---
slug: "azure-batch-windows-server-2016-images-end-of-support"
title: "Azure Batch: Windows Server 2016 Marketplace images end of support"
summary: "End of support date for Windows Server 2016 Marketplace images on Azure Batch pools: 12 Jan 2027. Microsoft states that the Windows Server 2016 Marketplace images are then no longer available."
cloud: "azure"
service: "Azure Batch"
service_slug: "batch"
category: "os_image"
type: "end_of_support"
announced_date: "2026-03-16"
effective_date: "2027-01-12"
effective_precision: "day"
replacement: "A supported Windows Server image"
affected_versions: ["2016"]
source_url: "https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=549077"
extra_source_urls: ["https://learn.microsoft.com/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2016","https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/batch/batch-sig-images","https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/batch/batch-pool-update-properties"]
vendor_ref: "549077"
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-batch-windows-server-2016-images-end-of-support"
short_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/i/3d"
markdown_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-batch-windows-server-2016-images-end-of-support.md"
json_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-batch-windows-server-2016-images-end-of-support.json"
source_note: null
---

# Azure Batch: Windows Server 2016 Marketplace images end of support

End of support date for Windows Server 2016 Marketplace images on Azure Batch pools: 12 Jan 2027. Microsoft states that the Windows Server 2016 Marketplace images are then no longer available.

- Effective date: 12 Jan 2027
- Cloud: [Azure](https://eolwatch.dev/cloud/azure.md)
- Service: [Azure Batch](https://eolwatch.dev/services/azure/batch.md)
- Type: End of support
- Category: [OS image](https://eolwatch.dev/categories/os-images.md)
- Affected versions: 2016
- Replacement: A supported Windows Server image
- Announced: 16 Mar 2026
- Official source: [azure.microsoft.com](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=549077)
- Last checked: 12 Nov 2026

## What breaks

Azure Batch support for Windows Server 2016 ends on the end of support date. Microsoft states that Marketplace images for Windows Server 2016, published under the MicrosoftWindowsServer offer with the name WindowsServer, are then no longer available. Affected are Batch pools based on Windows Server 2016 Marketplace images; the relevant image SKUs include 2016-datacenter, 2016-datacenter-gensecond, 2016-datacenter-gs, 2016-datacenter-smalldisk, 2016-datacenter-smalldisk-g2, 2016-datacenter-with-containers and 2016-datacenter-with-containers-gs. Microsoft describes the required migration as a way to avoid service disruptions.

## Who is affected

### Affected versions

- `2016`

### Matching resource types

- `microsoft.batch/batchaccounts/pools`
- `azurerm_batch_pool`

### Fields the check reads

- `properties.deploymentconfiguration.virtualmachineconfiguration.imagereference.sku`
- `properties.deploymentconfiguration.virtualmachineconfiguration.imagereference.offer`
- `storage_image_reference.sku`
- `storage_image_reference.offer`

### Detected by the estate check from

- Terraform state or plan (JSON)
- ARM template

## What to do

1. Migrate Batch pools that use the affected Marketplace images to a supported Windows Server image by 12 Jan 2027. Microsoft recommends the latest version of Windows Server, if possible.
2. Follow the Microsoft article on how to [update pool properties](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/batch/batch-pool-update-properties) for migration guidance.
3. Test the migration before updating production configurations.
4. If the workload requires Windows Server 2016 after 12 Jan 2027, it may be possible to migrate to a Windows Server 2016 custom image with appropriate licensing and Azure ESU. See this [article](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/batch/batch-sig-images). Azure Batch support for Windows Server 2016 still ends on 12 Jan 2027.

## Replacement

A supported Windows Server image

## Sources

- [Official source](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=549077) (azure.microsoft.com, Official)
- [Additional source](https://learn.microsoft.com/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2016) (learn.microsoft.com, Official)
- [Additional source](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/batch/batch-sig-images) (learn.microsoft.com, Official)
- [Additional source](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/batch/batch-pool-update-properties) (learn.microsoft.com, Official)

Last checked against the first source in this list on 12 Nov 2026.

Page: https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-batch-windows-server-2016-images-end-of-support | JSON: https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-batch-windows-server-2016-images-end-of-support.json

The text on this page is drafted with AI assistance from the vendor's text, checked against the official source and approved by a person before it is published.