Windows 10 IoT Mobile Enterprise

Windows 10 has several editions, all with varying feature sets, use cases, or intended devices. Certain editions are distributed only on devices directly from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), while editions such as ''Enterprise'' and ''Education'' are only available through volume licensing channels. Microsoft also makes editions of Windows 10 available to device manufacturers for use on specific classes of devices, including IoT devices, and previously marketed Windows 10 Mobile for smartphones.

Base editions

Baseline editions are the only editions available as standalone purchases in retail outlets. PCs often come pre-installed with one of these editions.

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: Windows 10 Home is designed for use in PCs, tablets and 2-in-1 PCs. It includes all features directed at ''consumers''.

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: Windows 10 Pro includes all features of Windows 10 Home, with additional capabilities that are oriented towards ''professionals'' and ''business environments'', such as Active Directory, Remote Desktop, BitLocker, Hyper-V, and Windows Defender Device Guard.

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: Windows 10 Pro for Workstations is designed for high-end hardware for intensive computing tasks and supports Intel Xeon, AMD Opteron and the latest AMD Epyc processors; up to 4 CPUs; up to 256 cores; up to 6 TB RAM; the ReFS file system; Non-Volatile Dual In-line Memory Module (NVDIMM); and remote direct memory access (RDMA).

Organizational editions

These editions add features to facilitate centralized control of many installations of the OS within an organization. The main avenue of acquiring them is a volume licensing contract with Microsoft.

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: Windows 10 Education is distributed through Academic Volume Licensing. It was based on Windows 10 Enterprise and initially reported to have the same feature set. As of version 1709, however, this edition has fewer features. See for details.
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: This edition was introduced in July 2016 for hardware partners on new devices purchased with the discounted K–12 academic license. It was based on the Pro edition of Windows 10 and contains mostly the same features as Windows 10 Pro with different options disabled by default, and adds options for setup and deployment in an education environment. It also features a "Set Up School PCs" app that allows provisioning of settings using a USB flash drive, and does not include Cortana, Microsoft Store suggestions, Windows Sandbox, or Windows Spotlight.
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: Windows 10 Enterprise provides all the features of Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, with additional features to assist with IT-based organizations. Windows 10 Enterprise is configurable on two servicing channels, ''Semi-Annual Channel'' and ''Windows Insider Program''.
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: Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) is a long-term support variant of Windows 10 Enterprise, released every 2 to 3 years. Each release is supported with security updates for either 5 or 10 years after its release, and intentionally receives no feature updates. Some features, including the Microsoft Store and bundled apps, are not included in this edition. This edition was first released as Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB (Long-Term Servicing Branch). There are currently 4 releases of LTSC: one in 2015 (RTM), one in 2016 (version 1607), one in 2018 (labeled as 2019, version 1809), and one in 2021 (version 21H2).

Multi-session

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: Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session, a multi-session variant of Enterprise edition, included with Azure Virtual Desktop, allows multiple concurrent interactive sessions. Previously, only Windows Server could do this. A cloud-based alternative to an on-premise Remote Desktop Server (RDS). AVD is deployed in Azure Cloud as a virtual machine. License costs are already included in several Microsoft 365 subscriptions, including Microsoft 365 Business Premium or Microsoft 365 E3.

S mode

Since 2018, OEMs can ship Windows 10 Home and Pro in a feature-limited variation named ''S mode'' which evolved from the discontinued Windows 10 S. Organizations employing Windows 10 Enterprise or Windows 10 Education can make use of S mode too. S mode is a feature-limited edition of Windows 10 designed primarily for low-end devices in the education market. It has a faster initial setup and login process, and allows devices to be provisioned using a USB drive with the "Set Up School PCs" app.

Changes

With the exception of the Microsoft Teams desktop client (which was made available for S mode in April 2019), the installation of software (both Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and Windows API apps) is only possible through the Microsoft Store, and built-in and Microsoft Store-obtained command line programs or shells cannot be run in this mode. System settings are locked to allow only Microsoft Edge as the default web browser with Bing as its search engine. The operating system may be switched out of S mode using the Microsoft Store for free. However, once S Mode is turned off, it cannot be re-enabled. Critics have compared the edition to Windows RT, and have considered it to be an alternative to ChromeOS.

Device-specific editions

These editions are licensed to OEMs only, and are primarily obtained via the purchase of hardware that includes it:

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: A specific edition used by Microsoft's HoloLens mixed reality smartglasses.

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: A specific edition used by Microsoft's Surface Hub interactive whiteboard.

IoT editions

Rebranded from Microsoft's earlier operating system editions in the Windows Embedded family. Binary identical to their non-IoT counterparts with version 1809 and older, while newer versions add support for smaller storage devices. Available via OEMs and volume licensing for specific versions.

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: Intended specifically for use in small footprint, low-cost devices and IoT scenarios.

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: Long-Term Servicing Channel variant. Replaces all IoT Core edition variants starting with the 2021 release. Furthermore, the 2021 release gains an extra 5 years of support compared to its non-IoT counterpart and is available via volume licensing for the first time.

Discontinued editions

The following editions of Windows 10 were discontinued (as of Windows 10 version 21H2). For both Mobile and Mobile Enterprise, Microsoft confirmed it was exiting the consumer mobile devices market, so no successor product is available.
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: Windows 10 Mobile was designed for smartphones and small tablets. It included all basic consumer features, including Continuum capability. It was the ''de facto'' successor of Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows RT.
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: Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise provided all of the features in Windows 10 Mobile, with additional features to assist IT-based organizations, in a manner similar to Windows 10 Enterprise, but optimized for mobile devices.
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: A binary equivalent of Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise licensed for IoT applications. Also known as IoT Mobile Enterprise.
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: Windows 10 IoT Core was optimized for smaller and lower-cost industry devices. It was also formerly provided free of charge for use in devices like the Raspberry Pi for hobbyist use. Only UWP apps are supported, and only one at a time at that. Discontinued after version 1809. Support ended on 10 November 2020 for non-LTSC, while IoT Core LTSC (2019/version 1809) support will continue until 9 January 2029. Merged into and replaced by IoT Enterprise LTSC starting with the 2021/version 21H2 release.
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: Windows 10 S was an edition released in 2017 which ultimately evolved into the so-called S mode of Windows 10. In March 2018, Microsoft announced that it would be phasing out Windows 10 S, citing confusion among manufacturers and end-users.
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: Lean was meant to be used for cheaper desktops and laptops with a small storage capacity and resources, it could fit even on a 16 GB hard drive; only one build was released in 2018, the setup identifies the edition as "Windows 10 Lean".
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: Andromeda was demonstrated on the Lumia 950. The project was canceled for unknown reasons.
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: Originally announced for use on dual-screen devices such as the Surface Neo and other potential form factors, 10X featured a modified user interface designed around context specific interactions or "postures" on such devices, including a redesigned Start menu with no tiles, and use of container technology to run Win32 software. The platform was described as a more direct competitor to ChromeOS. On May 4, 2020, Microsoft announced that Windows 10X would first be used on single-screen devices, and that they would "continue to look for the right moment, in conjunction with our OEM partners, to bring dual-screen devices to market". Microsoft also added anti-theft protection to Windows 10X, just like how Apple's Activation Lock and anti-theft protection on Android devices and Chromebooks work. On May 18, 2021, Head of Windows Servicing and Delivery John Cable stated that Windows 10X had been cancelled, and that its foundational technologies would be leveraged for future Microsoft products. Several design changes in 10X, notably the centered taskbar and redesigned start menu, would be later introduced in Windows 11.

Regional variations

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: As with previous versions of Windows since Windows XP, all Windows 10 editions for PC hardware have "N" and "KN" variations in Europe and South Korea that exclude multimedia functionality, in compliance with antitrust rulings. According to details that Microsoft has published, any app that relies on Microsoft multimedia technologies experiences impaired functionality on these editions, unable to even play audio notification tones. Restoring the missing functionality to these editions entails installing the "Media Feature Pack", followed by Skype, Movies & TV, Windows Media Player, Xbox Game Bar, Windows Voice Recorder, and four codecs. The variation cannot be changed without a clean install, and keys for one variation will not work on other variations.

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: As with Windows 8.1, a reduced-price "Windows 10 with Bing" SKU is available to OEMs; it is subsidized by having Microsoft's Bing search engine set as default, which cannot be changed to a different search engine by OEMs. It is intended primarily for low-cost devices, and is otherwise identical to Windows 10 ''Home''.

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: In some emerging markets, OEMs preinstall a variation of Windows 10 Home called Single Language without the ability to switch the display language. To change the display language, the user will need to upgrade to the standard editions of Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro. It is otherwise identical to Windows 10 Home. However, it should not be confused with the standard OEM editions of Windows 10, where OEMs and mobile operators can restrict which display languages are preloaded and/or made available for download and installation for their target markets.

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: In May 2017, it was reported that Microsoft, as part of its partnership with China Electronics Technology Group, created a specially-modified variant of Windows 10 ''Enterprise'' ("G") designed for use within branches of the Chinese government. This variant is pre-configured to "remove features that are not needed by Chinese government employees", and allow the use of its internal encryption algorithms.

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: As with Windows 10 Mobile and previous versions of Windows since Windows Phone 7 for smartphones and Windows 8 for PCs (since its mobile counterpart shares the same Windows NT kernel), device manufacturers (as well as mobile operators for devices with cellular capabilities) who preload Windows 10 can choose not to support certain display languages either during the OOBE process or available as optional downloads via Settings and/or the Microsoft Store based on the target market. For optional downloads, in the first scenario, the option to download the language pack (and any associated supplementary fonts) will not be available; in the second scenario, the installation will be blocked with the message "This app is not compatible with this device," where the "app" in question is a language pack from the Microsoft Store. Unlike Windows 10 Home Single Language, device manufacturers and mobile operators can support one, some, or even all of the display languages available (though many devices that do not run Single Language editions of Windows will likely support multiple display languages). OEM editions are otherwise identical to their retail counterparts without any other feature restrictions.

Comparison chart

Microsoft OEM licensing formula takes display size, RAM capacity and storage capacity into account. In mid-2015, devices with 4 GB RAM were expected to be $20 more expensive than devices with 2 GB RAM.

Upgrade path

Free upgrade

At the time of launch, Microsoft deemed Windows 7 (with Service Pack 1) and Windows 8.1 users eligible to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge, so long as the upgrade took place within one year of Windows 10's initial release date. Windows RT and the respective Enterprise editions of Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 were excluded from this offer.

Transition paths

The following table summarizes possible transition paths (upgrade, downgrade, or migration) that can be taken, provided that proper licenses are purchased.

Windows RT does not appear in this table because it cannot be upgraded to Windows 10.

On September 28, 2023, Microsoft disabled the free upgrade path to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8.x, although upgrades from Windows 10 to 11 are still supported.

Release channels

Microsoft releases minor versions of Windows 10 through the free ''feature updates''. Originally, Microsoft released feature updates semiannually. They contained new features as well as changes. With the release of Windows 11, however, Microsoft has changed the release schedule to annual. These feature updates do not contain any noticeable changes.

The pace at which a system receives feature updates depends on the "release channel" (originally, "release branch") from which the system downloads its updates.

Insider Channel

Windows Insider is a beta testing program that allows access to pre-release builds of Windows 10, enabling power users, developers, and vendors to test and provide feedback on future feature updates to Windows 10 as they are developed. Before the release of Windows 11, Windows Insider itself consisted of four "rings":
* The Dev channel (previously "Fast" ring) distributed new builds as they were released.
* The Beta channel (previously "Slow" ring) distributed new builds with a delay following their availability on the Fast ring.
* The "Release Preview" channel distributed release candidate builds.
* The now-closed "Skip Ahead" ring distributed builds of the next feature update while a current release was being finished.

After the release of Windows 11, only the "Release Preview" and "Beta" rings remains active.

General Availability Channel

Since 2022, the General Availability Channel (GAC) distributes feature updates annually. To receive these updates, users must either request them manually or wait for their version of Windows 10 to go out of support.

Originally, however, Microsoft distributed feature updates through two distinct channels:
* The "Current Branch" (CB) distributed all feature updates as they graduated from the Windows Insider program. Microsoft only supported the latest build. Windows would automatically install the latest feature update from CB. Users could defer the CB feature update for up to 365 days. Microsoft renamed CB to "Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)" in version 1709.
* The "Current Branch for Business" (CBB), which was not available in the Home edition, distributed feature updates with a four-month delay. This allowed customers and vendors to evaluate and perform additional testing on new builds before broader deployments. Devices could be switched back to the Current Branch at any time. Microsoft renamed CBB to "Semi-Annual Channel" in version 1709.

Since version 1903, Microsoft dismantled the two-channel scheme in favor of a unified "Semi-Annual Channel" (SAC). Microsoft supports each SAC version of Windows for 30 months. Windows no longer installs new feature updates automatically before the expiry of the 30-months support period. With the release of Windows 11, Microsoft changed the release schedule to annual, and change the channel's name to "General Availability Channel" (GAC).

Long-Term Servicing Channel

LTSC exclusively distributes the "Enterprise LTSC", "IoT Core", and "IoT Enterprise LTSC" editions of Windows 10. Microsoft releases a new minor version of these editions every 2–3 years. LTSC builds adhere to Microsoft's traditional support policy which was in effect before Windows 10, including:

* Five years of mainstream support
* Critical and security updates for ten years after their release (excludes non-IoT editions version 2021 and newer)
* No feature updates from Windows Update

Microsoft discourages the use of LTSC editions outside of "special-purpose devices" that perform a fixed function and thus do not require new user experience features. As a result, these editions do not come with Microsoft Store, most Cortana features, and most bundled apps. LTSC was originally called the "Long-Term Servicing Branch" (LTSB) until 2016. Later, LTSC editions are included in Windows 11.

See also

* Windows Server 2016, based on Windows 10 version 1607
* Windows Server 2019, based on Windows 10 version 1809
* Windows Server 2022, based on a modified version of Windows 10 version 21H2
* Xbox system software, an operating system now based on the Windows 10 core, designed to run on the Xbox consoles
* Windows 10 version history

Notes

References

{{History of Windows

Windows 10