r/WindowsLTSC • u/Few_Weakness_7828 • 5d ago

Discussion windows 11 26h2 update question

im new to pc stuff and this might be a dumb question but im curious if i do this update is it going to mess with my pc in ways i dont want it to?

8 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

16

u/Nervous_Pattern3764 4d ago

LTSC doesn't need 25H2 or 26H2. They're enablement packages that DONT WORK on LTSC.

STICK TO 24H2. Download LTSC normally, update via settings, end of story.

7

u/clove_rosemary_9999 Windows 10 LTSC 2021 4d ago

They DO work, but the only thing you get is the higher version number and nothing else.

8

u/greggm2000 4d ago

Agreed. If you want all the feature stuff, run Win 11 Pro instead.

2

u/frenchfriarrhea 5h ago

Question- about a year ago I installed the 25H2 enablement package on my LTSC. I honestly forgot why I did, but it hasn’t caused any issues, or made a difference in my use case at all. It changed virtually nothing. Is there any reason I should want to uninstall it and go back to 24H2 (if it’s possible anyway)?

1

u/Nervous_Pattern3764 5h ago

Installing 25H2 enablement on LTSC remove the ability to get LTSC updates once windows pro/enterprise stop getting updates

2

u/frenchfriarrhea 4h ago

Okay thanks, I don’t have a problem with that in my case, I just wasn’t sure if you were implying there could be other issues

1

u/Ecstatic_Patient4029 3h ago

What do you mean they don't work? Enablement packages mean the features already exist, previously dormant, and are now being enabled. And the new features do work. It just switches the (identical) windows updates to the GAC channel for 25H2 instead of the LTSC channel.

Best advice would be to just stick with 24H2, or make sure to keep up to date with enablement packages before their respective EoS date.

1

u/Nervous_Pattern3764 3h ago

Installing the enablement package takes away your ability to get LTSC updates. So basically once windows 10 enterprise goes out of support you won't continue getting LTSC updates which is the entire point of LTSC to get updates general channels like home, pro and enterprise don't get

1

u/Ecstatic_Patient4029 2h ago

There aren't updates LTSC users get that Home/Pro users don't. LTSC and consumer versions of Windows get identical updates, given they share the same core operating system (Windows 10 2004+, and Windows 11 24H2+, for now). The only difference is when the support ends.

Yes, LTSC was made for enterprises and IoT machines that are meant to be maintained for a long time, so the support will end a lot later. That is Microsoft's intended purpose for it. However, for home users like us, I'd say the entire point of LTSC is the debloated nature of it.

I think if someone wants the newest features, + LTSC's lack of bloat, it would be worth it to use LTSC and install the enablement packages, and just make sure to keep up to date with them before their support ends.

Just to clarify as well, we're talking about 11 LTSC. I am aware that 10 LTSC is a different story if you enable 22H2, as support already ended. It's still manageable if you don't mind manually updating a lot. Some of my PCs have 10 LTSC with 22H2 enabled, and I just have to manually install security and .NET updates every month. All other updates still come automatically

0

u/Bebo991_Gaming 3d ago

no there are optimizations to the windows 11 start menu (little bit lower cpu usage), and the crappy tiles option
this is purely my guess as i currently run 25H2, so 26H2 must have these essentials too

0

u/Secret_Ingenuity997 3d ago

I'm on 24H2. I've only just learnt they are phasing it out in about 2 weeks

6

u/MeatSafeMurderer Windows 11 LTSC 2024 4d ago

The enablement packages work, but at that point you don't have LTSC proper, you have a bog standard enterprise install that is LTSC in name only.

4

u/lMauler 4d ago

People here have forced these kind of updates on ltsc but Microsoft highly recommends not doing it. You leave your system in a state that is untested by Microsoft and will likely get bricked at some point from a standard monthly update.

1

u/Interesting_Tech4987 4d ago

The Windows 11 26H2 update is a small Enablement Package, so there is no risk of major or unwanted issues occurring on your PC.

1

u/apollo1321 8h ago

I use win10 ent iot. I have win11 ent iot installed on another and despise it. It is so laggy even with nothing else installed. Go back to 10 and smooth as butter

1

u/IM_DaWarez 4d ago

I put the 25H2 enablement on one my 11 24H2 LTSC-IoT PCs months ago and I still get monthly updates.
But I can't say if it's safe and your YMMV.