The regular, consumer version of Windows 10 isn’t the only Windows release reaching or having reached end-of-life, now middling on under the Extended Security Updates program for the many people sticking with the venerable release. Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 (October 13, 2026), Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2016 LTSB (October 13, 2026), and Windows Server 2016 (January 12, 2027) are all reaching end-of-life soon, too. On the listed dates, these versions of Windows will receive their final monthly security updates.
As with Windows 10 for consumers, however, there’s a way out: the Extended Security Updates program will also kick in for these versions, offering critical and important security updates, and support relating to just those. The program will be offered for up to three years after official support ends, and won’t be free. For Server 2016 and and Enterprise LTSB 2016, pricing will be $61 per year, but it would double for every year after the first. Pricing for IoT Enterprise 2016 LTSB is available upon request.
Of course, Microsoft urges you to upgrade to newer versions – Windows Server 2025, Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024, and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 – but if you’re happy with your current version, you can at least get a three-year reprieve, for a price.
I used to do Windows Server “Workstation” (our university used to get a lot of free licenses for personal use).
(The original site seems to be down, here is story covering those:
https://www.osnews.com/story/20070/switching-to-windows-workstation-2008/)
The most difficult part was getting the games to run, otherwise it was a decent OS. Disable some server options that are not needed, maybe install chrome, And it became a much more secure, lean, and functional version of Windows (as it should be in ideal conditions)
I’m not sure why they don’t sell this as a product. I know Windows itself is just a vessel to sell online services (and now AI), but there is a distinct segment that just wants a professional OS without all that cruft.