Windows Server 2016 end of support
Is Windows Server 2016 still supported?
Security updates only Extended support
Mainstream support for Windows Server 2016 ended on January 11, 2022. It is in extended support, which normally means security fixes only, until January 12, 2027. Paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) is listed until January 12, 2030.
Key dates Partly vendor-confirmed
| Release date | October 15, 2016 |
|---|---|
| Mainstream support ends | January 11, 2022 |
| Extended support ends | January 12, 2027 |
| Extended Security Updates (ESU) (paid) | January 12, 2030 |
Notes: Release, mainstream and extended end dates from Microsoft's lifecycle page; Microsoft announced Extended Security Updates for Windows Server 2016 (enabled by Azure Arc) in February 2026. The ESU end date comes from endoflife.date (not on the Microsoft pages we fetched).
Source quality: Some dates confirmed in the vendor's own content; the rest come from endoflife.date (secondary source).
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 Windows 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/windows-server-2016
- microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/blog/2026/02/25/planning-ahead-for-windows-server-2016-end-of-support/
- microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/extended-security-updates
- endoflife-date/endoflife.date: products/windows-server.md(secondary: endoflife.date)
- endoflife.date/windows-server(secondary: endoflife.date)
Vendor lifecycle page for the product: https://learn.microsoft.com/lifecycle/products/?terms=Windows%20Server
Add Windows Server dates to your calendar (iCal) · All Windows Server versions · How we verify dates