NOTE: This FAQ was updated on July 24, 2018.
Modern Lifecycle Policy—products with continuous support and servicing
You can also search for the lifecycle for your specific product.
For info about service packs, see the Service Pack Lifecycle Policy.
For information about support for a product or for a service pack, search the product lifecycle database.
Microsoft lifecycle policies are worldwide policies. However, Microsoft understands that local laws, market conditions, and support requirements differ around the world and by industry sector.
Customers have asked Microsoft to be consistent and predictable. The lifecycle policies establish clear and predictable guidelines for product support and servicing timelines. The policies help customers and partners manage their support requirements. The policies also allow both product planning and information technology planning in organizations based on knowledge of the support timelines for Microsoft products.
Microsoft worked closely with Microsoft product teams, customers, partners, leading analysts, and research firms to determine clear and consistent policies.
Each product has its lifecycle timeline defined by its respective Lifecycle Policy and is consistent by product family for new and future versions. However, older versions of Microsoft products may have different lifecycle timelines. Therefore, it is important to verify the exact product support dates for your product. To find the support timelines for your product, search the product lifecycle database.
The Microsoft Lifecycle Policy covers commercial and some consumer products and services, excluding Xbox games.
On October 15, 2002, the Business, Developer, and Desktop Operating System Software Policy went into effect.
In January 2011, Microsoft established the Online Services Lifecycle Policy.
In August of 2016, Microsoft established the Modern Lifecycle Policy.
In March of 2017, Microsoft categorized the lifecycle policies for its products and services as either Fixed or Modern. Fixed policies have defined end-of-support dates and include the Business, Developer, and Desktop Operating System Policy, the Consumer and Multimedia Policy, and the Device Operating System Policy. Modern policies follow a continuing service and support model, without end-of-support dates, when support is available and customers stay current on the latest version. Microsoft will provide a minimum of 12 months’ notice before ending support for products governed by the Modern Policy.
The Lifecycle Policy is designed to take the guesswork out of determining the length of time Microsoft provides support and servicing for a product. For business, developer, and desktop operating system software, Microsoft provides a minimum of 10 years of support. The lifecycle combines 5 years of Mainstream Support and 5 years of Extended Support. For consumer software and multimedia products, Microsoft offers a minimum of 5 years of Mainstream Support *. For information about lifecycle dates and any Extended Support options (if applicable) for all products, search the product lifecycle database.
* Extended Support is not offered for consumer software, multimedia products, or products governed by the Modern Policy.
All desktop operating system products, whether used for personal or business purposes, receive a minimum of 10 years of support under the Business, Developer, and Desktop Operating System Policy. This includes 5 years of Mainstream Support and 5 years of Extended Support on the latest service pack or update. Microsoft does not differentiate support between consumer and business versions of desktop operating system products.
Add-ons are supported with the product they work with. However, support may be terminated by providing a minimum 12 months' notice.
Tools are supported with the product they work with. However, support may be terminated by providing a minimum 12 months' notice.
Support and servicing timelines will vary based on the terms of the acquisition and can be found in the published servicing guidelines. For these listings, the Lifecycle Start Date is the acquisition start date. Products released before the acquisition date may not be covered under the Lifecycle Policy and may not be supported. In these cases, support will be subject to the terms of the individual acquisition. Generally, the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy applies to new software releases that are released under a Microsoft brand, following the acquisition.
Minor releases follow the same lifecycle as the major product release.
An example of this is Windows Server 2012 R2 which has the same Mainstream and Extended Support phase as the parent product, Windows Server 2012. Likewise, Dynamics AX 2012 R3 follows the same lifecycle dates as the initial release of Dynamics AX 2012.
Definitions
Major and minor products are governed by Fixed Policies. A major product frequently ships as a top-level aggregation of a bill of materials (i.e. components and features) that is released to customers. Major products generally receive a major version number and may be the parent of multiple minor products. Customers may obtain a major product through a variety of methods, including retail purchase, web download, and/or volume licensing. Typical examples of a Microsoft major product, defined by the Microsoft Lifecycle Policy, include:
- Microsoft Dynamics 365
- Microsoft Exchange Server
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Microsoft Windows
Minor products are an aggregation of a bill of materials (i.e. components and features), that is based on the code of a major product. Minor products bear names that can be easily identified and associated with the related major product. Customers may obtain them through Software Assurance, the Microsoft Business Solutions/Dynamics Enhancement maintenance program, or through another promotional plan.
An example of this would be Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2. The major product is Windows Server 2012, which has its own lifecycle as a business and developer product. Windows Server 2012 R2 is a minor product, based on the Windows Server 2012 code base, and takes on the lifecycle of the major release. This means that the minor product may receive a lifecycle that is shorter than 10 years. In addition, both the major and minor releases will end support on the same day.
A component is defined as a set of files or features that is included with a Microsoft major product. Components may be shipped with the product, included in a product service pack or update, or released at a later date as a web download.
This information is generally specified in the component's End-User License Agreement (EULA).
A program add-on is a utility or feature that aids in accomplishing a task or set of tasks.
A tool is a utility or feature that aids in accomplishing a task or set of tasks.
Security
Microsoft is committed to providing products with improved security. Our long-term goal is to remove security vulnerabilities from all our products before they are released. Although we strive to remove vulnerabilities during development, software vulnerabilities remain a fact today and we must be prepared to respond when they are discovered. Microsoft advises customers to install the latest product releases and updates, security updates, and service packs to remain as secure as possible. Microsoft may be unable to provide security updates for older products, leaving them at risk in the face of more demanding security requirements. For the latest information on security advisories and bulletins, please visit our TechNet Library.
Updates will be supported for the duration of the product’s lifecycle.
For more information about the support and servicing timeline for a specific product, search the Lifecycle Product Database.
An update should only be installed on the service pack for which it was designed. Microsoft creates security updates for supported service packs whenever commercially reasonable and are available to all customers. You can request an update that is not security-related for service packs that are supported per the Service Pack Policy.
No. If a security update is created, it will be made available to all customers through the standard security release process. The monthly security release occurs on the second Tuesday of the month.
Yes. Microsoft Lifecycle Policy permits the creation and broad distribution of certain non-security updates during the Extended Support phase. For example, it may be necessary to provide a non-security update that enables continued connectivity and servicing through the Automatic Update or Windows Server Update Service.
In the event Microsoft releases a security update on the same day that a product is scheduled to end its lifecycle, support of the security update will continue for a minimum of 30 days.
Support
Go here to see a table outlining the support phases for the Business, Developer and Desktop Operating System Policy.
The Lifecycle Start Date is used to initially estimate the end dates for Mainstream Support, Extended Support, and service pack support. Customers can obtain technical support for a product upon its release, which may be prior to the Lifecycle Start Date.
Extended Support will be available to all customers*. Extended Support includes paid technical assistance** (technical assistance that is charged on an hourly basis or per incident), security updates at no additional cost, and paid non-security updates. The ability to request a non-security hotfix during the Extended Support phase (aka Extended Hotfix Support) is included for select products for eligible Unified Support customers. Microsoft will not accept requests for warranty support, design changes, or new features during the Extended Support phase.
* Extended Support is not offered for consumer software (excluding desktop operating system software), multimedia products, online services or products governed by the Modern Policy.
** Limited complimentary support may be available (varies by product).
Microsoft understands that local laws, market conditions, and support requirements differ around the world and differ by industry sector. Therefore, Microsoft may offer support options that go beyond Extended Support. These support options may include assisted support and non-security updates, and may extend beyond the Lifecycle end of support date.
In the Mainstream Support phase, product support benefits are available to all customers. In the Extended Support phase, security updates are provided to all customers and paid assisted support is available. Extended Hotfix Support is required to request non-security updates for products in Extended Support. Unified Support is a prerequisite for Extended Hotfix Support. Customers with Unified Support can work with their support contact to determine the options that are available for their specific circumstances.
Customers can contact their local Microsoft sales office. Visit the Microsoft Worldwide website, locate your country, and then select Go to obtain information about purchasing Extended Hotfix Support via a Unified Support agreement,
No. If a security update is created, it will be made available to all customers through the standard security release process. The monthly security release occurs on the second Tuesday of the month.
If the problem is specific to the Microsoft product and it is within the Lifecycle Policy, Microsoft will provide support. If the problem is a result of the combination of the operating system and the Microsoft product, the problem will not be supported.
Microsoft encourages all customers to remain current to ensure that they stay supported and can take advantage of innovations found in the latest products. Staying current also minimizes security risks, compliance risks, and frequently lowers the total cost of ownership.
Once a product transitions out of support, no further support will be provided for the product. This means that customers will NOT have access to:
- Security updates or non-security hotfixes
- Free or paid assisted support options
- Microsoft product development resources
- Updates to online content (Knowledge Base articles, etc.)
Online content may be available, if the product is still within the Self-Help Support phase.
No. Extended Hotfix Support is not necessary to obtain technical support for a product in the Extended Support phase.
Business, home and home office users can access telephone or web support throughout Mainstream and Extended Support published dates for that product.
A component receives the same support as its parent product or platform. When a parent product or platform is in Mainstream, or Extended Support, so is the component. When a parent product or platform reaches end of support, so does the component.
For example: If a component is licensed for Microsoft Windows, support ends for the component on the same date that support ends for Windows.
Note: Sometimes a component will receive security updates or feature enhancements that are independent of its parent product. We encourage customers to install component updates as they become available.
Miscellaneous Questions
The Lifecycle Policy has no effect on how long you can use a product. The Policy outlines how long Microsoft will provide technical support and security updates for products.
Microsoft encourages all customers to remain current to ensure that they stay supported and can take advantage of innovations found in the latest products. Staying current also minimizes security risks, compliance risks, and frequently lowers the total cost of ownership.
Once a product transitions out of support, no further support will be provided for the product. This means that customers will NOT have access to:
- Security updates or non-security hotfixes
- Free or paid assisted support options
- Microsoft product development resources
- Updates to online content (Knowledge Base articles, etc.)
Online content may be available, if the product is still within the Self-Help Support phase.