Microsoft has confirmed Windows 11 will be serviced just like
Windows 10 with monthly security updates, optional cumulative
updates, out of the band updates, servicing stack updates, and
more. Additionally, Microsoft has confirmed that there will be
a Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) version of Windows 11.
Windows 11 is part of Microsoft’s “Windows as a service” model
and it will be serviced on a monthly basis, according to
updated
documentation. In an update to the documents, Microsoft
noted that there will be no changes to the existing servicing
model and updates will continue to release at least twice a
month.
On the second Tuesday of each month, security updates will be
released for both Windows 10 and Windows 11. These updates will
include both security and non-security fixes (if you skip the
optional preview updates). Only Patch Tuesday updates will be
downloaded automatically and optional cumulative updates will
appear under the optional updates section.
Unlike Windows 10, Windows 11 updates will be smaller in size.
There are also optional C or D updates that be released in the
third or fourth week of the month. These updates are generally
ready to be used in production, but they’re optional and fixes
will be included in the following Patch Tuesday release.
Users can install optional updates if they want to get bug
fixes early for testing.
Windows 11 and Windows 10 will also get ‘out of the band’
updates. Those updates can be released without any prior
announcement if there’s a security fix that cannot wait until
the mandatory Patch Tuesday update.
LTSC branch
For those unfamiliar, LTSC (Long-term servicing channel) is a
version of Windows that doesn’t need constant updating and it’s
typically used by enterprises. If you have an LTSC version of
Windows, you can skip feature or major updates and receive
monthly security updates for an extended period of time.
The normal Windows 10 versions will be supported until late
2025, but LTSC releases (typically used by enterprises) will
continue to receive updates even after 2025.
Microsoft releases new LTSC versions of Windows approximately
every three years, and each release contains all the new
capabilities. Windows 10 version 21H2, which is arriving
later this year, is going to be an LTSC release and it will be
supported for five years.
During an AMA session, Microsoft confirmed that it’s working on
the LTSC version of Windows 11, but we don’t know when that
will be released.
Microsoft is currently
planning to release Windows 11 in October 2021 and a wider
rollout is expected in 2022. More details will be shared in the
coming weeks.
