On October 14, 2025, six months from now, Exchange Server 2016 and Exchange Server 2019 will reach end of support. It’s critical to plan your upgrade now to remain supported and secure.
After Octob...
Updated Apr 11, 2025
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We are in a hybrid environment - on-prem AD and all mailboxes in EXO. Currently have E2016 for attribute management only. If both 2016 and 2019 expire in October, what is the best (or supported) path forward in our situation?
- Nino_Bilic
Microsoft
Use this article to switch to the server-less management paradigm (you'll have to install E2019 management tools on a workstation for example): Manage recipients in Exchange Server 2019 Hybrid environments | Microsoft Learn
Once you confirm that PowerShell management is working as expected, run the cleanup script as per the article to get rid of E2016 server and you'll just use the E2019 management tools. When Exchange SE releases, update the management tools to Exchange SE management tools as per the above article.
If you want to keep a running Exchange on-prem for management, you can install E2019 now, decommission E2016 and then in-place upgrade to Exchange SE when available.
Thank you for your reply, Nino! After looking into to a bit further and actually installing 2019 Mgmt tools only, I realized we can have a full-fledged ESE without any email traffic. So we're still with 2016 right now and would like to get to ESE before October. What's the best (and supported) way to getting us there?
Your assistance is greatly appreciated!- Nino_Bilic
I think you mean to say that you need / want to have a full Exchange server for management purposes only, right? So you can use EAC for management?
So - you'll need to install Exchange SE (ESE) RTM side by side with Exchange 2016 and then decommission your Exchange 2016 server: Decommissioning Exchange Server 2016 | Microsoft Community Hub. That'll leave you with ESE being your only and management server in the organization.
