Microsoft Product

Windows Server

Windows Server is a Microsoft product filed under Operating Systems. Lifecycle: versioned, 21 versions listed, latest 2025 (1 Nov 2024).

Operating Systems

Releases and Lifecycle

All Microsoft products

Release and support dates as published by Microsoft; dates within the next 12 months are highlighted, past dates dimmed. Retrieved 2026-10-13.

Windows Server 21 versions

Long-Term Servicing Channel releases under the Fixed Lifecycle Policy, with service packs and R2 releases where Microsoft lists them. Annual Channel and Semi-Annual Channel releases are listed under their own products.

Version	Released	End of standard support	End of extended support	End of life	Source
2025Fixed Lifecycle Policy	1 Nov 2024	13 Nov 2029	14 Nov 2034	–	[1][13]
2022Fixed Lifecycle PolicyContainers released with this version follow the same lifecycle dates. Hotpatching is supported on Datacenter: Azure Edition Core through the end of Mainstream Support.	18 Aug 2021	13 Oct 2026	14 Oct 2031	–	[1][14]
2019Fixed Lifecycle PolicyContainers released with this version follow the same lifecycle dates.	13 Nov 2018	9 Jan 2024	9 Jan 2029	–	[1][15]
2016Fixed Lifecycle PolicyContainers released with this version follow the same lifecycle dates.	15 Oct 2016	11 Jan 2022	12 Jan 2027	–	[1][16]
2012 R2Fixed Lifecycle PolicyExtended Security Updates published by Microsoft: ESU Year 1 2023-10-11 to 2024-10-08; ESU Year 2 2024-10-09 to 2025-10-14; ESU Year 3 2025-10-15 to 2026-10-13. endOfLife is the end of the last ESU year. Mainstream and Extended Support were extended to give the standard lifecycle transition timeline.	25 Nov 2013	9 Oct 2018	10 Oct 2023	13 Oct 2026	[1][17]
2012 R2 original release (no service pack)Fixed Lifecycle PolicyEnd of support date Microsoft lists for the original release without a service pack.	25 Nov 2013	–	–	10 Oct 2023	[1][17]
2012Fixed Lifecycle PolicyExtended Security Updates published by Microsoft: ESU Year 1 2023-10-11 to 2024-10-08; ESU Year 2 2024-10-09 to 2025-10-14; ESU Year 3 2025-10-15 to 2026-10-13. endOfLife is the end of the last ESU year. Windows Server Essentials released 2013-01-02. Mainstream and Extended Support were extended to give the standard lifecycle transition timeline.	30 Oct 2012	9 Oct 2018	10 Oct 2023	13 Oct 2026	[1][18]
2012 original release (no service pack)Fixed Lifecycle PolicyEnd of support date Microsoft lists for the original release without a service pack.	30 Oct 2012	–	–	10 Oct 2023	[1][18]
2008 R2 Service Pack 1Fixed Lifecycle PolicyService pack level listed with its own end date.	22 Feb 2011	–	–	14 Jan 2020	[1][19]
2008 R2Fixed Lifecycle PolicyExtended Security Updates published by Microsoft: ESU Year 1 2020-01-15 to 2021-01-12; ESU Year 2 2021-01-13 to 2022-01-11; ESU Year 3 2022-01-12 to 2023-01-10; ESU Year 4 (Azure only) 2023-01-11 to 2024-01-09. endOfLife is the end of the last ESU year.	22 Oct 2009	13 Jan 2015	14 Jan 2020	9 Jan 2024	[1][19]
2008 R2 original release (no service pack)Fixed Lifecycle PolicyEnd of support date Microsoft lists for the original release without a service pack.	22 Oct 2009	–	–	9 Apr 2013	[1][19]
2008 Service Pack 2Fixed Lifecycle PolicyService pack level listed with its own end date.	29 Apr 2009	–	–	14 Jan 2020	[1][20]
2008Fixed Lifecycle PolicyExtended Security Updates published by Microsoft: ESU Year 1 2020-01-15 to 2021-01-12; ESU Year 2 2021-01-13 to 2022-01-11; ESU Year 3 2022-01-12 to 2023-01-10; ESU Year 4 (Azure only) 2023-01-11 to 2024-01-09. endOfLife is the end of the last ESU year. Windows Server 2008 Foundation released 2009-05-21.	6 May 2008	13 Jan 2015	14 Jan 2020	9 Jan 2024	[1][20]
2008 original release (no service pack)Fixed Lifecycle PolicyEnd of support date Microsoft lists for the original release without a service pack.	6 May 2008	–	–	12 Jul 2011	[1][20]
2003 R2 Service Pack 2Fixed Lifecycle PolicyService pack level listed with its own end date.	13 Mar 2007	–	–	14 Jul 2015	[1][21]
2003 Service Pack 2Fixed Lifecycle PolicyService pack level listed with its own end date.	13 Mar 2007	–	–	14 Jul 2015	[1][37]
2003 R2Fixed Lifecycle Policy	5 Mar 2006	13 Jul 2010	14 Jul 2015	–	[1][21]
2003 R2 original release (no service pack)Fixed Lifecycle PolicyEnd of support date Microsoft lists for the original release without a service pack.	5 Mar 2006	–	–	14 Apr 2009	[1][21]
2003 Service Pack 1Fixed Lifecycle PolicyService pack level listed with its own end date.	30 Mar 2005	–	–	14 Apr 2009	[1][37]
2003Fixed Lifecycle PolicyItanium-based systems have a start date of 2003-06-19.	28 May 2003	13 Jul 2010	14 Jul 2015	–	[1][37]
2003 original release (no service pack)Fixed Lifecycle PolicyEnd of support date Microsoft lists for the original release without a service pack.	28 May 2003	–	–	10 Apr 2007	[1][37]

Lifecycle Policy

Fixed Lifecycle Policy. Products with a defined support timeline at launch: a minimum of five years of Mainstream Support, then a period of Extended Support for some products, with service pack levels required for eligibility. [1]
Semi-Annual Channel. System Center release option with about two releases a year, each supported for 18 months from public availability; the channel has been discontinued. [434]

Sources 11