---
slug: "azure-virtual-machines-dsc-extension-retirement"
title: "Azure Virtual Machines: Desired State Configuration extension retirement"
summary: "Microsoft retires the Desired State Configuration Extension for Azure Virtual Machines on 31 Mar 2028. After that date the extension is no longer supported. Microsoft names Azure Machine Configuration as the replacement."
cloud: "azure"
service: "Azure Virtual Machines"
service_slug: "virtual-machines"
category: "api_sdk"
type: "retirement"
announced_date: "2025-03-26"
effective_date: "2028-03-31"
effective_precision: "day"
replacement: "Azure Machine Configuration"
affected_versions: []
source_url: "https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=485828"
extra_source_urls: ["https://aka.ms/dscext2gc"]
vendor_ref: "485828"
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-virtual-machines-dsc-extension-retirement"
short_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/i/9m"
markdown_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-virtual-machines-dsc-extension-retirement.md"
json_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-virtual-machines-dsc-extension-retirement.json"
source_note: null
---

# Azure Virtual Machines: Desired State Configuration extension retirement

Microsoft retires the Desired State Configuration Extension for Azure Virtual Machines on 31 Mar 2028. After that date the extension is no longer supported. Microsoft names Azure Machine Configuration as the replacement.

- Effective date: 31 Mar 2028
- Cloud: [Azure](https://eolwatch.dev/cloud/azure.md)
- Service: [Azure Virtual Machines](https://eolwatch.dev/services/azure/virtual-machines.md)
- Type: Retirement
- Category: [API or SDK](https://eolwatch.dev/categories/apis-sdks.md)
- Replacement: Azure Machine Configuration
- Announced: 26 Mar 2025
- Official source: [azure.microsoft.com](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=485828)
- Last checked: 12 Nov 2026

## What breaks

The Desired State Configuration Extension for Azure Virtual Machines is retired on the retirement date. After that date, the extension is no longer supported. Until that date, the extension can be used without disruption. Microsoft advises migrating to Azure Machine Configuration by that date to avoid service disruptions.

## What to do

1. In the Azure portal, open "Virtual machines", select each virtual machine, then "Settings" and "Extensions + Applications" to list the extensions assigned.
2. Follow Microsoft's instructions to [migrate](https://aka.ms/dscext2gc) to Azure Machine Configuration before the retirement date.

## Replacement

Azure Machine Configuration

## Sources

- [Official source](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=485828) (azure.microsoft.com, Official)
- [Additional source](https://aka.ms/dscext2gc) (aka.ms, Official)

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

Page: https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-virtual-machines-dsc-extension-retirement | JSON: https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-virtual-machines-dsc-extension-retirement.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.