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Which Microsoft Software Reaches End of Life in 2026?
The year 2026 marks a significant transition period for Microsoft ecosystems. Administrators must prepare for the simultaneous retirement of core infrastructure tools and operating systems. Failing to migrate from these platforms exposes your organization to unpatched security vulnerabilities and compliance violations.
Immediate Action Required: Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT)
Microsoft formally retired the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) on January 6, 2026. This decision took effect immediately.
Impact on Operations
If your IT workflow relies on MDT for automating Windows installations, your deployment pipeline is now obsolete. Microsoft has ceased all updates, bug fixes, and security patches for this tool. Furthermore, MDT will not support future Windows versions, meaning new hardware procurements may fail to image correctly using existing scripts.
Advisory Step
Stop new project development within MDT. You must transition to modern cloud-native solutions. Windows Autopilot is the recommended replacement for endpoint deployment, often used in conjunction with Microsoft Intune. While existing MDT installations remain functional, they are static and insecure.
The October 2026 Critical Deadline
October 13, 2026, acts as a primary convergence point for multiple product expirations. You must align your Q3 budget to address the following end-of-support (EOS) events:
- Windows 10 22H2 (Free ESU Expiry): The one-year free Extended Security Update (ESU) period for home and pro users ends. Continued use after this date requires a paid ESU subscription or a migration to Windows 11.
- Microsoft Office LTSC 2021: Mainstream support concludes. Users without a Microsoft 365 subscription will stop receiving updates.
- Server Infrastructure: Both Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 lose their Extended Security Update support. This is a hard stop; no further official security patches will be issued.
2026 Lifecycle Timeline
Review this chronological schedule to prioritize your migration roadmap.
January 13, 2026 (Yesterday)
Windows Server 2008: The final security update under Premium Assurance was released. This platform is now completely unsupported.
May 12, 2026
.NET 9: Support ends. Developers must recompile applications targeting .NET 10 or higher to maintain security compliance.
June 6, 2026
Microsoft Configuration Manager (Version 2409): Support ends. Ensure your infrastructure updates to the succeeding current branch before this date.
October 13, 2026 (Major EOL Date)
- Office: Microsoft Office LTSC 2021.
- Windows Client: Windows 11 Home and Pro (Version 24H2).
- Windows Server: Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2 (ESU End).
- SQL Server: SQL Server 2016 (Transitions to Extended Security Updates only).
November 10, 2026
- Windows Client: Windows 11 Enterprise and Education (Version 23H2).
- IoT: Windows 11 IoT Enterprise (Version 23H2).
Strategic Recommendations
- Audit Your Estate: Run an inventory scan immediately to identify machines running MDT-deployed images or Server 2012.
- Budget for ESU: If you cannot migrate SQL Server 2016 or Windows 10 assets before October, secure budget approval for Extended Security Updates now.
- Modernize Deployment: Shift resources from legacy imaging (MDT) to zero-touch provisioning (Autopilot) to reduce long-term IT overhead.