What Will Happen to Your Workflows When SharePoint Designer 2013 Support Ends in 2026?

How Do You Migrate SharePoint Designer 2013 Workflows to Power Automate Before July 2026?

The Evolution of SharePoint Designer

SharePoint Designer and its sibling application, Microsoft Expression Web, originated as successors to Microsoft FrontPage, a dominant website creation tool from two decades ago. While Expression Web functioned as a comprehensive HTML editor, Microsoft restricted SharePoint Designer to modifying Microsoft SharePoint environments exclusively.

Initially launched as a commercial product in 2007, Microsoft transitioned SharePoint Designer 2007 into a freeware utility in March 2009. The 2010 iteration embedded the software deeply into the Microsoft SharePoint suite, requiring an active SharePoint site for operation. SharePoint Designer 2013 represents the final version of this tool, serving primarily to build workflows and adjust web pages.

End of Life Enforcement

Microsoft has categorized SharePoint Designer 2013 under its Fixed Lifecycle Policy, establishing a firm retirement date of July 14, 2026. The company will execute this retirement across all Microsoft 365 environments, including Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, and DoD networks, between mid-July and late July 2026.

Following this date, Microsoft will cease providing security updates, technical support, and bug fixes. The developer has explicitly confirmed that they will offer no support extensions or exceptions beyond the July deadline. Continuing to operate unsupported software introduces critical security vulnerabilities and compliance risks to organizational infrastructure.

Required Migration Path

Enterprises currently dependent on SharePoint Designer 2013 must formulate and execute a migration strategy immediately. Microsoft designates Power Automate as the supported destination for workflow automation.

To facilitate this transition, administrators should deploy the Microsoft SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT). The SPMT enables IT teams to systematically transfer compatible workflow actions into the Power Automate ecosystem. Completing this migration well ahead of the deadline ensures business processes remain functional, secure, and fully supported.