Differences, Advantages, and Installation Guidance for Windows 11 LTSC 2024 Versions

Windows 11 raises PC hardware requirements such as TPM support, causing installation issues for lower‑spec machines, yet computers that run Windows 10 smoothly can usually handle Windows 11 without problems; many work‑arounds have been shared.

A leaked Windows 11 LTSC 2024 build was recently released, and unlike earlier releases it no longer enforces hardware checks during installation. The LTSC edition comes in three variants:

Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC (EnterpriseS)

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC (IoTEnterpriseS)

Windows 11 IoT Enterprise Subscription LTSC (IoTEnterpriseSK)

*Note: the abbreviations in parentheses are SKU codes, while the text outside the parentheses is the full version name.

The IoT‑free version still enforces hardware requirements such as TPM, as shown in the following screenshots:

The two IoT‑included versions no longer enforce hardware checks (e.g., TPM), as demonstrated by the following images:

1. Which version should I install? The recommendation is Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC because it offers a 10‑year lifecycle, permanent digital‑rights activation, and no hardware restrictions.

The three versions are referred to by their SKU codes: EnterpriseS, IoTEnterpriseS, and IoTEnterpriseSK. The “SK” suffix indicates a subscription model, but Microsoft has not announced a Windows 11 subscription plan yet, so the two IoT SKUs are effectively the same.

2. Licensing differences – IoT editions provide retail licenses and can be activated with digital licenses; non‑IoT editions lack retail licenses and cannot use digital activation.

3. Lifecycle – IoT editions receive 10 years of support (updates until 2035 for the 2024 release), whereas the non‑IoT Enterprise LTSC is expected to be supported until 2030.

4. Feature differences – IoT editions omit the “reserved storage” feature, which reserves disk space for temporary files and can be cleared when space is low; this feature is largely unnecessary on modern large‑capacity drives.

All three editions can be switched freely by applying the appropriate product key, so you may install any version and later change to another.

5. Edge and Microsoft Store – The LTSC edition removes many built‑in apps and the Microsoft Store, but Microsoft Edge remains available.

6. Should I install on a physical machine? Because the LTSC build is still a pre‑release candidate with many bugs, it is advisable to wait for the official release (expected around October 2024) before installing on production hardware.

7. Why do many users prefer LTSC? Users appreciate the long‑term support (10 years without forced upgrades) and the reduced feature set, which leads to fewer updates and a more stable environment.

Additional links to related articles are listed at the end of the original post.