SQL Server 2016 SP3 end of support
Is SQL Server 2016 SP3 still supported?
No Support ended
Support for SQL Server 2016 SP3 ended on July 14, 2026. Paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) is listed until July 17, 2029.
Key dates Vendor-confirmed
| Release date | September 15, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Mainstream support ends | July 13, 2021 |
| Extended support ends | July 14, 2026 |
| Extended Security Updates (ESU) (paid) | July 17, 2029 |
Notes: Dates from Microsoft's lifecycle page. Release date is the Service Pack 3 start date; mainstream support for SQL Server 2016 ended July 13, 2021, before SP3 was released. The ESU end is the end of Extended Security Updates Year 3.
Source quality: Every date shown is confirmed in the vendor's own content; anything shown as Unknown is not yet confirmed anywhere.
What the end of support means
- Mainstream support usually includes bug fixes, security updates and (for ERP) regulatory and tax updates. When it ends, non-security fixes and new features stop.
- Extended support usually means security updates only. Exact terms differ by vendor and may require a support contract.
- After the final end date the software keeps running, but the vendor no longer ships fixes or security patches. Known vulnerabilities stay open, and compliance or cyber-insurance requirements may treat it as unsupported software.
- Extended Security Updates (ESU) extends security fixes for a limited time for a fee. Treat it as a bridge to an upgrade.
Upgrade paths
Upgrade to a supported SQL Server version
Staying on the same product usually means the least retraining. Check the upgrade path and system requirements in the vendor documentation; some upgrades must go through an intermediate version.
Buy more time
Extended Security Updates (ESU) is listed for this version (paid). It typically covers security fixes only and is meant as a bridge, not a destination.
Related guides
- Extended Security Updates (ESU) explainedWhat Microsoft Extended Security Updates cover and exclude, who can get them, how long they last, and current ESU end dates for Windows Server, SQL Server and Windows 10.
- SQL Server upgrade planning: end-of-support dates and optionsSQL Server support phases, which versions are ending, and Microsoft's documented options: upgrade in place, move to Azure SQL, or buy Extended Security Updates.
Sources
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/sql-server-2016
- microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/extended-security-updates
Vendor lifecycle page for the product: https://learn.microsoft.com/lifecycle/products/?terms=SQL%20Server
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