Microsoft’s Windows Server 2012 and the 2021 edition of Windows 11 operating systems have reached the end of support, coinciding with the release of the October Patch Tuesday.
Starting this week, Microsoft will no longer provide technical assistance, bug fixes, or updates for newly identified issues affecting the stability and ease of use of devices running these two operating systems.
In an official statement, Microsoft noted, “After this date, these products will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, free or paid assisted support options, or online technical content updates.”
This move follows a series of announcements made by Microsoft earlier in the year, reminding customers that both of these systems would reach the end of support on October 10, 2023.
While the mainstream support for Windows Server 2012 ended more than four years ago in October 2018, Microsoft extended the support deadline by an additional five years to provide customers with extra time to transition to modern, supported server operating system versions.
Microsoft advises administrators looking to continue receiving critical bug fixes and security updates for their Windows Server 2012 devices to upgrade to Windows Server 2022 or opt for extended security updates.
These extended security update units offer an extension of up to three years for security updates and are renewable annually until October 13, 2026. More details about extended security updates are available on Microsoft’s FAQ page.
In September, Microsoft reminded customers that it would enforce mandatory updates to the 2021 edition of Windows 11 to the latest version before the end of service in October 2023.
Microsoft traditionally auto-releases the latest OS versions to ensure continued support for devices approaching their end-of-support date, delivering the latest software updates, security patches, and enhancements.
Microsoft began rolling out the 2022 edition of Windows 11 in January, making it widely available for users with eligible devices through the Windows Update feature.
In recent months, Microsoft has also started the release of the 2023 edition of Windows 11, introducing over 150 new features, including the AI-powered helper Copilot and a revamped Paint program.
