Windows Server 2025 end of support

Windows Server Long Term Servicing Channel releases have a minimum of 10 years of support: five years of mainstream support and five years of extended support, which includes regular security updates. endoflife.date states that each Semi-Annual Channel release is supported for 18 months from the initial release, and that each Annual Channel release has 18 months of mainstream support plus 6 months of extended support. Once a release reaches the end of support, security updates and bulletins end, which Microsoft states can cause security or compliance issues.

• endoflife.date states that for some releases, customers have the option to purchase Extended Security Updates. See Lifecycle FAQ - Extended Security Updates.
• Extended Security Updates do not include new features, customer-requested nonsecurity hotfixes, or design change requests.

1. Choose an upgrade method with Plan your Windows Server upgrade: in-place upgrade, clean install, migration, or cluster rolling upgrade.
2. Check the supported paths table and the role and feature migration matrix for your configuration.
3. Get a valid product key and activation method for the target version. Each Windows Server upgrade requires a separate license.
4. Back up your system and important files before the in-place upgrade, clean install, or migration.
5. For an in-place upgrade, follow Perform an in-place upgrade of Windows Server.