Microsoft product lifecycle chart

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 the Microsoft Support website. The following products, governed by the Modern Policy , will retire in The following product releases, governed by the Modern Policy , will end support in The following products and releases, governed by the Fixed Policy , will end support in The following products will be moving from Mainstream to Extended Support in 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. Skip to main content. Modern Policy Products with continuous support and servicing. Fixed Policy Products with defined end-of-support dates at the time of release.

Announcements Office and Skype for Business end of support on April 11, Windows 10, version end of servicing all editions. Windows Server, version end of servicing Datacenter, Standard.

Microsoft Store for Business and Education retiring in early A Windows feature update is an update that contains new features. A feature update also includes all previous quality updates, as applicable. Go here for more information on these terms. To receive monthly quality updates, customers must be on a supported version of Windows.

Go here for support dates. Windows quality updates are cumulative, with each update built upon the quality updates preceding it. If you have a valid Windows license, you are eligible for support from Microsoft, subject to the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy and the support terms and conditions that were in place at the time of purchase.

If you acquired your Windows operating system through the Microsoft Volume Licensing program or from an Original Equipment Manufacturer OEM , Microsoft offers access to a wealth of online self-help support content in addition to paid technical help offerings. To use prior versions of Windows on devices currently running a newer version, it is possible for customers to obtain a license for downgrade rights.

To learn more about these rights, review the downgrade rights licensing brief. For more information, please see Microsoft Lifecycle Policy. Once a Microsoft operating system OS reaches the end of support, customers will no longer receive security updates. The OS may still work with programs and hardware after the sale or support of the operating system has been discontinued.

However, the possibility increases that new programs and hardware will not be performant on an older OS. This frequently occurs because the manufacturers of new hardware and software make product-design decisions that take advantage of the increased functionality and features in newer operating systems. These manufacturers may decide to discontinue support of their products on older operating systems as appropriate. New versions of Windows 11 will be released once per year and will receive monthly quality updates that include security and non-security updates.

Customers should always install the latest version before the current version reaches end of servicing to remain supported by Microsoft. There are the minimum system requirements for installing Windows Devices that don't meet these requirements might not be able to install Windows Go here for Windows 11 requirements.

Note that devices must be running Windows 10 , version or later, to upgrade via Windows Update. Historically, new versions of Windows 10 also called feature updates were released twice a year via the Semi-Annual Channel. Beginning with Windows 10, version 21H2 the Windows 10 November Update , feature updates will be released annually in the second half of the year via the General Availability Channel. Go here to learn more.

As of September 6, , we have evolved our servicing timeline for customers who need more time to test and deploy Windows 10 feature updates. Supported versions will be serviced via monthly quality updates. It is highly recommended that customers install the latest feature update to stay up to date with the latest security updates, as well as to continue receiving future feature updates, with less impact on IT processes and infrastructure.

To help reduce the burden on network bandwidth, Microsoft designed two different update types: Full and Express 3. On devices that do not defer the installation of feature updates, the subsequent Semi-Annual Channel or General Availability Channel version of Windows 10 may be automatically offered and installed prior to the end date.

Update deferral is not available for all editions of Windows 10 4. Please see Windows as a Service WaaS for information on release channels and the Windows 10 release information page for additional update details. Not all features in a feature update will be available on all devices. Similarly, 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 manufacturers OEM support period.

For more information on compatibility, review the Windows 10 System Requirements as well as the Windows Processor Requirements. Update availability may vary by country, region, network connectivity, mobile operator e.