---
slug: "multi-windows-server-2016-end-of-support"
title: "Windows Server 2016 end of support"
summary: "End of support for Windows Server 2016: 12 Jan 2027. Once a release reaches the end of support, security updates and bulletins end."
cloud: "multi"
service: "Windows Server"
service_slug: "windows-server"
category: "os_image"
type: "end_of_support"
announced_date: null
effective_date: "2027-01-12"
effective_precision: "day"
replacement: null
affected_versions: ["2016"]
source_url: "https://learn.microsoft.com/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2016"
extra_source_urls: ["https://endoflife.date/windows-server"]
vendor_ref: "windows-server@2016"
last_checked_at: "2026-11-12T09:55:50.558Z"
created_at: "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z"
updated_at: "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z"
url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/multi-windows-server-2016-end-of-support"
short_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/i/3g"
markdown_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/multi-windows-server-2016-end-of-support.md"
json_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/multi-windows-server-2016-end-of-support.json"
---

# Windows Server 2016 end of support

End of support for Windows Server 2016: 12 Jan 2027. Once a release reaches the end of support, security updates and bulletins end.

- Effective date: 12 Jan 2027
- Cloud: Multi-cloud
- Service: [Windows Server](https://eolwatch.dev/services/multi/windows-server.md)
- Type: End of support
- Category: [OS image](https://eolwatch.dev/categories/os-images.md)
- Affected versions: 2016
- Replacement: Not stated by vendor
- Announced: Not stated by vendor
- Official source: [learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2016)
- Last checked: 12 Nov 2026

## What breaks

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](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/extended-security-updates).
- Extended Security Updates do not include new features, customer-requested nonsecurity hotfixes, or design change requests.

## Who is affected

### Affected versions

- `2016`

### Matching resource types

- `microsoft.compute/virtualmachines`
- `azurerm_windows_virtual_machine`
- `azurerm_windows_virtual_machine_scale_set`

### Fields the check reads

- `osimage`
- `source_image_reference.sku`
- `source_image_reference.offer`

### Detected by the estate check from

- Azure Resource Graph export (CSV or JSON)
- Terraform state or plan (JSON)
- ARM template

## What to do

1. Choose an upgrade method with [Plan your Windows Server upgrade](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/install-upgrade-migrate): in-place upgrade, clean install, migration, or cluster rolling upgrade.
2. Check the [supported paths table](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/install-upgrade-migrate#supported-in-place-upgrade-paths-by-version) and the [role and feature migration matrix](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/upgrade-migrate-roles-features) 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](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/upgrade-in-place).

## Replacement

Not stated by vendor.

## Sources

- [Official source](https://learn.microsoft.com/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2016) (learn.microsoft.com, Official)
- [Additional source](https://endoflife.date/windows-server) (endoflife.date, Via endoflife.date)

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

Page: https://eolwatch.dev/items/multi-windows-server-2016-end-of-support | JSON: https://eolwatch.dev/items/multi-windows-server-2016-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.