67 days until Windows Server 2016 loses support
Every Microsoft end of support date from today to the end of 2027 and beyond, month by month, with a plain-English recommendation for when to act. Last checked 6 November 2026.
By Yann Davies, ABCOM IT SolutionsLast reviewed 6 November 2026Updated monthly
Short answer: the next big Microsoft deadline is 12 January 2027, when Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 lose support. 12 October 2027 is the second: SQL Server 2017 ends and the second year of Windows 10 Extended Security Updates closes. Office 2021, Exchange 2016 and 2019, SharePoint 2016 and 2019, SQL Server 2016 and Windows Server 2012 R2 have already ended, so if you still run them you are unpatched today.
Dates come from Microsoft’s lifecycle pages and Message Center notices as at 6 November 2026. Product icons are illustrative; product names are trademarks of their owners.
Search the end of life timeline
Type a product (try “SQL”, “Exchange” or “Office”) or filter by area. Months are in date order, soonest first. Open any month to see what to do.
November 2026.NET 8, Windows 11 23H2Action needed2
.NET 8 and .NET 9
Both versions lose servicing and security fixes on the same day. There is no paid ESU for .NET. Apps keep running, but flaws stay unpatched.
When to act: This week. Ask every supplier of custom or line-of-business software which .NET version it runs on. Target .NET 10 (LTS), supported to November 2028.
Ask us about this →Windows 11 23H2 (Enterprise and Education)
The last edition of Windows 11 23H2 still supported reaches the end of servicing.
When to act: Before 10 November. Move managed devices to 25H2.
Ask us about this →December 2026PHP 8.2, Year-end audit windowAction needed2
PHP 8.2 (security support)
Security support for PHP 8.2 ends. If your website runs on 8.2, unpatched PHP flaws become your risk.
When to act: Before the new year. Ask your host to move you to PHP 8.3 or 8.4 and test plugins first.
Ask us about this →Year-end audit window
Quiet month for Microsoft deadlines, so use it: inventory every device, server and application, and list what is already out of support.
When to act: Now. This is the cheapest moment to scope January and October 2027 work.
Ask us about this →January 2027System Center 2016, BizTalk Server 2016, Dynamics NAV 2017, Team Foundation Server 2017, Windows Server 2016Action needed5
System Center 2016, BizTalk Server 2016, Dynamics NAV 2017, Team Foundation Server 2017
These management and integration platforms reach end of support one day before Windows Server 2016, so the two projects tend to land together.
When to act: Scope by December. Upgrade, replace with cloud equivalents (Intune, Azure Monitor, Azure DevOps) or retire.
Ask us about this →Windows Server 2016
The headline date. It also ends Hyper-V Server 2016, WSUS and IIS 10 on Server 2016, .NET Framework 4.6.2 and Windows Storage Server 2016. Microsoft offers ESU for up to three years, delivered through Azure Arc, as a temporary security-only bridge.
When to act: Start now. A server migration needs 8 to 16 weeks for testing and cut-over. Move to Windows Server 2025 or Azure, and buy ESU only for what cannot move in time.
Ask us about this →Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021
Commonly used on tills, kiosks, machinery controllers and lab PCs, where it is easy to forget.
When to act: Now. Move to Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024. Check with the equipment maker first, because some specialist kit needs vendor approval.
Ask us about this →Microsoft 365 Targeted Release retires
Microsoft is replacing Targeted Release with Frontier, Standard and Deferred release options. Admin notice MC1490899 says enrolment changes lock in during November 2026.
When to act: November. Review who is on early release and choose Standard or Deferred for business-critical users.
Ask us about this →Visual Studio 2022 and Dynamics 365 on-premises 9.x (mainstream support ends)
Mainstream support ends but security fixes continue under extended support, so this is a planning date rather than an emergency.
When to act: Add to the 2027 roadmap. Plan the move to the current Visual Studio release and your Dynamics upgrade path.
Ask us about this →February 2027Microsoft Entra SMSAction needed1
Microsoft Entra SMS and voice authentication
Message Center notice MC1426371 makes passkeys the default from September 2026 and retires Microsoft-provided SMS and voice authentication by 1 February 2027. Users whose only MFA method is a text or call will be forced to register a passkey at sign-in.
When to act: Now. Move staff to the Microsoft Authenticator app or passkeys, and find users who rely only on SMS or voice before they are locked out.
Ask us about this →March 2027Azure Front Door, Ruby 3.32
Azure Front Door (classic), Azure AI Content Moderator and other Azure retirements
Azure services retire on 15 and 31 March 2027, including the Front Door (classic) SKU, Windows Server 2022 on AKS and Application Gateway WAF v2 configuration. Azure AI Content Moderator is also listed for 31 March.
When to act: January. Run an Azure Advisor retirement review and migrate to the replacement service.
Ask us about this →Ruby 3.3
Relevant to any in-house or agency-built web apps and some older marketing sites.
When to act: Q1 2027. Ask your developers which runtime versions your apps use.
Ask us about this →April 2027Visual Studio 2017, System Center 20223
Visual Studio 2017
Visual Studio 2017 reaches end of support.
When to act: Q1 2027. Upgrade developer machines and build servers.
Ask us about this →System Center 2022 (mainstream support ends)
System Center 2022 products move to extended support.
When to act: Plan in 2027. Not urgent, but decide whether you are staying with System Center.
Ask us about this →Node.js 22 LTS
Relevant to any web apps and tools built on Node.
When to act: Q1 2027. Plan the move to Node.js 24 LTS.
Ask us about this →May 2027Ubuntu 22.04 LTS1
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (full support)
Standard support for Ubuntu 22.04 ends (April to May 2027) and RHEL 9 moves out of full support. Confirm the exact day with Canonical and Red Hat.
When to act: Q1 2027. Check web servers, appliances and containers.
Ask us about this →July 2027SQL Server 20141
SQL Server 2014 (final ESU year)
The third and last year of Extended Security Updates ends. After this there is no way to patch SQL Server 2014.
When to act: Move by Q2 2027. Do not rely on the final ESU year.
Ask us about this →September 2027Microsoft Teams Displays, Automanage for Virtual Machines2
Microsoft Teams Displays
The Teams Displays device category is retired on 3 September 2027.
When to act: Q2 2027. Budget for Teams Rooms or Teams Phone replacements.
Ask us about this →Automanage for Virtual Machines
The Azure service that applies best-practice configuration to VMs is retired.
When to act: Q2 2027. Replace with Azure Policy, Update Manager and Defender for Cloud.
Ask us about this →October 2027SQL Server 2017, Windows 10 ESU year 24
SQL Server 2017
End of extended support. SQL Server 2017 supports a lot of finance, CRM and stock systems, and the database upgrade often forces the application to be upgraded too.
When to act: Q1 2027. Ask your software supplier which SQL versions they support, then migrate to SQL Server 2022 or 2025.
Ask us about this →Windows 10 ESU year 2
The second year of Windows 10 Extended Security Updates ends. A third and final year runs to 10 October 2028 at double the price again.
When to act: Finish Windows 10 replacement by Q2 2027 so you never pay for year 3.
Ask us about this →Windows 11 24H2 (Enterprise and Education) and 25H2 (Home and Pro)
Servicing ends for Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise and Education, and for 25H2 Home and Pro.
When to act: Set a rolling feature-update schedule for Windows 11 so you are never caught behind.
Ask us about this →VMware vSphere and ESXi 8
General support for vSphere 8 ends (date from vendor trackers, confirm with Broadcom). With Broadcom licensing changes, many UK businesses are also reviewing Hyper-V and Azure Local.
When to act: Q1 2027. Decide whether to stay, renew or move before the renewal quote lands.
Ask us about this →November to December 2027No major Microsoft deadlines listed1
No major Microsoft deadlines listed
Microsoft lists no headline end of support dates for these two months. Use them to finish migrations, close exceptions and re-run your audit.
When to act: Q4 2027. Re-run the end of life audit and look at the 2028 list below.
Ask us about this →2028Dynamics GP 2018, Last Windows 10 ESU2
Dynamics GP 2018 and 2018 R2, Dynamics NAV 2018, Team Foundation Server 2018
ERP and finance platforms have the longest migrations of anything on this list. SQL Server 2022 and Azure DevOps Server 2022 also move to extended support the same day.
When to act: Scope in H2 2027. Allow 6 to 12 months for an ERP upgrade.
Ask us about this →Last Windows 10 ESU and Windows 11 25H2 Enterprise
The absolute end of Windows 10 patching, and the end of servicing for 25H2 Enterprise and Education.
When to act: Your Windows 10 estate should already be gone.
Ask us about this →2029 and 2030Windows Server 2019, SQL Server 20192
Windows Server 2019
The next server cliff. Anything you build on Server 2019 today has little more than two years of runway.
When to act: Build new servers on Server 2025, not 2019.
Ask us about this →SQL Server 2019
The last widely deployed SQL version to reach its end.
When to act: Plan the move during 2028 and 2029.
Ask us about this →Already ended: most recent firstWindows 10, Office 2021, Server 2012 R2, Exchange 2016/2019, SQL Server 2016 and more9
Secure Boot certificate expiry
The 2011 Secure Boot certificates used by Windows PCs and servers began expiring in June 2026, with Windows Production PCA 2011 following in October 2026. Devices that have not received the new certificates may stop receiving boot-level security fixes.
When to act: Now. Install the latest firmware and Windows updates, keep Secure Boot switched on, and have us verify the new certificates have landed across your estate.
Ask us about this →Windows 11 24H2 (Home and Pro) and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016
Home and Pro PCs on Windows 11 24H2 no longer get updates and must be on 25H2. Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 and IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 also ended, with ESU available through volume licensing or a Cloud Solution Provider.
When to act: This month. Apply the 25H2 feature update. LTSB devices need a replan.
Ask us about this →Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2
The last year of paid Extended Security Updates has finished. These servers now receive nothing, and they are usually the ones holding old line-of-business software.
When to act: Immediately. Replace with Windows Server 2025 or move the workload to Azure. If you cannot move yet, isolate the server from the internet and from your main network.
Ask us about this →Office 2021, Office LTSC 2021, Project 2021, Visio 2021
No more security updates or support. Publisher has also been retired. The apps keep opening, which is why this one is easy to miss, but they are now unpatched.
When to act: This month. Move to Microsoft 365 Apps, or to Office 2024 if you need a one-off licence.
Ask us about this →Exchange Server 2016 and 2019
Support ended on 14 October 2025 and Microsoft paid ESU stopped with the final security update in October 2026. There is no third ESU period. On-premises Exchange servers are a favourite target for attackers.
When to act: Now. Move to Exchange Server Subscription Edition, or better, to Exchange Online.
Ask us about this →Python 3.10
Scripts, automations and data tools still on 3.10 no longer get security fixes.
When to act: This quarter. Upgrade to a supported Python release.
Ask us about this →SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019
Extended support has finished. SharePoint holds your documents and often your intranet, so unpatched flaws put data at risk.
When to act: Now. Move to SharePoint Server Subscription Edition or to SharePoint Online.
Ask us about this →SQL Server 2016
Extended support has ended, so security fixes now need paid ESU. Databases are where your customer data lives.
When to act: Now. Migrate to SQL Server 2022 or 2025, or to Azure SQL.
Ask us about this →Windows 10
Free security updates stopped. The only way to keep patching is paid Extended Security Updates (ESU). Year 1 closed on 13 October 2026. Year 2 runs to 12 October 2027, and the commercial list price doubles each year ($61, then $122, then $244 per device in USD).
When to act: Now. Upgrade eligible PCs to Windows 11 and replace the rest. Any unsupported device that stays in scope is a Cyber Essentials failure.
Ask us about this →Already past a deadline? Fix it before it costs you.
Unsupported software is the easiest way in for attackers and a fail for Cyber Essentials. We will find every out-of-support system in your business, cost the fix and migrate it out of hours.
What end of life really means
When Microsoft ends support, your software does not stop. It just stops being patched. That is when it gets dangerous.
Security risk
New flaws are found every month. Without patches, attackers can use them against you, and they know exactly which systems are out of support.
Compliance and insurance
Cyber Essentials requires unsupported software to be removed or segregated. Insurers and UK GDPR regulators also expect supported, patched systems.
Rising cost of waiting
ESU prices double every year, supplier support for old versions disappears, and last-minute migrations cost more than planned ones.
Four options
Upgrade (best value), move to the cloud, buy ESU as a bridge, or isolate what cannot change as a last resort.
Your end of life calendar: when to act
Work backwards from the deadline. This is the order we use with clients.
Now: Nov to Dec 2026
Audit everything. Isolate or replace what has already ended. Chase suppliers on .NET and SQL versions.
Q1 2027
Server 2016 cut-over, start SQL 2017 migration, move SMS MFA to Authenticator.
Q2 2027
Finish Windows 10 replacement and the SQL 2014 move. Review Azure retirement notices.
Q3 2027
Complete SQL 2017 and virtualisation decisions. Budget the 2028 ERP upgrades.
Q4 2027 on
Roll Windows 11 feature updates, re-run the audit every six months.
How ABCOM helps
Discover and prioritise
We scan every device and server, flag each end of support date, and rank by risk and deadline.
Budget and migrate
A costed plan comparing upgrade, cloud and ESU, then out-of-hours migration with a rollback plan.
Stay current
We re-check every six months, so the next cliff is never a surprise, and keep you on track for Cyber Essentials.
Quick-reference table: every date in one place
| Product | Date | Status | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| .NET 8 and .NET 9 | 10 Nov 2026 | Act now | Move apps to .NET 10 (LTS) |
| Windows 11 23H2 (Enterprise and Education) | 10 Nov 2026 | Act now | Move to Windows 11 25H2 |
| PHP 8.2 (security support) | 31 Dec 2026 | Act now | Move hosting to PHP 8.3 or 8.4 |
| System Center 2016, BizTalk Server 2016, Dynamics NAV 2017, Team Foundation Server 2017 | 11 Jan 2027 | Act now | Upgrade, replace or retire |
| Windows Server 2016 | 12 Jan 2027 | Act now | Upgrade to Server 2025, or ESU via Azure Arc |
| Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 | 12 Jan 2027 | Act now | Move to Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 |
| Microsoft 365 Targeted Release retires | Jan 2027 | Act now | Review release preferences |
| Visual Studio 2022 and Dynamics 365 on-premises 9.x (mainstream support ends) | 12 Jan 2027 | Plan | Add to the 2027 roadmap |
| Microsoft Entra SMS and voice authentication | 1 Feb 2027 | Act now | Move MFA to Authenticator or passkeys |
| Azure Front Door (classic), Azure AI Content Moderator and other Azure retirements | 15 to 31 Mar 2027 | Plan | Run an Azure retirement review |
| Ruby 3.3 | 31 Mar 2027 | Plan | Upgrade the Ruby runtime |
| Visual Studio 2017 | 13 Apr 2027 | Plan | Move to Visual Studio 2022 or later |
| System Center 2022 (mainstream support ends) | 13 Apr 2027 | Watch | Plan the roadmap |
| Node.js 22 LTS | 30 Apr 2027 | Plan | Upgrade the Node runtime |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (full support) | Spring 2027 | Plan | Upgrade the OS or buy extended support |
| SQL Server 2014 (final ESU year) | 12 Jul 2027 | Plan | Migrate before the final patch |
| Microsoft Teams Displays | 3 Sep 2027 | Plan | Plan replacements |
| Automanage for Virtual Machines | 30 Sep 2027 | Plan | Replace with Azure Policy |
| SQL Server 2017 | 12 Oct 2027 | Plan | Migrate to SQL Server 2022 or 2025 |
| Windows 10 ESU year 2 | 12 Oct 2027 | Plan | Finish Windows 11 upgrades |
| Windows 11 24H2 (Enterprise and Education) and 25H2 (Home and Pro) | 12 Oct 2027 | Plan | Move to the next feature update |
| VMware vSphere and ESXi 8 | Around 11 Oct 2027 | Plan | Review virtualisation platform |
| Dynamics GP 2018 and 2018 R2, Dynamics NAV 2018, Team Foundation Server 2018 | 11 Jan 2028 | Watch | Scope the ERP upgrade |
| Last Windows 10 ESU and Windows 11 25H2 Enterprise | 10 Oct 2028 | Watch | Retire all Windows 10 |
| Windows Server 2019 | 9 Jan 2029 | Watch | Plan the Server 2025 move |
| SQL Server 2019 | 8 Jan 2030 | Watch | Plan the migration by 2029 |
| Secure Boot certificate expiry | Jun to Oct 2026 | Ended | Verify the new certificates |
| Windows 11 24H2 (Home and Pro) and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 | 13 Oct 2026 | Ended | Apply 25H2, replan LTSB |
| Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 | 13 Oct 2026 | Ended | Replace with Server 2025 or Azure |
| Office 2021, Office LTSC 2021, Project 2021, Visio 2021 | 13 Oct 2026 | Ended | Move to Microsoft 365 Apps |
| Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 | Oct 2026 | Ended | Exchange SE or Exchange Online |
| Python 3.10 | Oct 2026 | Ended | Upgrade Python |
| SharePoint Server 2016 and 2019 | 14 Jul 2026 | Ended | Subscription Edition or SharePoint Online |
| SQL Server 2016 | 14 Jul 2026 | Ended | Migrate to SQL 2022 or 2025 |
| Windows 10 | 14 Oct 2025 | Ended | Upgrade to Windows 11 |
Frequently asked questions
What Microsoft products reach end of life in 2027?
The main ones are Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 on 12 January 2027, System Center 2016, BizTalk Server 2016 and Dynamics NAV 2017 on 11 January 2027, Microsoft Entra SMS and voice authentication on 1 February 2027, Visual Studio 2017 on 13 April 2027, and SQL Server 2017 and Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise on 12 October 2027. Windows 10 paid ESU year 2 also ends on 12 October 2027.
When does Windows Server 2016 end of life?
Windows Server 2016 reaches end of extended support on 12 January 2027. Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates for up to three years through Azure Arc, but recommends upgrading to Windows Server 2025.
Is Windows 10 still supported?
Not for free. Support ended on 14 October 2025. Paid Extended Security Updates continue to 12 October 2027 for year 2 and 10 October 2028 for year 3, at a price that doubles each year.
What happened to Office 2021?
Support for Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021, plus Project and Visio 2021, ended on 13 October 2026. The apps still run but get no security updates.
Is Exchange Server 2019 still supported?
No. Extended support ended on 14 October 2025 and the paid ESU programme ended with the final update in October 2026. Move to Exchange Server Subscription Edition or Exchange Online.
When does SQL Server 2017 end of life?
SQL Server 2017 reaches end of extended support on 12 October 2027. SQL Server 2016 has already ended (14 July 2026) and SQL Server 2019 ends on 8 January 2030.
What happens when software reaches end of life?
It keeps working but receives no security patches, bug fixes or technical support. That raises your cyber risk, can fail Cyber Essentials, and may affect cyber insurance.
Do I have to pay for Extended Security Updates?
Only if you cannot upgrade in time. ESU is security-only, time-limited and gets more expensive each year, so treat it as a bridge while you migrate.
What is the difference between end of support and end of life?
End of support means the vendor stops providing security patches and technical help. Microsoft uses “end of support” for most products; “end of life” is the common search term for the same thing. Retirement is used for cloud services that switch off entirely.
ABCOM IT Solutions (2026). Microsoft End of Life Dates 2027: Every Deadline and When to Act. Last reviewed 6 November 2026. https://abcom.co.uk/microsoft-end-of-life-2027/Sources
- Microsoft Lifecycle: Ending support in 2027 and Ending support in 2028
- Microsoft Windows IT Pro Blog: Plan for Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 2016 LTSB end of support
- Microsoft SQL Server Blog: SQL Server 2016 end of support is here
- Microsoft Message Center: MC1426371, Entra passkeys by default and retirement of SMS and voice; AZ558033, .NET 8 retirement
- Microsoft Exchange Team Blog: October 2026 Exchange Server security updates
- Non-Microsoft dates (VMware, Ubuntu, Red Hat, Node.js, Ruby, PHP) come from vendor lifecycle pages and trackers: confirm with the vendor before acting.
Related: Cyber Essentials, cyber security and our FAQs.
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