Microsoft is preparing the next version of Windows Server LTSC for the second half of 2021

Microsoft regularly releases test builds of Windows Server for Insider testers. But until August 26, Microsoft did not publicly share any information about the contents of these recent test builds.

Yesterday, Microsoft announced a new “vNext” preview build of Windows Server, build number 20201. In addition to listing a slew of features included in this test build, Microsoft officials also stated in the post blog about it that this was a new release of the next Windows Server Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release.

LTSC releases of Windows occur every few years. The most recent versions of Windows 10 client and server designated as LTSC were Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 (released with Windows 101809) and Windows Server 2019.

Windows 10/Windows Server LTSC releases are long-term supported versions of Windows released every two to three years. These versions receive security updates for 10 years and do not receive feature updates by design. Microsoft has advocated that customers use LTSC releases sparingly – for critical applications only – and not for everyday use to avoid updates. (Some customers use them to avoid updates, however.)

Microsoft officials said earlier this summer that the next version of Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC will be available “in late 2021.” (Thank you for the link, @getwired.) Since Microsoft usually times the builds of new Windows 10 client and server builds to come together, I guess that means the current Windows Server test builds are for Windows Server 2022 – I guess the name that Microsoft will give this product.

Update: I hear that Microsoft has decided that the LTSC client and server versions might not happen together next year, after all. Server LTSC ‘Next’ is on track for a 21H2 release, but Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC ‘Next’ client will not happen at the same time.

Microsoft officials have said that features tested by Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel (the old Fast Ring) are no longer tied to a specific feature update. I previously reported that my sources said there might not be a Windows 10 21H1 build; Microsoft can only release a Windows 10 21H2 feature update (possibly alongside a Windows 10X Spring 21H1 release).

The Windows Server 20201 test build contains both Desktop Experience and Server Core installation options for Datacenter and Standard editions. For a list of features in the new test build of Windows Server 20201, see Microsoft’s post.