The dates (from Microsoft)
Microsoft announced the end of Dynamics GP in September 2024 and updated the date in January 2025:
- December 31, 2029 — end of product enhancements, regulatory (tax) updates and technical support. This replaced the originally announced date of September 30, 2029.
- April 30, 2031 — end of security updates (if needed) and end of Service Plan coverage for Dynamics GP products.
- April 1, 2026 — the last day new customers could license Dynamics GP subscriptions (already passed).
These dates apply to the current version of GP. Microsoft’s GP lifecycle article says that version 18.x is governed by the Modern Lifecycle Policy (customers stay current by taking at least one of the three yearly updates), and that installing any compatible tax release or hotfix on GP 2018 or GP 2018 R2 moves an installation to version 18.5 or later and so onto the Modern policy. Older Fixed Lifecycle versions have their own dates from Microsoft’s lifecycle pages — for example, extended support for GP 2016 and GP 2016 R2 ended July 14, 2026, and for GP 2018 and GP 2018 R2 it ends January 11, 2028. See the table below.
What “end of support” means for GP users
After December 31, 2029 there are no more tax and regulatory updates. For payroll and tax reporting that is usually the practical deadline, because year-end changes stop arriving. Between 2030 and April 2031 Microsoft only ships security updates if needed. After April 30, 2031 the software keeps running but receives nothing.
Options
- Dynamics 365 Business Central (Microsoft’s suggested path). Microsoft’s GP and SL migration post points GP customers to Business Central, and Microsoft’s Business Central documentation lists a data migration wizard for importing master data from Dynamics GP into Business Central online. Note that this imports data; GP customisations, reports and integrations have to be rebuilt.
- Another ERP. The end of GP is a re-platforming decision either way, so it is a natural point to compare other mid-market systems on cost and fit.
- Stay on GP until 2029–2031. Lowest short-term cost, but the migration still has to happen, and partner and add-on availability may thin out as the date approaches.
Dynamics SL
Microsoft’s same post states that mainstream support for Dynamics SL ended July 11, 2023, and extended support (such as security updates) ends July 11, 2028, with Service Plan coverage ending January 15, 2030. Microsoft’s lifecycle page for Dynamics SL 2018 gives the same extended end but notes that mainstream support for SL 2018 was extended to January 9, 2024.
Downsides to weigh
- Moving from GP to Business Central is a re-implementation, not an upgrade: chart of accounts, dimensions, posting setup and reports need redesign.
- Historical transaction data usually stays in GP or an archive; check what the migration tools actually bring across before you plan to switch GP off.