Windows 10, support, lifecycle fact sheet, updated June 2019

Last updated: June 2019

Every Windows product has a lifecycle. The lifecycle begins when a product is released and ends when it's no longer supported. Knowing key dates in this lifecycle helps you make informed decisions about when to update, upgrade or make other changes to your software. 

Windows 10


Home, Enterprise, Education, Pro, and Pro for Workstations editions 

Windows 10 Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) is governed by the Modern Lifecycle Policy (as of January 25, 2018). For more information, see the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy or review the Modern Lifecycle FAQ

Feature updates will be released twice a year for Windows 10 via the Semi-Annual Channel (SAC), targeting March and September annually. Updates are cumulative, with each update built upon those that preceded it; you should always install the latest feature update (version), before your current version reaches end of service, to remain supported by Microsoft thru monthly quality updates.
 
As of September 6, 2018, we have evolved our servicing timeline for customers who need more time to test and deploy Windows 10 Enterprise and Education feature updates. To that end, feature updates will be serviced with monthly quality updates as follows:
 
Edition  March* feature updates  September* feature updates
Windows 10 Enterprise
Windows 10 Education
Serviced for 18 months from release date Serviced for 30 months from release date
Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 Pro for Workstations
Windows 10 Home
 
Serviced for 18 months from release date, however based on your setting, the latest feature update may be automatically installed on your device upon availability. Serviced for 18 months from release date, however based on your setting, the latest feature update may be automatically installed on your device upon availability.
* Feature updates will be released twice annually with a target of March and September.
 

Some editions1 can defer semi-annual feature updates at Settings  >Windows Update >Advanced options or via a policy that an organization's management system may provide to the device. On devices that haven't been configured for deferral, you'll need to install the latest feature update to help keep your device secure and have it remain supported by Microsoft. New versions may be automatically installed prior to the end-of-service date of the current version on your device.

1 Home edition does not support the deferral of feature updates and will therefore typically receive a new version of Windows 10 prior to the end-of-service date shown.
 

By Windows 10 version, below are the availability and end of service dates segmented by edition.

Windows 10 version history Date of availability End of service for Home, Pro, and Pro for Workstations editions End of service for Enterprise and Education editions
Windows 10, version 1903 May 21, 2019 December 8, 2020 December 8, 2020
Windows 10, version 1809 November 13, 2018 May 12, 2020 May 11, 2021
Windows 10, version 1803 April 30, 2018 November 12, 2019 November 10, 2020
Windows 10, version 1709 October 17, 2017 April 9, 2019 April 14, 2020
Windows 10, version 1703 April 5, 2017* October 9, 2018 October 8, 2019
Windows 10, version 1607 August 2, 2016 April 10, 2018 April 9, 2019
Windows 10, version 1511 November 10, 2015 October 10, 2017 October 10, 2017
Windows 10, released July 2015 (version 1507) July 29, 2015 May 9, 2017  May 9, 2017
* Windows 10, version 1703 for Enterprise, Education, and IOT Enterprise editions were released on April 11, 2017. 
Note: Not all features in an update will work on all devices. A device may not be able to receive updates if the device hardware is incompatible, lacks current drivers, lacks sufficient storage space, or is otherwise outside the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) support period.  For more information on compatibility, review the Windows 10 System Requirements as well as the Windows Processor Requirements

 

Enterprise LTSC/LTSB editions 

Windows 10 LTSC/LTSB editions will continue to follow the Fixed Lifecycle policy. To learn more, see Microsoft Business, Developer and Desktop Operating Systems Policy.

Windows 10 version history Date of availability Mainstream support end date Extended support end date
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019
November 13, 2018 January 9, 2024 January 9, 2029
Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2016 LTSB
August 2, 2016 October 12, 2021 October 13, 2026
Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2015 LTSB
July 29, 2015 October 13, 2020 October 14, 2025
Note: Not all features in an update will work on all devices. A device may not be able to receive updates if the device hardware is incompatible, lacks current drivers, lacks sufficient storage space, or is otherwise outside the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) support period.  For more information on compatibility, review the Windows 10 System Requirements as well as the Windows Processor Requirements.  

 

For more information on Windows 10 lifecycle, see Windows 10 Client and Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel Lifecycle Policy update (February 1, 2018) or the Windows 10 release information page. To learn more about Windows 10 mobile lifecycle, see Windows 10 Mobile.

Windows 8.1 and 7


Prior releases of the Windows operating system are governed by the Fixed Lifecycle Policy. This policy comprises two phases: mainstream support and extended support. See Microsoft Business, Developer and Desktop Operating Systems Policy for more details. 

Client operating systems End of mainstream support End of extended support
Windows 8.1 January 9, 2018 January 10, 2023
Windows 7, service pack 1* January 13, 2015 January 14, 2020 
* Support for Windows 7 RTM without service packs ended on April 9, 2013. Be sure to install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 to continue to receive support and updates.

Prior versions of Windows, including Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, have limited support when running on new processors and chipsets from manufacturers like Intel, AMD, NVidia, and Qualcomm. For more information, see Microsoft Lifecycle Policy. A device may not be able to run prior versions of Windows if the device hardware is incompatible, lacks current drivers, or is otherwise outside the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) support period.

Windows 8.1 and 7: questions and answers

What is the difference between mainstream support and extended support?

For more details on the difference between mainstream support and extended support, see the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy FAQ

What should I do when the version of Windows I'm using reaches its end-of-support date? 

You can install the latest available update or service pack, or you can upgrade to a newer version of Windows. For more information, see What does it mean if my version of Windows is no longer supported? 

Where can I learn more about updates and service packs?

Service packs and updates are part of the process of keeping Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 up to date. Service packs combine the latest updates and fixes into one package or download. A service pack can include security and performance improvements as well as support for new types of hardware. To install the latest service pack for Windows 7, or to install the latest update for Windows 8.1, visit the Service Pack and Update Center

End of sales

End of sales refers to the date when a particular version of Windows is no longer shipped to retailers or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Examples of OEMS are Dell and Toshiba, PC manufacturers who often preinstall Windows software.

This table gives end-of-sales dates for specific Windows operating systems.

Client operating systems and updates Date of general availability Retail software end of sales* End of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled
Windows 8.1 October 18, 2013 September 1, 2015 October 31, 2016
Windows 8 October 26, 2012 October 31, 2014 June 30, 2016
Windows 7 Professional October 22, 2009 October 31, 2013 October 31, 2016
Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate October 22, 2009 October 31, 2013 October 31, 2014
* When the retail software product reaches its end-of-sales date, it can still be purchased through an OEM (the company that made your PC) until it reaches the end-of-sales date for PCs with Windows preinstalled.

 

End of sales: questions and answers

How long can OEMs sell devices with a prior version of Windows installed?

When Microsoft launches a new version of Windows, we will continue to allow OEMs to sell PCs preinstalled with the previous version for up to two years after the launch date of the new version unless otherwise announced. Certain OEM versions of Windows products include downgrade rights (as outlined in the software license terms). Downgrade rights make it possible to use a previous version of Windows instead of the licensed software preinstalled on a new PC. See Windows downgrade rights for additional details.

How long can retailers sell a prior version of Windows?

We will continue to allow retailers to sell the previous version of Windows for a year after the launch date of the new version.

How long will Volume Licensing be available for a prior version of Windows?

For Volume Licensing programs, licenses will continue to be available through downgrade rights after the end of general availability. General availability of licenses for the previous version of Windows will cease as soon as the new version is available, or when otherwise determined by Microsoft. However, we will make media available for the current version as well as the previous two versions.

Windows downgrade rights

To use prior versions of Windows software on PCs installed with newer versions, it is possible for consumers to obtain a license for downgrade rights. These downgrade rights will vary depending on whether the software was acquired via Volume Licensing, OEM, or FPP. To learn more about these rights, review the downgrade rights licensing brief. Prior versions of Windows, including Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, have limited support when running on new processors and chipsets from manufacturers like Intel, AMD, NVidia, and Qualcomm. For more information, please see Microsoft Lifecycle Policy. A device may not be able to run prior versions of Windows if the device hardware is incompatible, lacks current drivers, or is otherwise outside of the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) support period.

Windows Server


To learn more about Windows Server related to Windows 10, see Windows Server release information. See the following table for service pack support information prior to Windows 10. 

Server operating systems Preceding service packs Current service pack and date of availability Next update and estimated date of availability 
Windows Server, version 1809 (Datacenter, Standard) Not applicable November 13, 2018 No service packs planned 
Windows Server 2019 (Datacenter, Essentials, Standard) Not applicable November 13, 2018 No service packs planned 
Windows Server, version 1803 (Datacenter, Standard) Not applicable April 30, 2018 No service packs planned 
Windows Server, version 1709 (Datacenter, Standard) Not applicable October 17, 2017 No service packs planned 
Windows Server 2016
Datacenter, Essentials, Standard)
Not applicable October 15, 2016 No service packs planned 
Windows Storage Server 2016 Not applicable October 15, 2016 No service packs planned 
Windows Server 2012 R2 Not applicable October 18, 2013 No service packs planned 
Windows Server 2012 Not applicable October 30, 2012 No service packs planned 
Windows Server 2008 R2 Not applicable

SP1

February 22, 2011

Not yet established 
Windows Server 2008

SP1

(Windows Server 2008 was released including SP1)

SP2

May 26, 2009

Not yet established