Windows 10 will reach end of life on October 14, 2025, and many computers that are still working fine cannot be upgraded to Windows 11. Instead of paying $30 for a year of security updates, keep Windows 10 safe until 2030 with this simple solution.
Windows 10 version extended until 2030
With official support coming to an end, users have a few options. First, upgrade to Windows 11, but your laptop will display a 'This PC can't run Windows 11' warning in the Settings app. It's possible to install Windows 11 on an older PC using a workaround, but the experience won't be as smooth.
Once that's settled, you can either agree to a $30/year ESU plan from Microsoft or sign up for a security platform like 0Patch, which promises Windows 10 security updates through 2030 for about $25/year.
But there is another option, albeit less popular, that most people don't know about, and that comes from Microsoft.
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) is a special version created by Microsoft for businesses that don't want to risk suddenly changing computers. Think of the ATMs at your bank or the computers running MRI machines at a hospital that need to be stable day in and day out. So Microsoft created LTSC, which is essentially Windows 10 with all the extra features stripped away and no updates except for security fixes.
The LTSC 2021 version gets security patches until January 2027. The IoT version lasts until 2032. On top of that, it's also bloatware-free, so you won't encounter any junk apps pre-installed by your laptop manufacturer. You won't even find the Xbox Game Bar pre-installed, nor the Microsoft Store, although you can add it yourself later.
Of course, you need a valid license to activate your copy of Windows 10 LTSC. Finding a cheap key online through reputable resellers is easy, with prices typically ranging from $20 to $30. While Microsoft intended LTSC for business customers, keys from reputable third-party vendors can activate without issue for personal use.
Warning : Microsoft does not officially support the in-place upgrade method described here, as they only recommend a clean install for LTSC. Editing the registry is risky and can potentially damage your system. While many people have successfully upgraded their computers this way, always make a full backup first and proceed at your own risk.
How to upgrade to LTSC without a clean install
Microsoft officially only supports clean installs for LTSC. However, you can upgrade your Windows 10 Pro installation without losing any programs or files by tweaking the Windows Registry.
First, create a full backup of your PC. You can use the built-in Windows Backup app or create a full disk image using software like Macrium Reflect. Also, create a restore point. This will allow you to undo changes if anything goes wrong while editing the registry.
Next, download the LTSC 2021 ISO from the Microsoft evaluation center or through your volume licensing portal.
Remember that the ISO language must match your current Windows 10 installation exactly. To confirm the language, open Windows Terminal with admin rights and type dism /online /get-intl . Now, check the System locale entry and note the language. For example, it may be en-US or English (United States), so download the English US version of the ISO.
To perform an in-place upgrade, you'll need to modify the Windows Registry to trick the installer into thinking you've installed the Enterprise LTSC version. So press Win + R , type regedit , and click OK .
In Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersion and change these values. Double-click the entry to change the value:
- EditionID : From Professional to EnterpriseS
- ProductName : From Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC
- ReleaseID : Changed from 22H2 to 21H2 . That's right, the LTSC version is based on Windows 10 21H1, not your latest build.
- CurrentBuild : 1904
- CurrentBuildNumber : 1904
Once complete, close Registry Editor. Next, find and double-click the ISO file to mount it. Then, double-click the setup.exe file to run the Windows installation wizard. Here, choose to keep your personal files and applications, and follow the on-screen instructions. The upgrade process takes about an hour to complete, and your computer may restart several times during the process.
After upgrading, you can activate your copy of Windows 10 from the Settings app. While you can do a clean install, an in-place upgrade is useful for installing the LTSC version of Windows 10 without removing your apps and personal files.