How to download the Windows 10 LTSC ISO file in 2025

You can download the official Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 ISO from Microsoft.
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 receives mainstream support through January 12, 2027, while Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 has extended support until January 13, 2032.

You can download the ISO files of any Windows 10 Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) edition to install the operating system on virtually any hardware, extending support until January 12, 2027, if you can’t or won’t upgrade to Windows 11.

You can extend the support of Windows 10 with the “IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021” until January 13, 2032. However, Microsoft is not making the ISO file available without a commercial subscription.

If you’re looking to switch from Windows 10 Home or Pro to the IoT Enterprise LTSC or Enterprise LTSC because the support for the operating system is scheduled to end on October 14, 2025, you should first consider enrolling your computer in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to continue receiving security updates until October 2026.

Although the ESU program is usually reserved for commercial customers, the company is now making it available to anyone for free (sort of) if you use a Microsoft account and backup your files to the cloud. Otherwise, the extended support has a cost of $30.

In this guide, I’ll explain the steps to download the official 90-day evaluation ISO file for Windows 10 LTSC.

Download Windows 10 LTSC ISO file

To download the Windows 10 LTSC ISO file, follow these steps:

Open the Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC download page.
Click the “32-bit edition” or “64-bit edition” (recommended) option.
Save the Windows 10 LTSC ISO file on your computer.

Once you complete the steps, you will end up with an ISO file, which you can mount in a virtualization environment to create a virtual machine or use it to create a Windows 10 LTSC USB bootable media.

Create Windows 10 LTSC bootable USB

When downloading any of the Long-Term Servicing Channel releases, they don’t include the Media Creation Tool, meaning you’ll need a third-party tool, such as Rufus, to create a bootable USB drive. Alternatively, you can use the Command Prompt or other third-party solutions, such as Ventoy.

To create a bootable USB with Rufus using an existing ISO file, connect a USB flash drive with 8GB of space and follow these steps:

Open the Rufus website.
Click the link to download the latest version under the “Download” section.
Double-click the rufus.4.xx.exe file to launch the tool.
Select the USB flash drive to create the Windows 10 LTSC bootable media under the “Device” section.
Click the Select button.
Select the Windows 10 LTSC ISO file.
Click the Open button.
Choose the “Standard Windows Installation” option under the “Image option” setting.
Select the GPT option under the “Partition scheme” section.

Quick tip: For older systems using the legacy Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), consider selecting the “MBR” option.
Select the UEFI (non-CSM) option under the “Target system” section.
Specify a descriptive name for the bootable USB drive under the “Volume label” section. For example, Windows 10 LTSC Setup.
Use the default settings for the File system and Cluster size options.
Check the Quick format option.
Check the “Create extended label and icon files” option.
Clear the user customization options (if applicable).
Click the Start button.
Click the OK button.

After completing the steps, the tool will begin creating a USB drive with the Windows 10 LTSC installation media.

FAQs about Windows 10 LTSC

To help you better understand Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) editions, I’ve answered some of the most common questions:

What’s Windows 10 LTSC?

The LTSC editions of Windows 10 are tailored for specialized devices requiring extended support and minimal feature changes. Microsoft offers two primary LTSC variants, including “Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC” and “Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC.” However, as of now, only the Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 Evaluation version is officially available for public download.

If you want to download the Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC ISO file, you’ll have to access the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) website, which is usually reserved for commercial customers.

It’s important to note that you should only download the ISO file from official sources.

What’s the difference between IoT LTSC and Enterprise LTSC?

These editions of the operating system are built upon the same Windows 10 core, which means that they use the same underlying kernel, file system (NTFS), and core system components. Technically speaking, these two editions are essentially the same.

The key differences lie in how they’re configured and the intended use cases. For example, Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC is optimized for embedded devices (industrial and medical PCs, machine controllers, robotics, Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, ATMs, etc.), often requiring a locked-down and stable environment.

This optimization typically involves restricting certain features, providing enhanced lockdown capabilities, and prioritizing long-term stability over frequent feature updates.

In the case of Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC, this variant is designed for broader enterprise deployments, where some flexibility is still required, but long-term stability is essential. For instance, mission-critical computers, specialized workstations, and devices require long-term stability.

Microsoft supports Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC for 10 years, while Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC is supported for 5 years.

Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 was officially released on November 16, 2021, and it’ll be supported until January 12, 2027.

On the other hand, Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 was officially released on November 16, 2021, and it’ll be supported until January 13, 2032 (extended end date).

Can I install Windows 11 LTSC on my PC?

It’s possible to install Windows 10 LTSC on your computer, but there are a few caveats. First, Microsoft doesn’t offer the LTSC version for home consumers. The company only makes these editions available through its volume licensing program for large organizations.

However, it is currently offering the Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 Evaluation version, which is officially available for public download.

Can I install traditional desktop apps on Windows 11 LTSC?

Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC is based on Windows 10, which means that it’s natively compatible with the same apps and security solutions you already use on Windows 10 Pro and Home.

Can you fully activate a Windows 11 LTSC after the evaluation?

Microsoft does not officially support converting evaluation versions to full retail versions through direct activation. Attempting to input a valid product key into an evaluation version typically results in activation errors.

You can perform an in-place upgrade using a full-version ISO file to transition from an evaluation version to a fully licensed Windows 10 LTSC.

What are the Windows 10 LTSC hardware requirements?

The hardware requirements for Windows 10 LTSC align with those of the standard Windows 10 release for consumers:

Processor: 1GHz or faster CPU or System on a Chip (SoC).
RAM: 1GB is required for 32-bit systems, and 2GB is required for 64-bit systems.
Storage: 32GB for a clean install or a new PC (16GB for a 32-bit system or 20GB for a 64-bit system with an existing installation).
Graphics: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver.
Display resolution: 800×600 or higher.
Networking: Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter.

Do I need a product key to activate the evaluation setup?

It’s important to note that a product key is not required for the evaluation period. However, the operating system still needs to be activated (without a product key) upon prompt. If you don’t, or if the trial period ends, your desktop will show a black background, you’ll notice a reminder about activation, and your computer will shut down every hour.