{
  "slug": "azure-aks-windows-server-2022-retirement",
  "title": "Azure Kubernetes Service: Windows Server 2022 retirement",
  "summary": "Retirement date for Windows Server 2022 on AKS: Mar 2027, when Kubernetes 1.34 reaches the end of platform support. Windows Server 2022 node pools cannot be created on Kubernetes 1.35 and above.",
  "cloud": "azure",
  "service": "Azure Kubernetes Service",
  "service_slug": "aks",
  "category": "os_image",
  "type": "retirement",
  "announced_date": "2024-03-29",
  "effective_date": "2027-03-01",
  "effective_precision": "month",
  "impact": "Windows Server 2022 is retired on AKS when Kubernetes 1.34 reaches the end of platform support. After the retirement date, Windows Server 2022 is not supported. Windows Server 2022 node pools cannot be created on Kubernetes 1.35 and above. Until the retirement date, Windows Server 2022 can still be used on Kubernetes version 1.34 and below.",
  "migration_path": "1. Choose a supported Windows Server version: Windows Server 2025 or Windows Server Annual Channel.\n2. Follow the steps in the [AKS documentation](https://aka.ms/aks/ws2019-migration) to upgrade to that version before the retirement date.",
  "replacement": "Windows Server 2025 or Windows Server Annual Channel",
  "affected_versions": [
    "2022"
  ],
  "source_url": "https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=ws2022-retirement-aks",
  "extra_source_urls": [
    "https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-server-news-and-best/introducing-windows-server-2025/ba-p/4026374",
    "https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-server-news-and-best/windows-server-annual-channel-for-containers/ba-p/3866248",
    "https://github.com/Azure/AKS/projects/1",
    "https://aka.ms/aks/ws2019-migration"
  ],
  "vendor_ref": "ws2022-retirement-aks",
  "last_checked_at": "2026-11-12T09:55:19.345Z",
  "created_at": "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z",
  "url": "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-aks-windows-server-2022-retirement",
  "short_url": "https://eolwatch.dev/i/4c",
  "markdown_url": "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-aks-windows-server-2022-retirement.md",
  "json_url": "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-aks-windows-server-2022-retirement.json",
  "estate_check": {
    "resource_types": [
      "microsoft.containerservice/managedclusters/agentpools",
      "azurerm_kubernetes_cluster_node_pool"
    ],
    "fields": [
      "properties.ossku",
      "os_sku"
    ],
    "inputs": [
      "Terraform state or plan (JSON)",
      "ARM template"
    ]
  },
  "source_note": null
}