Microsoft sets October deadline for Windows Server 2022 mainstream support
Microsoft announced that Windows Server 2022 will exit mainstream support on October 13, 2026, with the final mainstream security update arriving that month. The product will then receive extended support, including free security patches, until October 14, 2031. The company recommends upgrading to Windows Server 2025, which offers mainstream support through 2029 and extended support until 2034.
Windows Server 2022 launched in September 2021 as a Long-Term Servicing Channel release, carrying a decade of support. The October 2026 security update marks the final mainstream patch, after which the platform shifts to extended support with free monthly security fixes through October 2031. Datacenter: Azure Edition customers receive hotpatching coverage for an additional year, extending through October 2027.
Microsoft directs administrators toward Windows Server 2025, which reached general availability in November 2024 and offers mainstream support until November 2029, plus extended support through November 2034. The company encourages early evaluation of upgrade options and provides a free 180-day trial through the Microsoft Evaluation Center to support deployment testing.
Organizations running Windows Server 2022 — including many enterprises and government agencies — could face a gradual erosion of support quality after the mainstream cutoff, with only security patches and no new features. Those that delay migration may encounter compatibility challenges or higher transition costs when eventually moving to Windows Server 2025. Smaller businesses with limited IT resources could be most affected, as planning and executing an upgrade requires time and expertise they may not readily have.