Great question—and a timely one, too. Since your IT team mentioned upgrading due to Windows 10’s end of life (October 14, 2025), it’s likely your POS terminal is currently running Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC—a version specifically designed for embedded systems like tills and kiosks.
Here’s why that matters:
If it’s Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021, you’re actually supported until January 13, 2032, so there’s no urgent need to upgrade.
If it’s an older LTSC version (like 2016 or 2019), then yes—support ends sooner, and an upgrade might be necessary.
If it’s Windows 10 Pro or Home, then support ends in October 2025, and your IT team is right to recommend an upgrade.
To confirm exactly what your till is running, you can:
Minimise GPoS and look on the background information screen
Press Windows + R, type winver, and hit Enter.
Or go to Settings > System > About and look under “Windows specifications.”
If you see “LTSC” or “LTSB” in the version name, you’re on a long-term servicing channel.
In the bustling world of retail and hospitality, reliability and longevity are king. That’s where Microsoft Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) steps into the spotlight. This version of Windows is specifically tailored for fixed-purpose devices like POS terminals, ATMs, and kiosks—systems that need to quietly hum along in the background without the chaos of frequent feature updates or major changes.
1. Stability Over Time Unlike standard Windows versions that receive biannual feature updates, LTSC offers a decade of support with security updates only. That means fewer disruptions, reduced downtime, and minimal revalidation testing for mission-critical applications.
2. Purpose-Built for Embedded Devices Windows IoT LTSC is optimized for devices that don’t need bells and whistles. POS terminals don’t benefit from Cortana, Xbox integration, or paint updates—they just need to work. LTSC skips the consumer-centric features to streamline performance.
3. Compliance and Security Retailers handling financial transactions must adhere to strict compliance requirements. With LTSC, businesses can lock in a known-good configuration and avoid unexpected changes that might create vulnerabilities or compliance issues.
4. Cost Efficiency With less frequent updates and lower maintenance demands, IT departments can better manage and budget for long-term device management. It’s the “set it and forget it” version of Windows—perfect for environments where predictability is gold.
In essence, Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC fits POS needs like a glove: it’s lean, it’s long-lasting, and it doesn’t get in the way of doing business. When you’re swiping cards and ringing up sales, that’s exactly what you want from your operating system.
Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC follows Microsoft’s Fixed Lifecycle Policy, which includes:
Mainstream Support: 5 years
Extended Support: 5 additional years
Total Lifecycle: 10 years of updates and security patches
You can view the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy here - Microsoft Lifecycle Policy | Microsoft Learn
| Version | Windows Version Number | Release Date | Mainstream Support End | Extended Support End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 | 24H2 | Oct 1, 2024 | Oct 9, 2029 | Oct 10, 2034 |
| Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 | 21H2 | Nov 16, 2021 | Jan 12, 2027 | Jan 13, 2032 |
| Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019 | 1809 | Nov 13, 2018 | Jan 9, 2024 | Jan 9, 2029 |
| Windows IoT Enterprise LTSB (2016) | 1607 | Aug 2, 2016 | Oct 12, 2021 | Oct 13, 2026 |
| Windows IoT Enterprise LTSB (2015) | 1507 | Jul 29, 2015 | Oct 13, 2020 | Oct 14, 2025 |