Lifecycle FAQ — Extended Security Updates

Originally published: April 2, 2019
Updated: March 5, 2021

Please go here to search for your product’s lifecycle.

What is the Extended Security Update (ESU) program?

The Extended Security Update (ESU) program is a last resort option for customers who need to run certain legacy Microsoft products past the end of support. It includes Critical* and/or Important* security updates for a maximum of three years after the product’s End of Extended Support date.

Extended Security Updates will be distributed if and when available. ESUs do not include new features, customer-requested non-security updates, or design change requests.

All Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008/R2 customers received an update on January 14, 2020 as the operating systems were in support until then. Updates for these operating systems after January 14, 2020 are provided for ESU customers only.

To learn more about year 2 of the ESU program for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, go here, and see our Windows 7 ESU FAQs.

What products are included?

ESU Availability and End Dates

ESUs available. Go here to learn more.

ESUs available. Go here to learn more.

Products	End of Extended Support/ESU Start Date	ESU End Date Year 1	ESU End Date Year 2	ESU End Date Year 3	Type of Security Update
SQL Server 2008/R2 (Enterprise, Standard, Datacenter, Web, Workgroup)	July 9, 2019	July 14, 2020	July 13, 2021	July 12, 2022	Critical
SQL Server 2008/R2 for Embedded Systems*	July 9, 2019	July 14, 2020	July 13, 2021	July 12, 2022	Critical
Windows Server 2008/R2 (Datacenter, Standard, Enterprise)	January 14, 2020	January 12, 2021	January 11, 2022	January 10, 2023	Critical, Important
Windows 7 (Professional, Enterprise)	January 14, 2020	January 12, 2021	January 11, 2022	January 10, 2023	Critical, Important
Windows 7 Professional for Embedded Systems*	January 14, 2020	January 12, 2021	January 11, 2022	January 10, 2023	Critical, Important
Windows Server Embedded 2008/R2*	January 14, 2020	January 12, 2021	January 11, 2022	January 10, 2023	Critical, Important
Windows Embedded Standard 7*	October 13, 2020	October 12, 2021	October 11, 2022	October 10, 2023	Critical, Important
Windows Embedded POSReady 7*	October 12, 2021	October 11, 2022	October 10, 2023	October 8, 2024	Critical, Important
Dynamics AX 2009	April 12, 2022	Critical
Dynamics AX 2012/R2	April 12, 2022	Critical

* Extended Security Updates for select Embedded products are available via OEMs. All others are available via volume licensing.

Can I get support after the Extended Support date, without purchasing Extended Security Updates?

For technical support, customers must purchase Extended Security Updates and have an active support plan in place to get technical support on a product that has moved beyond the Extended Support date. Please call 1-800-Microsoft to receive support.

For security updates only, customers can receive Extended Security Updates on the following products for free:

SQL and Windows Server 2008/R2: Customers who move workloads to Azure Virtual Machines (IaaS) «as-is» will have free access to Extended Security Updates for both SQL Server and Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 for three years after the End of Support.

Windows 7: Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop provides a Windows 7 device with free Extended Security Updates through January 2023.

Dynamics AX 2009 and AX 2012/R2: Dynamics customers who purchase Dynamics 365 Finance, Dynamics 365 Supply Chain, or Dynamics 365 Commerce with the intent to start their migration to the cloud will receive Extended Security Updates (ESU) at no charge. Go here to learn more.

How can I purchase ESUs?

Extended Security Updates are available through specific volume licensing programs. Contact your Microsoft partner or account team to learn more. ESUs for select Embedded products are available via your embedded device manufacturer. For ESUs available through the Dynamics 365 Cloud Migration offer, customers can purchase via the Cloud Service Provider (CSP) licensing program.

Coverage will be available in three consecutive 12-month increments following End of Support. Customers cannot buy partial periods (e.g., only 6 months). Extended Security Updates are transacted per year (12-month period), commencing with the End of Support date.

Eligible customers can use the Azure Hybrid Benefit (available to customers with active Software Assurance or Server Subscriptions) to obtain discounts on the license of Azure Virtual Machines (IaaS) or Azure SQL Database Managed Instance (PaaS).

Does Unified Support include ESUs?

No, customers must purchase ESU support separate from Unified Support. Once ESU support is purchased, customers can get technical support for products covered by the program.

How do I install ESU updates?

SQL Server 2008/R2: Once SQL Server instances have been registered with the SQL Server registry service, customers can download the Extended Security Update packages using the link found in the Azure portal, if and when they are made available. Go here to learn more.

Can I use System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) to deploy Extended Security Updates?

Customers who have purchased Windows ESUs can use the latest version of System Center Configuration Manager, Current Branch (SCCM) to deploy and install Windows security updates.

SCCM 2012 R2 will not be supported on Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008/R2 operating systems during their respective ESU phases.

For more information, go here.

What versions of .NET are supported on Windows during their respective Extended Security Update (ESU) phases?

.NET 3.5 SP1, .NET 4.5.2 and .NET 4.6 are supported during the Windows Server 2008 ESU.

.NET 3.5. SP1, and .NET 4.5.2 through .NET 4.8 are supported during Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 ESU phases.

How can I learn more?

To learn more about the Extended Security Update Program, and End of Support and migration options for Window 7 and SQL and Windows Server 2008/R2, see the following articles:

Change Log

January 2020 edits
EDITED: URLs for SQL Server 2008/R2 ESU FAQs and Resources

July 2020 edits
EDITED: ESU end date year 2 for Windows Embedded Standard 7

November 2020 edits
ADDED: ESU end date year 2 for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008
ADDED: Link to getting ESU for Windows Embedded 7 Standard

January 2021 edits
ADDED: Links to the Windows 7 ESU FAQ

March 2021 edits
ADDED: Dynamics 365 ESU details

Products Ending Support in 2020

Originally published: October 29, 2018
Updated: March 11, 2021

Please go here to search for your product’s lifecycle.

The following list is a summary of products listed on the Lifecycle site, which are retiring or reaching the end of support in 2020. Upon retirement or end of support, there will be no new security updates, non-security updates, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates. Go here to learn about Fixed and Modern Lifecycle policies and service packs.

If you have any questions regarding support for a product, please contact your Microsoft Account Representative. If you need technical support, visit theВ Microsoft SupportВ website.

Products governed by the Modern Policy

The following products and releases, governed by the Modern Policy, will retire in 2020.

Products (Modern Policy)	Retirement
System Center Data Protection Manager Semi Annual Channel, version 1807 System Center Operations Manager Semi Annual Channel, version 1807 System Center Orchestrator Semi Annual Channel, version 1807 System Center Service Manager Semi Annual Channel, version 1807 System Center Virtual Machine Manager Semi Annual Channel, version 1807	January 24, 2020
Azure Container Service Windows Analytics Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, version 1806	January 31, 2020
Microsoft .NET Core 3.0	March 3, 2020
PowerShell 6.x PowerShell Core 6.2	September 4, 2020
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, version 1902	September 27, 2020
Windows 10, version 1709 (Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise)	October 13, 2020
Windows 10, version 1809 (Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations, IoT Core) Windows Server version 1809 (Datacenter Core, Standard Core)	November 10, 2020
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, version 1810	December 1, 2020
Windows 10, version 1903 (Enterprise, Education, Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstations, IoT Enterprise) Windows Server, version 1903 (Datacenter, Standard)	December 8, 2020
InMage Scout in Azure Site Recovery	December 31, 2020

Products governed by the Fixed Policy

The following products and releases, governed by the Fixed Policy, will end support in 2020.

Product (Fixed Policy)	End of Support
Dynamics NAV 2009 Dynamics NAV 2009 R2 Expression 3 (Design, Encoder, Studio, Web) Hyper-V Server 2008 Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 SQL Server 2014, service pack 2 (all editions) Visual Studio 2017, version 15.0 (all editions) Windows 7 Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Windows HPC Server 2008 (all editions) Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise, released in October 2017 Windows Server 2008 (all editions) Windows Server 2008 R2 (all editions) Windows Server 2008 for Windows Essential Server Solutions (all editions) Windows Server Update Services 3.0 Windows Small Business Server 2008 Windows Storage Server 2008 (all editions) Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 (all editions) Windows Web Server 2008	January 14, 2020
Internet Explorer 10	January 31, 2020
Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010 Microsoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010 (all editions) Microsoft HPC Pack 2008 (all editions) Windows Identity Foundation Dynamics 365 Business Central on-premises, Fall 2018 Update, version 13.x	April 14, 2020
Wunderlist	May 6, 2020
Expression 4 (Encoder, Studio, Studio Ultimate, Web) Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6 (all editions) Microsoft Application Virtualization Hosting 4.6 for Windows Desktops Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2010 (all editions) Visual Studio 2010 (all editions) Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 (all editions)	July 14, 2020
Internet Information Services Smooth Streaming Client 1.0 Microsoft Report Viewer Redistributable 2010 Windows Communication Foundation RIA Services	September 8, 2020
Access 2010 Dynamics GP 2010 Dynamics GP 2010 R2 Excel 2010 Exchange Server 2010 (all editions) FAST Search Server 2010 (all editions) Groove Server 2010 Infopath 2010 Office 2010 (all editions) OneNote 2010 PowerPoint 2010 Project 2010 Publisher 2010 Search Server 2010 SharePoint 2010 (Workspace, Designer) System Center Data Protection Manager 2010 System Center Essentials 2010 System Center Service Manager 2010 Visio 2010 (all editions) Word 2010 Windows Embedded Standard 7 Office 2016 for Mac (all editions) Excel 2016 for Mac Outlook 2016 for Mac PowerPoint 2016 for Mac Word 2016 for Mac	October 13, 2020
Microsoft Identity Manger 2016, service pack 1	November 4, 2020

Products moving to Extended Support

The following products will be moving from Mainstream to Extended Support in 2020. Extended Support includes security updates at no cost, and paid non-security updates and support. Additionally, Microsoft will not accept requests for design changes or new features during the Extended Support phase.

Product	End of Mainstream Support
Dynamics C5 2015 Dynamics CRM 2015 Dynamics SL 2015 Dynamics NAV 2015	January 14, 2020
Cloud Platform System Dynamics GP 2015 Dynamics GP 2015 R2 Microsoft User Experience Virtualization 2.1 Service Pack 1	April 14, 2020
Azure StorSimple 8000 Series Azure StorSimple 1200 Series StorSimple Data Manager	July 1, 2020
Access 2016 Excel 2016 Exchange Server 2016 (Enterprise, Standard) Office Home and Business 2016 Office Home and Student 2016 Office Professional 2016 Office Professional Plus 2016 Office Standard 2016 Project Professional 2016 Project Standard 2016 Microsoft Publisher 2016 Outlook 2016 PowerPoint 2016 Skype for Business 2016 Skype for Business Server 2015 Visio Professional 2016 Visio Standard 2016 Visual Studio 2015 (all editions) Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2015 (all editions) Windows 10 2015 LTSB (Enterprise, IoT Enterprise) Windows Defender Exploit Guard Word 2016	October 13, 2020

Change Log

September 2019 edits
ADDED: Windows Analytics, Windows Storage Server 2008 (all editions), Internet Explorer 10, StorSimple Data Manager, Visio Services in SharePoint Online
ADDED: Windows 10, version 1903 (Enterprise, Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, IoT Enterprise) and Windows Server, version 1903 (Datacenter, Standard, IoT Enterprise)
EDITED: Exchange Server 2010 (all editions) support extended from January 14, 2020 to October 13, 2020

January 2020 edits
ADDED: Exchange Server 2010, Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6 for Remote Desktop Services, Expression Studio 4, Windows 10 Pro Education,
EDITED: Visual Basic 2010 Express, Visual Basic C# 2010 Express, Visual Basic C++ 2010 Express, Visual Web Developer 2010 Express, Expression Encoder 4, Expression Web 4 date updated to July 14, 2020
EDITED: OneNote 2016 Mainstream Support extended from October 13, 2020 to October 10, 2023
EDITED: specific editions removed, «all editions» added to parent listing

February 2020 edits
ADDED: Dynamics 365 Business Central on-premises, Microsoft Identity Manager 2016 Service Pack 1

April 2020 edits
EDITED: Windows 10, version 1709 (Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise) extended to October 13, 2020
EDITED: Windows 10, version 1809 (Home, Pro, Pro Education, Pro for Workstation, IoT Core), Windows Server version 1809 (Datacenter Core, Standard Core) extended to November 10, 2020
REMOVED: PerformancePoint Services in SharePoint Server 2010, Project Server 2010, SharePoint Server 2010 (support extended from October 13, 2020 to April 13, 2021)

June 2020 edits
REMOVED: Windows Defender Antivirus for Windows 10

July 2020 edits
ADDED: Expression Studio Ultimate 4
EDITED: Visual Basic 2010 Express, Visual C# 2010 Express, and Visual C++ 2010 Express corrections

March 2021 edits
REMOVED: Service Pack section. These will be tracked under Fixed Policy EOS
REMOVED: Visio Services in SharePoint Online extended from September 30, 2020 to September 30, 2021
REMOVED: Windows 10, version 1803 (Enterprise, Education, IoT Enterprise); support extended from November 10, 2020 to May 11, 2021
ADDED: Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise, released in October 2017
ADDED: Products that have announced EOS dates since publishing