Windows 10 Lifecycle: End Of Life And Support Status
Last updated on May 29, 2023
Even though Windows 10 is not the latest operating system from Microsoft, it is still largely used because of its reliability and features. However, like all software, the Windows 10 operating system must also be retired at some point, known as its end of life. The end of life is the date when Microsoft will stop providing support and security updates for the operating system. This means that after the End of Life date, Microsoft will no longer address any vulnerabilities or issues with the software.
Like all Microsoft operating systems, Windows 10 also has different versions, each with a different End of Life. While the later versions are still supported, many Windows 10 versions have already reached the End of Life.
Support status guide
End of life (EOL) is the end of a product’s useful life. When a product reaches the end of its life cycle, the manufacturer no longer supports it. The following table explains the different phases of a product’s lifecycle. Testing status is when the product is initially released and EOL is when product support is no longer offered. The time between these two points is the support timeframe.
Testing
The software is not yet publicly available. It is in testing phase i.e., alpha, beta, release preview etc.
Active
The software is actively supported by the vendor.
Phasing Out
The software will soon reach its end of life. You need to look for upgrade or migration options. The software will automatically go into phasing out status 2 months before end of life.
End Of Life
The software is no longer supported by the vendor. You need to make sure your system and environment are safe.
Version
Released
Active Support
Extended Support
(18 October 2022)
(14 October 2025)
(14 October 2025)
(16 November 2021)
(13 June 2023)
(11 June 2024)
(20 October 2020)
(9 May 2023)
(9 May 2023)
(27 May 2020)
(14 December 2021)
(14 December 2021)
(12 November 2019)
(10 May 2021)
(10 May 2021)
(29 August 2019)
(8 December 2020)
(8 December 2020)
(13 November 2018)
(10 November 2020)
(10 November 2020)
(30 April 2018)
(13 October 2020)
(13 October 2020)
(17 October 2017)
(13 October 2020)
(13 October 2020)
(11 April 2017)
(8 October 2019)
(8 October 2019)
(2 August 2016)
(12 October 2021)
(9 January 2029)
(2 August 2016)
(9 April 2019)
(9 April 2019)
(10 November 2015)
(10 October 2017)
(10 October 2017)
(29 July 2015)
(13 October 2020)
(14 October 2025)
(29 July 2015)
(9 May 2017)
(9 May 2017)
(29 July 2015)
(14 October 2025)
(14 October 2025)
Windows 10 version 22H2 is currently the latest version and will be so for the remaining time. As announced by Microsoft, all Windows 10 operating systems will reach End of Life on 14th October 2025. It is likely that Windows 10 users will be forced to upgrade to the latest Windows version.
Previously, Microsoft released 2 versions each year for Windows 10, where one was released in the first half of the year, and the second in the second half. These were initially named after the year and the month they were released in. For example, Windows 10 version 1903 is named so because it was scheduled to be released in 2019 in the 3rd month (March). However, since the timeline wasn’t always perfect, the naming nomenclature later changed to using “H1” and “H2”, depicting the first and the second half of the year, respectively. This led to Windows versions being named as “21H2” and “22H2”.
Microsoft then changed the release schedule in 2021 and decided to release only one major Windows version every year. This eliminated the “H1” release every year and only the “H2” was released.
With many different Windows 10 versions available, each of them also has different editions. Windows 10 offers, the following editions: Home, Professional, Education, Enterprise, and IoT. Like its ancestors, the Education and Enterprise editions have longer servicing durations than the rest. However, all Windows 10 editions and versions will reach End of Life in 2025.
Normally, the Windows 10 versions released in the first half of the year usually received eighteen months of servicing, while the version released in the second half received 18 or 30 months (for Enterprise and Education editions) of servicing.
Understanding the concept of end of life for Microsoft Windows
While Microsoft follows modern lifecycle policy, which means that the devices on the latest Windows versions will be supported indefinitely, there are three main types of end of support/life dates:
End of mainstream support
This means Microsoft will not provide incident support, warranty claims, feature requests, or non-security related requests after the end of mainstream support.
- No more free incident support.
- No more warranty claims.
- No more design changes and feature requests.
- No more non-security hotfixes.
Usually, Microsoft provides 3 years of mainstream support after the product is discontinued.
End of extended support
The end of extended support means the following:
- No more security updates
- No more paid support
- No more updated content (Knowledgebase etc.)
End of Long Term Service Channel support (LTSC)
LTSC channel is designed so that the product is treated as a stand-alone product. LTSC products features and functionality do not change throughout their lifecycle. These products only get security updates throughout their lifetime.
Microsoft supports LTSC releases for 10 years. However, in the case of Windows 10, the last LTSC release was Windows 10 21H2 LTSC, whose support will be ending in 2025 as well.
Windows 10 Extended Security Update (ESU) Program
Microsoft now offers a subscription-based paid security update program for all Windows 10 versions well beyond its End of Life in October 2025. Individual users, as well as organizations, will be able to pay a monthly fee for security updates for an additional 3 years after Microsoft no longer supports it.
Note that this program will only offer security updates, which means that no new features or fixes will be offered beyond October 2025.
The security updates will patch up critical and important vulnerabilities that have been or can be exploited in the real world. Therefore, it is recommended that devices that cannot upgrade to Windows 11 subscribe to the Windows 10 ESU program to ensure that their devices are secure from online threats.
Microsoft is yet to disclose the pricing and the exact date till the ESU program for Windows 10 will be supported.
EOLs
