# Windows Server 2016 end of life: January 12, 2027

Windows Server 2016 reaches the end of extended support on January 12, 2027. After that date Microsoft stops regular security updates for it.

- Vendor: Microsoft
- Category: Operating system
- Last verified: 2026-11-01

## Key dates

- January 12, 2027: Extended support ends (Microsoft lists the end in Pacific Time) (exact date)

## Who is affected

Anyone running Windows Server 2016 Standard, Datacenter, Essentials or MultiPoint Premium, on-premises or as virtual machines in any cloud. Windows containers released with Windows Server 2016 follow the same dates.

## What happens

Windows Server 2016 follows Microsoft's Fixed Lifecycle Policy. Mainstream support already ended in January 2022. When extended support ends, security updates stop, which matters most for internet-facing and regulated systems.

## Migration options

- In-place or side-by-side upgrade to a newer Windows Server: Side-by-side is safer for older apps because you can test and roll back. Check each application's vendor support for the new version first.
- Rehost the server in a cloud as a VM: Moving the VM does not remove the end-of-support problem. Pair it with an OS upgrade or plan the upgrade right after.
- Replatform the application: For apps that only exist on Windows because of old dependencies, a container or managed service can end the OS upgrade cycle.

## Sources

- [Microsoft Lifecycle, Windows Server 2016](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2016)

## Next steps

- Page: https://becloudready.com/end-of-life/windows-server-2016
- Book a free 30-minute call about this migration: https://calendly.com/kchandank/30-mins-meeting
- All dates: https://becloudready.com/end-of-life