Microsoft will officially stop supporting Windows Server 2012 and the Windows Server 2012 R2 update on October 10, 2023. These are also Microsoft’s oldest operating versions of Windows Server.
According to Microsoft, after October 10, the above versions will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online technical content updates.
The original version of Windows Server 2012, based on Windows 8 – entered the RTM (Release To Manufacturing) phase on August 1, 2012, and was officially launched on September 4, 2012. However, Windows Server 2012 has existed much longer than Windows 8, which reached its end of life in 2016. It even existed longer than Windows 8.1 – which ended official support in January 2023, according to Neowin .
Just as Microsoft quickly released Windows 8.1 a year after Windows 8 launched, the company also launched Windows Server 2021 R2 around the same time. It was officially launched on October 14, 2013.
Although official support for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 will end in a few days, businesses still need time to migrate to newer versions of the server operating system. Businesses that need access to Windows Server 2012 can get extended security updates (ESU) for three years, until October 13, 2026, but will have to pay an undisclosed fee.