Extended Security Updates (ESU) program has ended for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2
On October 13, 2026, the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 ended. This closes the three-year extended coverage period that began when these operating systems reached end of support in October 2023. After today, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates for Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2.
How we got here
Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 reached end of support on October 10, 2023. To give customers time to modernize, Microsoft offered up to three additional years of ESU for eligible servers. Over that time, ESU gave organizations a way to keep receiving critical security updates for workloads that needed more time to upgrade, migrate or modernize.
What this means for you
Servers still running Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2 will no longer receive security updates from Microsoft. Unsupported operating systems become harder to secure and maintain over time and running them in production adds security and compliance risk. Unsupported infrastructure shouldn't be a long-term strategy.
What to do next
If you still have Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2 workloads in production, start with these steps:
- Identify affected servers. Inventory your datacenter, edge and cloud environments to find where Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 are still running.
- Understand your dependencies. Many remaining deployments support business-critical applications. Validate what depends on each server before you decide what to do with it.
- Choose a path for each workload. Options include upgrading to a supported version of Windows Server, migrating workloads to Azure, modernizing applications onto Azure services, or adopting a hybrid approach.
- Set a timeline and prioritize. Move business-critical and highest-risk workloads first to reduce operational and security exposure.
- Get help. Engage your Microsoft account team and trusted partners to build a transition plan that fits your environment.
Why modernizing is worth it
Moving to a supported platform is the best way to stay secure, and it also gives you the following:
- A stronger security posture, with ongoing security updates and support
- Better operational efficiency through modern management capabilities
- The latest performance, reliability and resiliency improvements
- Less technical debt and lower long-term infrastructure risk
- Access to new AI, cloud and hybrid capabilities
Looking ahead
Microsoft is committed to helping you modernize on your terms, whether you're upgrading on-premises infrastructure, migrating to Azure or taking a hybrid approach.
To learn more about support lifecycle information and modernization paths, see Overview of Extended Security Updates for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 on Microsoft Learn.
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