Thoughts on Windows LTSC?

[Ray Karr]

I've been stubbornly holding onto Windows 10 for a while now, and I plan on continuing to do that until the very day it stops being supported. I already find it a little annoying, though that was mitigated after getting used to it over the 10 or so years I've used it for, but the more I learn about Windows 11, the more irritated I am by its looming presence...

I've experimented with Linux Mint and I loved it, but I can't really use it for my day-to-day because I work with a remote desktop on the same PC I use for myself, and the company only wants us using the Windows App, which is only available for Windows and Mac... sad. I could dual-boot, but I'd be using Windows 90% of the time anyways. I could also try to run it through Wine or a VM but for that, I'd want to research how well it runs first, and researching "windows app" with any search engine is a pain lol

So, I recently learned about Windows 11 LTSC. AFAIK it has no Copilot, no telemetry, almost none of the default apps I've never needed, and most of the default apps it does have are the Windows 10 versions. I've tested it on my beat up 2019 laptop and it runs pretty alright. I'm not happy about how much memory it uses to just exist, but I can only dream of how much the bloated standard version uses in my most infuriating nightmares. But hey, it runs the apps I need, I can get used to the worse UI over time, and I can look for workarounds for drivers that STILL don't work right with Windows 11.

Have any of you guys tried Windows 11 LTSC or IoT LTSC? If so, what do you think about it?

[Pearlple]

I have not tried anything like Win 11 LTSC since the Win 7 days.

However I had a similar situation to yours a while back and for my case a Windows Server 2022 install had everything I needed with pretty much Win 10 UI (it looks like the same goes for Server 2025, but I don't have this usecase anymore so I haven't tried it). It needs some configuration, because it is obviously set up to be used as a server initially. Some functionality and apps are not officially supported, but for me everything worked fine out of the box.
Remote Desktop and VM stuff is easier to get running than on desktops (obviously) both as a client and host. Back then I was using MS Office (complained during install, but worked fine) and Adobe CC, Audacity, everything else I had running was officially supported on servers anyways.
They all have evaluation editions so you can test it out for free, but activating them to a full license requires some command line/powershell shenanigans, if you don't want to set them up from scratch again.

[Crazyroostereye]

I don't know much about Windows LTSC, the most I know about it, it that it is an Enterprise Desktop Windows solution.
So in general there shouldn't be any Issue, but the No Telemetry is probably not right. I had the misfortune to Work with Windows Server 2025 recently, and there It was a pain in the ass to disable Telemetry, and that is THE Enterprise software from Windows. So having a Windows Desktop Version distributed by Windows without any Telemetry feels wrong to me.

The biggest concern tho, would be Licencing. This is an Enterprise Application, unlike the standard Editions. Enterprise things by Windows usually aren't as forgiving when not having the Appropriate Licence. Like full on locking you out until you Provide a Licence. And Windows Enterprise Licences aren't Cheap, and I think also not Perpetual.

About the Linux thing with your Work. The Windows App, formally Windows Remote Desktop App, just does RDP as far as I remember so shouldn't you be able to use any Remote Desktop App for that? Or is there a Restriction add to it by your Work?

[Ray Karr]

So in general there shouldn't be any Issue, but the No Telemetry is probably not right. I had the misfortune to Work with Windows Server 2025 recently, and there It was a pain in the ass to disable Telemetry, and that is THE Enterprise software from Windows. So having a Windows Desktop Version distributed by Windows without any Telemetry feels wrong to me.

Oh, I see! I wasn't aware of that. Guess I should research some more, I don't wanna go around recommending stuff based on wrong info ^^"

About the Linux thing with your Work. The Windows App, formally Windows Remote Desktop App, just does RDP as far as I remember so shouldn't you be able to use any Remote Desktop App for that? Or is there a Restriction add to it by your Work?

We haven't been explicitly told not to use any particular remote desktop program, but stuff like the remote desktop web client doesn't work because of the screen capture protection.

It needs some configuration, because it is obviously set up to be used as a server initially. Some functionality and apps are not officially supported, but for me everything worked fine out of the box.

Yeah, I'm ok with fiddling with it to add whatever I need that didn't come pre-installed, it's way better than fiddling with an OS to remove the extra stuff I don't want. That even allows for finding better alternatives to the default apps.

[Crazyroostereye]

Oh, I see! I wasn't aware of that. Guess I should research some more, I don't wanna go around recommending stuff based on wrong info ^^"

You could be completely right, I don't know anything about LTSC. I am just speaking with experience of Different Windows Solutions and how the handle Telemetry.

We haven't been explicitly told not to use any particular remote desktop program, but stuff like the remote desktop web client doesn't work because of the screen capture protection.

I hate Azure Desktop. You are entirely right, you can't use any OS but Windows or macOS as that is the Policy. And because its Azure Desktop and not a Machine with RDP it's not possible, at least without Hacks.
Another Recommendation is to have a separate Machine for Work, maybe they provide that?

[Ray Karr]

Another Recommendation is to have a separate Machine for Work, maybe they provide that?

One idea I've been considering is keeping the laptop for work only and the desktop PC for gaming only, and adapting my desk to accommodate for both. A stripped down version of Windows would be even more apt there, since I would literally use it for one thing only.

[splashy]

I've been using Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 as my primary OS since about late 2021. The experience is largely the same as Windows 10 GAC (the standard editions), with some notable exceptions.
There are almost no UWP apps preinstalled out of the box, not even the Micro$haft Store (Though you can install it by running this command:

Code: Select all

wsreset -i

In their place are system utilities which have been largely untouched since Windows 7. You might have issues running newer versions of certain software (Such as some Adobe products) but I'm yet to see any other compatibility issues.

Unfortunately, there's not really a way to activate this version of Windows without activation scripts, as it was never meant for home users. You might be able to find grey market keys for the non-IoT edition, but that version will only receive support until 2027. At that point you're probably better off just getting Extended Security Updates if you care to stay up to date.

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 is pretty similar to IoT LTSC 2021. It's system requirements are the lowest of all Windows 11 editions, which will save you a lot of headache from trying to wrangle Windows into running on old hardware.

Bonus screenshot:

[Fireye]

Wine works pretty damn well out of the box these days too, & in my experience it just works unless something is spitefully designed to specifically not work through wine or requires some kernel module (like a few game anticheats).

[Crazyroostereye]

There are new things, if you want to keep Windows 10 alive for a bit longer besides LTSC.

Let me prefix this with, I heavily recommend you Switch to Linux or another OS you feel comfortable with. As all of these tricks are just delaying the Issue. They are not permanent. You will have to deal with this again, so either make Peace with Win 11 or prepear yourself to Switch to a new OS.

MS has expanded their Windows 10 ESU (Extended Support Update) Program, you can now get the ESU for 1 Year (untill Okt 2026) as private Person for only 30 USD (single payment), for Free when using the Windows Cloud Backup tool, or redeeming 1000 Windows Points (whatever they are).

If you need more, you would have to look into Commercial ESU Program, which offers support until 2028 but for a yearly fee of 61 USD. Besides these windows will do some Security updates to Windows Defender beyond the EOL date. How much and how reliable is unclear.

[TeaInTheMorning]

I've been stubbornly holding onto Windows 10 for a while now, and I plan on continuing to do that until the very day it stops being supported. I already find it a little annoying, though that was mitigated after getting used to it over the 10 or so years I've used it for, but the more I learn about Windows 11, the more irritated I am by its looming presence...

I've experimented with Linux Mint and I loved it, but I can't really use it for my day-to-day because I work with a remote desktop on the same PC I use for myself, and the company only wants us using the Windows App, which is only available for Windows and Mac... sad. I could dual-boot, but I'd be using Windows 90% of the time anyways. I could also try to run it through Wine or a VM but for that, I'd want to research how well it runs first, and researching "windows app" with any search engine is a pain lol

So, I recently learned about Windows 11 LTSC. AFAIK it has no Copilot, no telemetry, almost none of the default apps I've never needed, and most of the default apps it does have are the Windows 10 versions. I've tested it on my beat up 2019 laptop and it runs pretty alright. I'm not happy about how much memory it uses to just exist, but I can only dream of how much the bloated standard version uses in my most infuriating nightmares. But hey, it runs the apps I need, I can get used to the worse UI over time, and I can look for workarounds for drivers that STILL don't work right with Windows 11.

Have any of you guys tried Windows 11 LTSC or IoT LTSC? If so, what do you think about it?

I personally have not tried using windows LTSC, but that is mostly because I've been a linux user since win 8.1 reached eol XD
(I don't personally need wine, but it's quite robust nowadays i hear!)

A word of warning, if you do try that that version was not exactly intended for a normal computer (same going for IoT)

Please do whatever you have to do to make windows more workable tho, if you do have to use it!

(Editing in an addendum: I do recommend moving windows out of your life as much as you can (like that laptop solution!), as using obscure versions are only a bandaid to the problem you seem to have with windows being bloated.)