Windows is a computer operating system developed by Microsoft. It was first launched in 1985 as a graphical operating system built on MS-DOS. The initial version was followed by several subsequent releases, and by the early 1990s, the Windows line had split into two separate lines of releases: Windows 9x for consumers and Windows NT for businesses and enterprises. In the following years, several further variants of Windows would be released: Windows CE in 1996 for embedded systems; Pocket PC in 2000 (renamed to Windows Mobile in 2003 and Windows Phone in 2010) for personal digital assistants and, later, smartphones; Windows Holographic in 2016 for AR/VR headsets; and several other editions.
Personal computer versions A "personal computer" version of Windows is considered to be a version that end-users or OEMs can install on personal computers, including desktop computers, laptops, and workstations.
The first five versions of Windows–Windows 1.0, Windows 2.0, Windows 2.1, Windows 3.0, and Windows 3.1–were all based on MS-DOS, and were aimed at both consumers and businesses. However, Windows 3.1 had two separate successors, splitting the Windows line in two: the consumer-focused "Windows 9x" line, consisting of Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me; and the professional Windows NT line, comprising Windows NT 3.1, Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows 2000. These two lines were reunited into a single line with the NT-based Windows XP; this Windows release succeeded both Windows Me and Windows 2000 and had separate editions for consumer and professional use. Since Windows XP, multiple further versions of Windows have been released, the most recent of which is Windows 11. Since Windows 10, Microsoft has effectively turned to the "Windows as a service" servicing model, most likely to ensure it competes with mobile operating systems.
+List of Microsoft Windows versions for personal computersNameCodenameRelease dateVersionEditionsBuild numberArchitectureEnd of supportWindows 1.01Interface ManagerNovember 20, 19851.01x86-16December 31, 2001Windows 1.02May 14, 19861.02Windows 1.03August 21, 19861.03Windows 1.04April 10, 19871.04Windows 2.01December 9, 19872.01x86-16, IA-32Windows 2.03December 9, 19872.03Windows 2.1May 27, 19882.10Windows 2.11March 13, 19892.11Windows 3.0May 22, 19903.00Windows 3.00a Windows 3.0 with Multimedia ExtensionsWindows 3.1JanusApril 6, 19923.10Windows 3.1103SpartaOctober 31, 1992Windows for Workgroups 3.1102IA-32Windows NT 3.1RazzleJuly 27, 1993NT 3.1Windows NT 3.1528IA-32, Alpha, MIPSDecember 31, 2000Windows 3.11November 8, 19933.11Windows 3.11002x86-16, IA-32December 31, 2001SnowballWindows for Workgroups 3.11300IA-32Windows 3.2November 22, 19933.2Windows 3.2153x86-16, IA-32Windows NT 3.5DaytonaSeptember 21, 1994NT 3.5Windows NT 3.5 Workstation807IA-32, Alpha, MIPS, PowerPCWindows NT 3.51May 30, 1995NT 3.51Windows NT 3.51 Workstation1057Windows 95ChicagoAugust 24, 19954.00Windows 95950IA-32Windows NT 4.0Shell Update ReleaseAugust 24, 1996NT 4.0Windows NT 4.0 Workstation1381IA-32, Alpha, MIPS, PowerPCJune 30, 2004Windows 98MemphisJune 25, 19984.10Windows 981998IA-32July 11, 2006Windows 98 Second EditionJune 10, 1999Windows 98 Second Edition2222AWindows 2000Windows NT 5.0February 17, 2000NT 5.0Windows 2000 Professional 2195IA-32July 13, 2010Windows MeMillenniumSeptember 14, 20004.90Windows Me3000IA-32July 11, 2006Windows XPWhistlerOctober 25, 2001NT 5.1Windows XP Starter Windows XP Home Windows XP Professional2600IA-32April 8, 2014Windows XP 64-bit EditionItaniumFreestyleOctober 29, 2002Windows XP Media Center EditionIA-32HarmonySeptember 30, 2003Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004SymphonyOctober 12, 2004Windows XP Media Center Edition 20052700EmeraldOctober 14, 2005Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Update Rollup 22710AnvilApril 25, 2005NT 5.2Windows XP Professional x64 Edition3790x86-64Windows VistaLonghornJanuary 30, 2007NT 6.0Windows Vista Starter Windows Vista Home Basic Windows Vista Home Premium Windows Vista Business Windows Vista Enterprise Windows Vista Ultimate6002IA-32, x86-64April 11, 2017Windows 7Windows 7October 22, 2009NT 6.1Windows 7 Starter Windows 7 Home Basic Windows 7 Home Premium Windows 7 Professional Windows 7 Enterprise Windows 7 Ultimate7601IA-32, x86-64January 14, 2020Windows 8Windows 8October 26, 2012NT 6.2Windows 8 Windows 8 Pro Windows 8 Enterprise9200IA-32, x86-64January 12, 2016Windows 8.1BlueOctober 17, 2013NT 6.3Windows 8.1 Windows 8.1 Pro Windows 8.1 Enterprise9600IA-32, x86-64January 10, 2023May 23, 2014Windows 8.1 with BingWindows 10 version 1507ThresholdJuly 29, 2015NT 10.0 Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Pro Windows 10 Education Windows 10 Enterprise Windows 10 Pro for Workstations Windows 10 Pro Education Windows 10 S Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC Windows 10 IoT Windows 10 IoT Enterprise Windows 10 PE (Preinstallation Environment) 10240IA-32, x86-64May 9, 2017Windows 10 version 1511Threshold 2November 10, 2015151110586October 10, 2017Windows 10 version 1607Redstone 1August 2, 2016160714393April 10, 2018Windows 10 version 1703Redstone 2April 5, 2017170315063October 9, 2018Windows 10 version 1709Redstone 3October 17, 2017170916299IA-32, x86-64, ARM64April 9, 2019Windows 10 version 1803Redstone 4April 30, 2018180317134November 12, 2019Windows 10 version 1809Redstone 5November 13, 2018180917763November 10, 2020Windows 10 version 190319H1May 21, 2019190318362December 8, 2020Windows 10 version 1909VanadiumNovember 12, 2019190918363May 11, 2021Windows 10 version 2004VibraniumMay 27, 2020200419041December 14, 2021Windows 10 version 20H2October 20, 202020H219042August 9, 2022Windows 10 version 21H1May 18, 202121H119043December 13, 2022Windows 10 version 21H2November 16, 202121H219044June 13, 2023Windows 10 version 22H2October 18, 202222H219045October 14, 2025Windows 11 version 21H2CobaltOctober 4, 202121H2Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Pro Windows 11 Pro for Workstations Windows 11 Pro Education Windows 11 Education Windows 11 Enterprise Windows 11 SE Windows 11 Pro N Windows 11 IoT Enterprise Windows 11 PE (Preinstallation Environment)22000x86-64, ARM64October 10, 2023Windows 11 version 22H2NickelSeptember 20, 202222H222621October 8, 2024Windows 11 version 23H2October 31, 202323H222631November 11, 2025Windows 11 version 24H2GermaniumOctober 1, 202424H226100October 13, 2026Windows 11 version 25H2September 30, 202525H226200October 12, 2027Windows 11 version 26H1BromineFebruary 10, 202626H128000March 14, 2028Windows 11, version 26H2GermaniumSeptember 29, 202626H226300TBA
Mobile versions
Mobile versions refer to versions of Windows that can run on smartphones or personal digital assistants.
NameCodenameArchitectureReleasedateVersion numberPocket PC 2000RapierARMv4, MIPS, SH-3April 19, 2000CE 3.0Pocket PC 2002MerlinARMv4October 4, 2001Windows Mobile 2003OzoneARMv5June 23, 2003CE 4.xWindows Mobile 2003 SEMarch 24, 2004Windows Mobile 5.0MagnetoMay 9, 2005CE 5.0Windows Mobile 6.0CrossbowFebruary 12, 2007Windows Mobile 6.1April 1, 2008CE 5.2Windows Mobile 6.1.46 on 6November 11, 2008Windows Mobile 6.5TitaniumMay 11, 2009CE 6.0Windows Phone 7MetroARMv7October 29, 2010Windows Phone 7.5MangoSeptember 27, 2011Windows Phone 7.8TangoFebruary 1, 2013Windows Phone 8ApolloOctober 29, 2012NT 6.2Windows Phone 8.1BlueApril 14, 2014NT 6.3Windows 10 Mobile, version 1511Threshold 2November 12, 20151511Windows 10 Mobile, version 1607Redstone 1August 16, 20161607Windows 10 Mobile, version 1703Redstone 2April 24, 20171703Windows 10 Mobile, version 1709feature2October 24, 20171709
Server versions
NameCodenameRelease dateVersion numberEditionsBuild numberArchitectureEnd of supportWindows NT 3.1RazzleJuly 27, 1993NT 3.1Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server528IA-32, Alpha, MIPSDecember 31, 2000Windows NT 3.5DaytonaSeptember 21, 1994NT 3.5Windows NT 3.5 Server807IA-32, Alpha, MIPS, PowerPCDecember 31, 2001Windows NT 3.51May 29, 1995NT 3.51Windows NT 3.51 Server1057September 30, 2002Windows NT 4.0Shell Update ReleaseJuly 29, 1996NT 4.0Windows NT 4.0 Server Windows NT 4.0 Server Enterprise Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition1381December 31, 2004Windows 2000NT 5.0February 17, 2000NT 5.0Windows 2000 Server Windows 2000 Advanced Server Windows 2000 Datacenter Server2195IA-32July 13, 2010Windows Server 2003Whistler ServerApril 24, 2003NT 5.2Windows Server Web Windows Server Standard Windows Server Enterprise Windows Server Datacenter Windows Storage Server Windows Unified Data Storage Server3790IA-32, x86-64, ItaniumJuly 14, 2015Windows Server 2003 R2March 5, 2006July 14, 2015Windows Server 2008Longhorn ServerFebruary 27, 2008NT 6.0Windows Server Foundation Windows Server Standard Windows Server Enterprise Windows Server Datacenter Windows Server for Itanium-based Systems Windows Storage Server Windows Web Server6003IA-32, x86-64, ItaniumJanuary 14, 2020Windows Server 2008 R2Windows Server 7October 22, 2009NT 6.17601x86-64, ItaniumJanuary 14, 2020Windows Server 2012Windows Server 8September 4, 2012NT 6.2Windows Server Foundation Windows Server Essentials Windows Server Standard Windows Server Datacenter9200x86-64October 10, 2023Windows Server 2012 R2Windows Server BlueOctober 17, 2013NT 6.39600October 10, 2023Windows Server 2016RedstoneOctober 12, 20161607Windows Server Essentials Windows Server Standard Windows Server Datacenter14393January 12, 2027Windows Server, version 1709Redstone 3October 17, 2017170916299April 9, 2019Windows Server, version 1803Redstone 4April 30, 2018180317134November 12, 2019Windows Server, version 1809Redstone 5November 13, 2018180917763November 10, 2020Windows Server 2019Redstone 5January 9, 2029Windows Server, version 1903Redstone 5May 21, 2019190318362December 8, 2020Windows Server, version 1909VanadiumNovember 12, 2019190918363May 11, 2021Windows Server, version 2004VibraniumJune 26, 2020200419041December 14, 2021Windows Server, version 20H2IronOctober 20, 202020H219042August 9, 2022Windows Server 2022IronAugust 18, 202121H220348October 14, 2031Windows Server, version 23H2ZincOctober 14, 202323H225398AMD64April 24, 2026 ( azure )Windows Server 2025GermaniumNovember 1, 202424H226100AMD64, ARM64November 14, 2034 High-performance computing (HPC) servers NameCodenameRelease dateBased onWindows Compute Cluster Server 2003June 9, 2006Windows Server 2003 R2Windows HPC Server 2008SocratesSeptember 22, 2008Windows Server 2008Windows HPC Server 2008 R2September 20, 2010Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Essential Business Server NameCodenameRelease dateEnd-of-support dateBuild numberBased onWindows Essential Business Server 2008CentroSeptember 15, 2008January 14, 20205700Windows Server 2008
Windows Home Server NameCodenameRelease dateEnd-of-support dateBased onWindows Home ServerQuattroNovember 4, 2007January 8, 2013Windows Server 2003 R2Windows Home Server 2011VailApril 6, 2011April 12, 2016Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows MultiPoint Server
Windows MultiPoint Server was an operating system based on Windows Server. It was succeeded by the MultiPoint Services role in Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server version 1709. It was no longer being developed in Windows Server version 1803 and later versions.
NameCodenameRelease dateEnd-of-support dateVersion numberBuild numberBased onWindows MultiPoint Server 2010Solution ServerFebruary 24, 2010July 14, 2020NT 6.1537Windows Server 2008 R2Windows MultiPoint Server 2011WMS 2May 12, 2011July 13, 20211600Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1Windows MultiPoint Server 2012WMS 3October 30, 2012October 10, 2023NT 6.22506Windows Server 2012
Windows Small Business Server