... We have time, so to say, sadly. I thought also about getting an iso of 24h2 ltsc, install it and then "convert" it to pro with my pro license. I tried, it doesn't work, despite guidelines on the web. This way I wanted, at least, to achieve the same degree of debloating as natural LTSC. Debloat is everywhere on the web, but often it breaks down windows, or make it unstable. Noone really knows for sure which things should be removed or kept in apps and services for the result to be reliable. If at least I would know in details how to "copy" to the closest on a pro edition the structure of LTSC, it would be great... Any ideas welcomed about this. Thank you.

zungu said:

sure!

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May not be fully legit.

Marcus Vinicus said:

May not be fully legit.

Click to expand...

Dodgy ‘r’ Us

Theoretically, anyone could become a Microsoft partner, it would seem. I’ve seen some hilarious key sites in my day that have legitimate partnership credentials at the Microsoft Partner Center. But I’ve never been able to confirm if their partnership has anything to do with software sales.
Also, Partner ID’s might be to certain programs. There are many different partner types. Their “Partner ID” could be for one software but not another. Or it could be for something unrelated to software licence sales altogether.

The Company profile page identifies the type of partnership you have with Microsoft, such as independent software vendor or CSP program partner. It shows the number of customers you're working with, annual revenue, and the current size of your company. Expand company information on the Company details page to tell Microsoft the type of work you want to do with Microsoft, such as build applications, resell Microsoft and non-Microsoft software, or be a systems integrator. You can also define where you currently do business and the locales where you'd like to expand your business in the future.

Click to expand...