Windows 10 is a computer operating system by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft Windows group of operating systems. It was called Threshold when it was being developed (made/coded). Windows 10 was announced at a press event on 30 September 2014. It was released for personal computers on 29 July 2015. It is a free update for Windows 8 that can be found in the Windows Store until version 1709.
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![]() Windows 10 running on a Laptop | |
Developer | Microsoft Corporation |
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OS family | Microsoft Windows |
Working state | Current |
Initial release | July 29, 2015; 8 years ago |
Latest release | 22H2 (10.0.19045.4170) / March 12, 2024 |
Latest preview | 22H2 (10.0.19045.4170) / March 12, 2024 |
Preceded by | Windows 8 (2012) Windows 8.1 (2013) |
Succeeded by | Windows 10X (2020) Windows 11 (2021) |
Official website | www |
Support status | |
Support of all-non LTSB/LTSC version:
Mainstream support ended on October 13, 2020 Extended support will end on October 14, 2025 All LTSC loT, and all LTSC/LTSB of 2019 and older variants of Windows 10 are unsupported 10 years or 5 years after release Windows 10 was eligible for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) service. This service was available via specific volume licensing programs for Professional & Enterprise editions (via OEMs for some embedded editions) in yearly installments. Security updates were available for the operating system until October 10, 2028. Windows 8 users (except those using Windows Embedded 8 Standard) had to install Windows 10 to continue receiving updates after January 12, 2016 |
Windows 10 is designed to provide the same look for different systems. These include desktop, laptop, and other systems.
Unlike earlier versions of Windows, Windows 10 was regularly updated with new features based on user feedback, starting before it was first released. Each release has a four-digit build number. The first two digits (2 numbers) refer to the year of release, and the other two digits refer to the month of release (e.g. "1903" refers to a build released in March 2019).
Windows 10, is by now, the most popular Windows version, at 71.1%.[1] Older versions of Windows 10 (any version before 22H2) are officially discontinued and do not get updated, and Windows 11 is 2nd most popular.
Feature | Present in Windows 8.1 | Present in Windows 7 | Remarks/Improvements |
---|---|---|---|
Return of the Start Menu | No | Yes | It is a mix of Windows 8's Start Screen with Live Tiles and Windows 7. Basically, combines both into one. This was done due to criticism of Windows 8's removal of the Start Menu. |
Multiple desktops | No | No | This feature allows users to 'create' multiple desktops in Windows. This feature was first available for Ubuntu and OS X. |
Tablet Mode | Partial | No | Used on multi-mode (convertible) devices like Microsoft's Surface Pro 3. When a user detaches the keyboard, it changes into a touch-friendly mode and the reverse happens when it is reattached. |
Cortana | No | No | A personal digital voice assistant that was first released on Windows Phone 8.1. |
DirectX 12 | ver 11 | ver 11 | DirectX updated to version 12. Allows games to run faster in some cases. |
Windows 10 has many versions for different uses, that have different features.[2]
Expiration date | |
---|---|
Mainstream support | October 13, 2020 |
Extended support | October 14, 2025[3][4] |
Extended Security Updates (ESU) support | October 10, 2028[5][6] |
Applicable Windows 10 editions Excluding LTSB/LTSC editions: | |
Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, S, Education, Pro Education, Enterprise, IoT Enterprise, Team.[4] | |
Exceptions | |
Windows 10 Mobile, Mobile Enterprise, and IoT Mobile | Unsupported as of January 14, 2020[7] Extended Security Updates (ESU) support ended on January 10, 2023 |
Windows 10 IoT Core (non-LTSC) | Unsupported as of November 10, 2020[4] |
Windows 10 Enterprise and IoT Enterprise 2015 LTSB | Mainstream support ended on October 13, 2020[4] Extended support until October 14, 2025[4] Extended Security Updates (ESU) support until on October 10, 2028 |
Windows 10 Enterprise and IoT Enterprise 2016 LTSB | Mainstream support ended on October 12, 2021[4] Extended support until October 13, 2026[4] Extended Security Updates (ESU) support until on October 9, 2029 |
Windows 10 Enterprise, IoT Enterprise, and IoT Core (via IoT Core Services)[8] 2019 LTSC | Mainstream support ended January 9, 2024[4] Extended support until January 9, 2029[4] Extended Security Updates (ESU) support until on January 13, 2032 |
Windows 10 Enterprise 2021 LTSC | Supported until January 12, 2027[4] |
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2021 LTSC | Mainstream support until January 12, 2027[4] Extended support until January 13, 2032[4] Extended Security Updates (ESU) support until on January 9, 2035 |
Windows 10 was originally released following Microsoft's fixed lifecycle policy, receiving mainstream support for five years after its original release, followed by five years of extended support. However, starting in February 2018 this was switched to the modern lifecycle policy (excluding LTSC), with each build receiving 18 or 30 (only for H2 versions) months of support after release, depending on edition. Furthermore, Home edition does not support the deferral of feature updates and will thus often receive a new version of Windows 10 prior to the end of the 18-month support period.[9][3]
Microsoft's support lifecycle policy for the operating system notes that updates "are cumulative, with each update built upon all of the updates that preceded it", that "a device needs to install the latest update to remain supported", and that a device's ability to receive future updates will depend on hardware compatibility, driver availability, and whether the device is within the OEM's "support period"Template:Nsmdnsa new aspect not accounted for in lifecycle policies for previous versions.[10][11][12][13] This policy was first invoked in 2017 to block Intel Clover Trail devices from receiving the Creators Update, as Microsoft asserts that future updates "require additional hardware support to provide the best possible experience", and that Intel no longer provided support or drivers for the platform. Microsoft stated that these devices would no longer receive feature updates, but would still receive security updates through January 2023.[14]
Microsoft will continue to support at least one standard Windows 10 release until October 14, 2025.[15][16] On April 27, 2023, Microsoft announced that version 22H2 would be the last of Windows 10, meaning this version will extend beyond the normal 18/30 months of support.[17][18] While the company aimed to discontinue support for Windows 10 by October 2025, it announced an Extended Security Update (ESU) service in December 2023 for Windows 10 devices, until October 2028, for a yet to be announced annual pricing plan. Furthermore, unlike previous Windows ESU services, Windows 10 ESU will be available to individual consumers as well.[19][5][6]