Windows 10 is a highly popular choice of operating system for modern day personal computers. This is the most recent loved version of Windows in Microsoft's history of releasing one loved followed by one hated edition, it's an odd-even ritual in numbers. 10 versus 8, 7 versus Vista, XP versus ME and so on. Keeping the tradition alive, Windows 11, the most latest Windows edition, could not break the cycle and has only recently crossed Windows 10 market share despite existing for four years. What are the reasons? That's a topic for another time.

One good day, we woke up and saw this:

Let's move forward together! On October 14, 2025, Windows 10 will stop receiving technical support or free updates...

This notification has been puzzling every Windows 10 user lately. If you're wondering what exactly it means, then this article is going to clear things up for you as simply as eating a cookie. So grab a cup of tea with your favorite cookies and read on!

The Challenge We're Facing:

Microsoft has officially announced Windows 10's retirement date as October 14, 2025, and switching to Windows 11 seems to be the ultimate solution post Windows 10 retirement. However, this transition may not be easy for some users due to multiple reasons such as hardware compatibility, software requirements and user adaptability.

Many users, especially the general public, may not have hardware supportive enough for Windows 11, such as a lack of TPM, Secure Boot, or UEFI support. Bypassing these limitations is a hack, a workaround, but may lead to issues with future updates. Also, some users might simply not be willing to switch and would like to stay on Windows 10 as long as their protective nature can keep up with Microsoft's forceful push.

Now comes the million dollar question: what should you do next? Not sure if BHP will get those dollars after answering that, but hold on. Let's make sure you have a crystal-clear picture of what the various release channels of Windows are, and how different users put those to work before coming to the original topic.

Understanding Windows Release Channels:

By now, everyone knows that Microsoft Windows is an operating system that makes things work and look right in your devices, just like the brain and face. This OS comes in three channels: Insider, GAC and LTSC. The Insider channel isn't for the public, rather, it is used by Microsoft for development, testing and quality assurance before the features are released to the general public. On the other hand, the General Availability Channel (GAC) and the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) are public channels.

Think of Windows as a cake, with the Insider channel as the internal kitchen, and the GAC and LTSC as two special cake shops adding their own twist of styles and flavors to the same base recipe. The Internal Kitchen is the secret chef's lab where experimental recipes are tested before anyone else gets the taste. GAC is the lively shop serving everyone and LTSC is the premium shop making perfect cakes for special orders.

Now let's have a quick glance over the editions and their variants available under each channel.

Insider Channel:

Under this channel, we primarily find two editions: Windows Insider Preview Builds and Internal Microsoft Test Builds. Since these editions are mainly for testing and fall outside our main focus, we won't go into much detail here.

General Availability Channel (GAC):

The mainstream editions are released under this channel along with their variants. These editions are perfect for general users, educational institutes, and businesses. GAC editions are split into two main categories: consumer editions and volume licensing editions.

Consumer Editions:

• Windows Home: For home users and the general public, offering core features like Microsoft Store, Cortana, Windows Hello, Device Guard, and Xbox integration. Supports up to 128 GB RAM and 1 physical processor.
• Windows Pro: A step up for business use, including everything in Home plus additional business features like BitLocker and Group Policy.
• Windows Pro for Workstation: The specialized high performance edition designed for high-end hardware with ReFS file system support. Supports up to 6 TB RAM and 4 physical processors.

Volume Licensing Editions:

• Windows Enterprise: Reserved for companies and organizations with advanced security and management tools like Windows Defender Application Guard and AppLocker. Same hardware limits as Pro.
• Windows Education: Built on enterprise level features but specifically designed for academic settings, offering advanced management tools for educational institutes.
• Windows Pro Education: A classroom friendly edition based on Windows Pro, enhanced with additional learning tools and enterprise level features.

In addition to these standard GAC editions, there are also specialized editions of Windows 10, including the Home Single Language edition, which is an OEM version limited to a single language, and commonly comes preinstalled in budget devices. Along with that, there are some regional variants like the European "N" and Korean "KN" variants, which exclude Windows Media Player and related technologies.

There's also a Windows 10 China Government edition, which is based on Enterprise, and is developed through Microsoft's joint venture CMIT. It has enhanced security controls, custom encryption management, and government compliance features.

Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC):

Unlike the regular editions released under the General Availability Channel, LTSC releases editions that are specifically designed for long-term stability, and receive only essential security updates. These editions are ideal for users who prefer reliability and consistency over constant change - like hospitals, factories, banks and other industries.

The editions released under this channel are:

• Windows Enterprise LTSC - For corporate environments such as hospitals, banks, offices and industrial systems. Avoids bloatware, excluding Microsoft Store, Cortana or unnecessary apps, offering only the essentials for stability and reliability.
• Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC - For embedded systems with lockdown features and write filters for IoT devices such as medical machines, ATMs, airport kiosks etc. Very lightweight, secure and stable.

Your Official Update Options After Windows 10 Retirement:

If you have reached here with me, congratulations! Your patience is about to be paid off. Now let's uncover the official update options available across different channels after Windows 10 retirement, with pros and cons of each.

Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU):

If you're currently using Windows 10, you can purchase the Extended Security Updates (ESU) subscription to continue receiving Windows updates, this is a temporary solution. Officially announced by Microsoft, the ESU updates will start rolling out in November 2025. The Extended Security Updates are split into two tracks: Consumer ESU Program, and Commercial ESU Program. Your Windows edition determines which of the two you are eligible for.

Consumer ESU Program:

Microsoft is offering a one year free Consumer ESU Program for users of consumer editions. It will offer security updates until October 14, 2026. Users can get it either from Microsoft's own ESU program or a PC manufacturer. To activate this free ESU, you need to log in your Microsoft account and sync your PC settings.

Commercial ESU Program:

For volume licensing editions users, Microsoft is offering a paid Commercial ESU program. It will extend to October 14, 2028, which is a maximum of three years after the official Windows 10 retirement.

Note: ESU gives only security updates, not new features.

Windows 10 LTSC:

If you want to use Windows 10 for the longest time possible, the LTSC versions are your best bet. There are two LTSC editions you should know about:

• Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021: This version is supported until January 12, 2027.
• Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021: This version is supported until January 13, 2032.

For the longest Windows 10 support, we recommend going with the IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021. It gives you seven more years compared to the regular retirement date and was originally designed for critical systems that need to run without interruption, so it's built for stability. You won't get feature updates or new bells and whistles, but you'll get the security patches you need to keep your system safe. It's a clean, no-nonsense version of Windows 10 that just works without any bloatware getting in your way.

Windows 11:

If you're ready to make the switch to Windows 11, you have options depending on your hardware.

Standard Windows 11

Let's break down what you need for a regular Windows 11 installation:

• Processor: 1 GHz or faster with at least two cores, 64-bit compatible.
• RAM: 4 GB or more.
• Storage: Minimum 64 GB free disk space.
• Graphics: DirectX 12 compatible GPU with WDDM 2.x driver.
• Firmware: UEFI with Secure Boot capability.
• TPM: Version 2.0 required.
• Display: 720p (HD), over 9″ diagonal, 8-bit per color channel.

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 24H2:

If your hardware doesn't meet the standard requirements but you still want to upgrade to Windows 11, this version has much more relaxed hardware requirements:

• Processor: Still requires 1 GHz, 2 cores (64-bit) - same as standard edition.
• RAM: Lowered to a minimum of 2 GB (preferred 4 GB).
• Storage: Reduced to 16 GB minimum (preferred 64 GB).
• Firmware: Legacy BIOS supported (UEFI optional).
• TPM: Version 2.0 is optional, not mandatory.
• Secure Boot: Optional, not required.
• Graphics: DirectX 10 allowed (instead of 12); GPU may even be optional in some scenarios.
• Display: Optional or customizable depending on device use.

This version is supported until October 10, 2034, so you can enjoy Windows 11 on your same hardware for years to come.

The Complete Picture:

We're done with the puzzle, let's see the full picture now! Windows 10 is officially retiring on October 14, 2025, but don't panic, there are three official ways to keep things running smoothly.

Option 1. Extended Security Updates for Windows 10:

For users currently running Windows 10, two ESU programs are available:

• A free one year Consumer ESU Program for consumer editions.
• A paid three year Commercial ESU Program for volume licensing editions.

Option 2. Windows 10 LTSC:

The best option for those who want to use Windows 10 for the longest time possible. We recommend the IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 version, which gets security updates until 2032, giving you the longest support runway for Windows 10.

Option 3. Windows 11:

If you're ready to make the switch, you have two paths:

• Standard Windows 11 if your hardware supports it.
• Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 24H2 if your current hardware doesn't meet the regular requirements.

So relax, Windows 10 retirement isn't the end. These three options give you plenty of ways forward. Plan ahead and choose what works best for you!

As we approach the Windows 10 end-of-life date, smart users are already planning their migration strategy. Whether you choose the temporary bridge of ESU, the long-term Windows 10 solution with IoT Enterprise LTSC, or make the jump to Windows 11, you're not being left behind. Each path offers its own advantages, and the choice really comes down to your specific needs, hardware, and how much change you're comfortable with.

The key is not to panic but to plan. You have time, you have options, and you have the information to make the right decision for your situation.

Credits:

• Author: Misha Ejaz.
• Content Fixes and Improvements: Waqas Ramzan.
• Researcher: Abdullah Zubair.
• Quality Assurance: Abdullah Zubair.
• Publishing and Formatting: Arslan Anwar.