Windows lifecycle fact sheet

Applies to: Windows 10Windows 7Windows 8.1

Last updated: November 2018

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 Workstation 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 dateServiced for 30 months from release date
Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 Pro for Workstation
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 annual 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 historyDate of availabilityEnd of service for Home, Pro, and Pro for Workstation editionsEnd of service for Enterprise and Education editions
Windows 10, version 1809November 13, 2018May 12, 2020May 11, 2021
Windows 10, version 1803April 30, 2018November 12, 2019November 10, 2020
Windows 10, version 1709October 17, 2017April 9, 2019April 14, 2020
Windows 10, version 1703April 5, 2017October 9, 2018October 8, 2019
Windows 10, version 1607August 2, 2016April 10, 2018April 9, 2019
Windows 10, version 1511November 10, 2015October 10, 2017October 10, 2017
Windows 10, released July 2015 (version 1507)July 29, 2015May 9, 2017 May 9, 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, or is otherwise outside the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) support period. 

 

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 historyDate of availabilityMainstream support end dateExtended support end date
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019
November 13, 2018January 9, 2024January 9, 2029
Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2016 LTSB
August 2, 2016October 12, 2021October 13, 2026
Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2015 LTSB
July 29, 2015October 13, 2020October 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, or is otherwise outside the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) support period. 

 

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 informationpage. 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 systemsEnd of mainstream supportEnd of extended support
Windows 8.1January 9, 2018January 10, 2023
Windows 7, service pack 1*January 13, 2015January 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

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 updatesDate of general availabilityRetail software end of sales*End of sales for PCs with Windows preinstalled
Windows 8.1October 18, 2013September 1, 2015October 31, 2016
Windows 8October 26, 2012October 31, 2014June 30, 2016
Windows 7 ProfessionalOctober 22, 2009October 31, 2013October 31, 2016
Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium, UltimateOctober 22, 2009October 31, 2013October 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

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 systemsPreceding service packsCurrent service pack and date of availabilityNext update and estimated date of availability 
Windows Server, version 1809 (Datacenter, Standard)Not applicableNovember 13, 2018No service packs planned 
Windows Server 2019 (Datacenter, Essentials, Standard)Not applicableNovember 13, 2018No service packs planned 
Windows Server, version 1803 (Datacenter, Standard)Not applicableApril 30, 2018No service packs planned 
Windows Server, version 1709 (Datacenter, Standard)Not applicableOctober 17, 2017No service packs planned 
Windows Server 2016
Datacenter, Essentials, Standard)
Not applicableOctober 15, 2016No service packs planned 
Windows Storage Server 2016Not applicableOctober 15, 2016No service packs planned 
Windows Server 2012 R2Not applicableOctober 18, 2013No service packs planned 
Windows Server 2012Not applicableOctober 30, 2012No service packs planned 
Windows Server 2008 R2Not 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