Microsoft has confirmed that Windows Server 2016 will stop receiving security updates on 12 January 2027, when its extended support period comes to a close. As BleepingComputer reports, the company issued a message centre update spelling out exactly what Windows Server 2016 end of support means for admins who haven’t yet moved on.
‘The January 2027 Windows security update will be the last update available for this version. After this date, devices running Windows Server 2016 will no longer receive monthly security updates containing protections from the latest security threats,’ Microsoft said. The cutoff applies to all editions: Datacenter, Essentials, MultiPoint Premium and Standard. On the same date, Microsoft will also withdraw all Windows Server 2016 Essentials-specific features, including Remote Web Access.
What falls away on 12 January
Windows Server 2016 was released at Microsoft’s annual Ignite conference in September 2016, reaching general availability on 12 October 2016. Mainstream support ended in January 2022, leaving it in extended support for the past five years. Once that extended support expires, monthly security patches stop entirely, and so does Microsoft’s broader product support for the platform.
For shops running Microsoft 365 Apps on Server 2016, the picture is already complicated. Cyber One Solutions noted in September 2026 that support for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows Server 2016 ended on 14 October 2025, with security updates for those apps set to continue only until 10 October 2028.
Microsoft points admins towards Server 2025
Microsoft’s own advice is straightforward: upgrade to Windows Server 2025. ‘To help keep your environment protected and supported, plan to upgrade to Windows Server 2025,’ the company said in its message centre update. Windows Server 2025 is the current Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release, having reached general availability in November 2024 after rolling out to Windows Insiders from January 2024.
According to Microsoft’s lifecycle platform, Windows Server 2025 mainstream support runs to November 2029, with extended support continuing until 14 November 2034. Admins who want to evaluate it before committing can access a free 180-day trial through the Microsoft Evaluation Center.
Microsoft also noted separately that systems running Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions have stopped receiving security and non-security preview updates, with customers advised to move to Windows 11 26H2, also known as the Windows 11 2026 Update. The 12 January 2027 end-of-support date for Windows Server 2016 remains the more immediate deadline for enterprise and IT teams.
