Windows 11 will stick to the same Windows 10 servicing model

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Key notes

  • The Redmond-based tech company stated that the upcoming OS will follow the same servicing model as Windows 10.
  • What this means is that updates will continue to be released by Microsoft at least twice a month, such as before.
  • We will continue to get our important security updates through the popular Patch Tuesday, every second Tuesday of each month.
  • The tech giant also confirmed that itā€™s working on the LTSC version of Windows 11, but no release date or period has been announced yet.
Windows 11 service model

We know that some of you were wondering if new information has surfaced, regarding this topic. Good news for you, as Microsoft officials just made some important confirmations in this area.

The tech company confirmed Windows 11 will be serviced just like Windows 10. This means we will receive monthly security updates, optional cumulative updates, out-of-the-band updates, as well as servicing stack updates.

Furthermore, Microsoft has confirmed that there will also be a Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) version of Windows 11, during the latest ask-me-anything (AMA) session.

The new OS is following some of the old patterns

Given the fact that Windows 11 is included in Microsoftā€™s Windows as a service model, it will be serviced on a monthly basis, just as Windows 10, according to the tech giant

Microsoft said that there will be absolutely no changes to the already existing servicing model and updates will continue to release at least twice a month, such as before.

On every second Tuesday of each month, also known as Patch Tuesday, security updates will become available for both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

As before, the above-mentioned updates will include both security and non-security fixes. The main difference is that Windows 11 updates will be smaller in size than the Windows 10 ones.

Note icon NOTE
Only Patch Tuesday updates will be downloaded automatically and optional cumulative updates will appear under the optional updates section.

Let’s not forget about the optional C or D updates that are released in the third or fourth week of each month.

And even though these updates are usually ready to be used in production, theyā€™re optional and fixes will be included in the following Patch Tuesday release.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that both Windows 11 and Windows 10 will also receive out-of-the-band updates.

Such updates can be released without any prior announcement if there is a security fix that cannot be postponed until the Patch Tuesday update batch.

LTSC for Windows 11 is also coming

In the same AMA session, Microsoft also confirmed that itā€™s working on the LTSC version of Windows 11, but no release date or period has been announced yet.

If you are unfamiliar with this term, know that LTSC (Long-term servicing channel) is a version of Windows that doesnā€™t require constant updating and itā€™s mostly used by enterprises.

On the off chance you are running an LTSC version of Windows, you can skip the feature or major updates and only receive monthly security updates, for an extended period of time.

Typically, Microsoft releases new LTSC versions of Windows almost every three years, and every release contains all the new capabilities. 

The 21H2 version for Windows 10, which is arriving later this year, is going to be an LTSC release and it will be supported for five years.

What is your take on Microsoft’s latest decisions and statements? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

More about the topics: Windows 11