This blog post has been updated as of September 2021, and will continue to be updated when there are changes to Windows 10 release and EOL dates, and other major revisions.
Over the last few years, Microsoft has changed the EOL dates of its Windows 10 versions — some of them multiple times — leading to confusion as to when specific versions are actually going to finish their support cycle. A lot of the confusion is due to the following facts:
- The EOL date for one version got re-purposed to another, e.g., Version 1709 originally had an EOL date of Oct. 8, 2019 (now 1703's EOL) and it was moved to April 14, 2020. However, due to COVID-19, the EOL date was again moved to October 13, 2020.
- The EOL date for a later released version of Windows 10 (1903) is earlier than its predecessor's (1809) EOL date.
- Official Microsoft blog posts about the extension(s) of the different releases have been removed from the Microsoft site, with no redirect to a new post that explains why the post was removed or lists the new EOL dates. The URLs for deleted posts usually redirect to the main blog listing page, making it hard to keep track.
- Version 1909, instead of being packed with new features like the previous releases, is more of a service pack that Microsoft used to release for previous versions of Windows.
To clear up the confusion, this post will serve as a quick reference for Windows 10 versions, their release and End-of-Life (EOL) dates, and Microsoft's schedule for future releases. We will keep this information as current as possible and update it as dates change and new releases come out. For a more detailed account of Windows 10 versions, please see our Windows 10 Servicing Timeline post.
Since Windows 10 was released in July 2015, Microsoft has released a total of ten (10) Feature Updates (new Windows-as-a-Service versions), seven (7) of which have gone EOL so far, or eight (8) when you include the original release.
| Windows 10 Version | Release Date | Enterprise & Education EOL Date |
| 21H2 - Cobalt/Sun Valley | Fall 2021^ | Spring 2024^ |
| 21H1 - May 2021 Update | May 18, 2021 | December 13, 2022 |
| 20H2 - October 2020 Update | October 20, 2020 | May 9, 2023 |
| 2004 - May 2020 Update | May 27, 2020 | December 14, 2021 |
| 1909 - November 2019 Update | November 12, 2019 | May 10, 2022 |
| 1903 - May 2019 Update | May 21, 2019 | December 8, 2020f |
| 1809 - October 2018 Update | November 13, 2018 | May 11, 2021 |
| 1803 - April 2018 Update | April 30, 2018 | May 11, 2021* |
| 1709 - Fall Creators Update | October 17, 2017 | October 13, 2020* |
| 1703 - Creators Update | April 5, 2017 | October 8, 2019 |
| 1607 - Anniversary Update | August 2, 2016 | April 9, 2019 |
| 1511 - November Release | November 10, 2015 | April 10, 2018 |
| 1507 - Initial Release | July 29, 2015 | May 9, 2017 |
fEOL date was earlier then the two previous versions
Starting with the 2019 releases of Windows 10 versions, the following support schedule will be used for enterprises according to Microsoft:
- There will be two (2) releases per year: one in the spring and one in the fall.
- The spring release will be serviced for 18 months for enterprise customers.
- The fall release will be serviced for 30 months for enterprise customers.
Here are a few things to remember about Microsoft's release schedule:
- Currently, all End-of-Life (EOL) dates fall on Patch Tuesday, which always falls on the second Tuesday of every month. Traditionally, this is the day Microsoft releases security patches.
- Microsoft aims to publish new updates on Patch Tuesday as well. However, the targeted date may sometimes be missed due to bugs or the release not being ready yet.
- Release and EOL dates are from Microsoft's products and services Lifecycle information search page, which is updated with the final release (re-release) date of Windows 10 versions.
- Version 1909 had minimal feature updates, reminiscent of a service pack update. At the time, it was not clear if this would be a one-off or would become routine. This article from January hinted that the Fall 2020 update would have minimal feature updates like 1909, and it's interesting to note that 20H2 was, in fact, a minor update.
- Version 21H2 will also be a scoped release, focusing on productivity and security based on user feedback.
Also worth noting is the fact that Windows 7 is now in paid extended support. Regular extended support went EOL on January 14, 2020. To continue to receive security and critical updates (based on Microsoft's discretion) on Windows 7, you will have to pay Microsoft yearly per device as an add-on service.
Windows 11 & The Future Of Windows 10 Updates
Since Microsoft's announcements of Windows 11 back in June with its imminent launch in early October, there has been speculation that feature updates for Windows 10 will stop. Those announcements, coupled with the one from Microsoft in July (as noted above) saying 21H2 will be a scoped release, has further fueled the speculation.
What we do know is that Microsoft will be supporting Windows 10 until 14 October 2025, as per their lifecycle fact sheet, so even if there are no more feature updates, Windows 10 will continue to receive security and critical updates at the least until then. There is also the possibility of extended security updates (ESU), like for Windows 7.
