Microsoft sets Windows Server 2016 support cutoff at January 12, 2027
The January 2027 security update will be the last for Windows Server 2016, and Microsoft is pointing administrators to Windows Server 2025.
Microsoft has announced that Windows Server 2016 will stop receiving security updates after its end of support date of January 12, 2027, according to BleepingComputer. The January 2027 security update will be the final one released for the server operating system.
The cutoff applies to every Windows Server 2016 edition: Datacenter, Essentials, MultiPoint Premium and Standard. Microsoft will also stop support for Essentials-specific features such as Remote Web Access on the same date.
Microsoft is advising administrators to move to Windows Server 2025 before support ends. Windows Server 2025 is the latest Long-Term Servicing Channel release for Windows Server.
Windows Server 2016 was released in September 2016 at Microsoft's Ignite conference and reached general availability on October 12, 2016. It reached the end of mainstream support in January 2022.
Its successor has been available for some time: Windows Server 2025 began rolling out to Windows Insiders in January 2024 and reached general availability in November 2024. According to Microsoft's lifecycle platform, it will reach the end of mainstream support in November 2029, with extended support running until November 14, 2034.
The notice follows another lifecycle change earlier in October 2026, when Microsoft announced that Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions had stopped receiving security and non-security preview updates.
Quick answers
When does Windows Server 2016 support end?
Support ends on January 12, 2027. The January 2027 security update will be the last released for Windows Server 2016.
Which Windows Server 2016 editions are affected?
All editions: Datacenter, Essentials, MultiPoint Premium and Standard. Essentials-specific features such as Remote Web Access also stop being supported on the same date.
What should administrators upgrade to?
Microsoft advises upgrading to Windows Server 2025, the latest Long-Term Servicing Channel release for Windows Server.