Windows Server 2022 mainstream support ends in October 2026

Windows Server 2022 will exit mainstream support on October 13, 2026, with Microsoft saying the October 2026 security update will be the last one issued under that phase.

After that, the server OS moves to extended support, which still includes security updates at no extra cost for another five years. Microsoft says those monthly security updates will continue through October 14, 2031.

Windows Server 2022 was first announced in March 2021 and became generally available in September 2021 as a Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release with 10 years of support.

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Microsoft is steering customers toward Windows Server 2025, which became generally available in November 2024 after first rolling out to Windows Insiders in January 2024. The company says organizations should start evaluating upgrade paths and testing deployments early.

According to Microsoft, Windows Server 2025 reaches end of support on November 13, 2029, with extended support ending on November 14, 2034. Customers who want to test it before deployment can use the free 180-day trial in the Microsoft Evaluation Center.

The company also recently extended Windows Server 2022 hotpatching through October 2027 for systems running Datacenter: Azure Edition, one year past mainstream support. Separately, Microsoft has pointed customers to its Lifecycle Policy search tool and Windows Lifecycle FAQ for servicing dates, and has published a list of products that will reach end of support or be retired in 2025.

More recently, Microsoft also reminded customers that Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 and the Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 24H2 will stop receiving updates 3 months after reaching end of support.

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