{"generated":"2026-10-18T00:33:42.391Z","source":"https://azureblog.co.uk","count":57,"note":"Microsoft retirements and deadlines. Each entry links to its official source. 'post' is a slug on azureblog.co.uk when a post covers it.","deadlines":[{"date":"2026-06-01","product":"Entra ID","title":"Hard match blocked for users with Entra roles","detail":"Connect Sync and Cloud Sync can no longer hard-match a new AD user to a cloud user that holds an Entra role.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/fundamentals/whats-new","post":"https://azureblog.co.uk/posts/connect-sync-to-cloud-sync/","past":true},{"date":"2026-09-01","product":"Entra ID","title":"Passkeys auto-enabled for SMS and voice users","detail":"Passkeys are switched on for users enabled for SMS or voice, and a Microsoft-managed registration campaign starts nudging them.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/authentication/concept-sms-voice-retirement-faq","post":"https://azureblog.co.uk/posts/entra-sms-voice-mfa-retirement/","past":true},{"date":"2026-10-01","product":"Exchange Online","title":"EWS disabled by default","detail":"Microsoft switches the tenant-level EWSEnabled setting to off, blocking Exchange Web Services for tenants that have not explicitly opted in.","source":"https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/exchange/exchange-online-ews-your-time-is-almost-up/4492361","post":null,"past":true},{"date":"2026-10-13","product":"Windows","title":"Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2 Extended Security Updates end","detail":"The final year of paid ESUs ends. No further security updates are produced.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/extended-security-updates-overview","post":null,"past":true},{"date":"2026-10-13","product":"Windows","title":"Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro end of servicing","detail":"Monthly security updates stop for Home and Pro editions on version 24H2.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-24h2","post":null,"past":true},{"date":"2026-10-13","product":"Windows Server","title":"Windows Server 2022 mainstream support ends","detail":"Windows Server 2022 moves to extended support, so it gets security updates only and no new features or non-security fixes. Extended support runs until 14 October 2031; plan new builds on Windows Server 2025.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2022","post":null,"past":true},{"date":"2026-10-13","product":"Microsoft 365","title":"Office LTSC 2021 reaches end of support","detail":"Office LTSC 2021 (Standard and Standard for Mac) stops receiving security updates. Move users to Microsoft 365 Apps or Office LTSC 2024.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/office-ltsc-2021","post":null,"past":true},{"date":"2026-10-13","product":"Windows","title":"Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB reaches end of support","detail":"Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB and IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 stop receiving security updates. Upgrade or replace remaining devices, such as kiosks and lab machines.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/end-of-support/end-of-support-2026","post":null,"past":true},{"date":"2026-10-19","product":"Windows","title":"Secure Boot Windows Production PCA 2011 certificate expires","detail":"The Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011 certificate that signs the Windows boot loader expires. Make sure devices have the 2023 Secure Boot certificates and updated boot manager so they keep receiving boot security fixes.","source":"https://support.microsoft.com/kb/5062710","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2026-10-23","product":"Entra ID","title":"Entra Connect 2.5.79.0 reaches end of support","detail":"Entra Connect Sync version 2.5.79.0 is no longer supported. Upgrade your sync servers to the latest 2.6.x release.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/hybrid/connect/reference-connect-version-history","post":"https://azureblog.co.uk/posts/connect-sync-to-cloud-sync/","past":false},{"date":"2026-10-30","product":"Entra ID","title":"Third-party SMS and voice providers available","detail":"Telephony providers become configurable in the Microsoft Security Store for organisations that must keep SMS or voice.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/authentication/concept-sms-voice-retirement-faq","post":"https://azureblog.co.uk/posts/entra-sms-voice-mfa-retirement/","past":false},{"date":"2026-11-01","product":"Entra ID","title":"Default users can create agent blueprints","detail":"MC1506733: rolling out from early to late November 2026, users without an Entra role can create agent identity blueprints unless an admin sets 'Users can create agent blueprints' to No in User settings. You can switch it off now.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/agent-id/agent-blueprint","post":"https://azureblog.co.uk/posts/users-can-create-agent-blueprints/","past":false},{"date":"2026-11-10","product":"Windows","title":"Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise and Education end of servicing","detail":"Managed devices still on 23H2 stop receiving security updates.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-23h2","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2026-11-10","product":".NET","title":".NET 8 and .NET 9 end of support","detail":".NET 8 (LTS) and .NET 9 (STS) stop receiving patches, including security fixes. Retarget apps and runtimes to .NET 10, which is supported until November 2028.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/microsoft-net-and-net-core","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2026-11-10","product":"PowerShell","title":"PowerShell 7.4 and 7.5 end of support","detail":"PowerShell 7.4 (LTS) and 7.5 reach end of support alongside .NET 8 and 9. Upgrade scripts hosts and automation servers to PowerShell 7.6 LTS.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/install/powershell-support-lifecycle","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2026-11-10","product":"Azure","title":"Azure Functions in-process model support ends","detail":"Support for .NET function apps running on the in-process model ends. Migrate them to the isolated worker model.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-functions/migrate-dotnet-to-isolated-model","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2026-11-10","product":"Azure","title":"Azure IoT Edge 1.5 LTS end of servicing","detail":"Azure IoT Edge version 1.5 (LTS) reaches the end of servicing. Plan the move to a supported release.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/end-of-support/end-of-support-2026","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2026-12-01","product":"Defender","title":"Application Guard for Office removed from Microsoft 365 Apps","detail":"Phase 2 fully removes Defender Application Guard for Office with no workaround, starting with Current Channel in early December 2026, then Monthly Enterprise Channel in February 2027 and Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel in July 2027. Files will open in Protected View; rely on Safe Links, Safe Attachments and ASR rules instead.","source":"https://mc.merill.net/message/MC1182696","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2026-12-31","product":"Exchange Online","title":"SMTP AUTH basic authentication off by default","detail":"Microsoft has said end of December 2026 without giving a day. Apps sending mail with a username and password need OAuth or another method.","source":"https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/exchange/updated-exchange-online-smtp-auth-basic-authentication-deprecation-timeline/4489835","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-01-12","product":"Windows","title":"Windows Server 2016 end of extended support","detail":"Security updates end unless you buy Extended Security Updates.","source":"https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/support-for-windows-server-2016-will-end-in-january-2027-ffd9e92c-5027-4201-b6e1-ed46f8486b43","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-01-12","product":"Windows","title":"Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 support ends","detail":"Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 reaches its end date and stops receiving security updates (the IoT edition has a longer lifecycle). Move these devices to Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-enterprise-ltsc-2021","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-01-12","product":".NET","title":".NET Framework 4.6.2 reaches end of support","detail":".NET Framework 4.6.2 stops receiving security fixes. Move applications and servers to .NET Framework 4.8 or 4.8.1.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/microsoft-net-framework","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-01-31","product":"Azure","title":"Azure Blueprints retires","detail":"The Blueprints API stops responding, CLI and PowerShell commands stop working and it's removed from the portal. Export definitions and assignments first; anything not exported is permanently deleted. Move to deployment stacks with template specs.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/blueprints/blueprint-retirement","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-02-01","product":"Entra ID","title":"Microsoft-provided SMS and voice MFA retired","detail":"Applies to all users except Global Administrators and external users. Anyone relying only on SMS or voice must register a passkey.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/authentication/concept-sms-voice-retirement-faq","post":"https://azureblog.co.uk/posts/entra-sms-voice-mfa-retirement/","past":false},{"date":"2027-02-01","product":"Defender","title":"MDE and XDR Advanced Hunting APIs retired","detail":"The Defender for Endpoint and Defender XDR Advanced Hunting APIs stop working, and nothing is migrated automatically. Move scripts and integrations to the Microsoft Graph Security API by 31 January 2027.","source":"https://mc.merill.net/message/MC1220762","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-02-02","product":"Entra ID","title":"Entra Connect 2.5.190.0 reaches end of support","detail":"Entra Connect Sync version 2.5.190.0 is no longer supported. Upgrade to a current 2.6.x release before this date.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/hybrid/connect/reference-connect-version-history","post":"https://azureblog.co.uk/posts/connect-sync-to-cloud-sync/","past":false},{"date":"2027-03-31","product":"Azure","title":"Azure Cache for Redis Enterprise tiers retire","detail":"Azure Cache for Redis Enterprise and Enterprise Flash instances are retired, and any that remain are disabled from 1 April 2027. Migrate to Azure Managed Redis.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-cache-for-redis/retirement-faq","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-03-31","product":"Azure","title":"Cloud Services (extended support) fully retired","detail":"Cloud Services (extended support), which has been deprecated since March 2025, is fully retired. Migrate workloads to Virtual Machine Scale Sets, App Service or AKS.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cloud-services-extended-support/overview","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-03-31","product":"Azure","title":"Azure Front Door (classic) retires","detail":"Azure Front Door (classic) profiles retire. Existing profiles can be updated until then, but you should migrate them to Front Door Standard or Premium.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/frontdoor/classic-retirement-faq","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-03-31","product":"Azure","title":"Application Gateway WAF v2 configuration retires","detail":"Legacy WAF configuration on Application Gateway WAF v2 is retired. Migrate each gateway to a WAF policy before this date.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/end-of-support/end-of-support-2027","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-04-01","product":"Exchange Online","title":"EWS permanently retired","detail":"Final disablement of Exchange Web Services in Exchange Online begins, with no exceptions. Microsoft expects removal to be complete in May 2027.","source":"https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/exchange/exchange-online-ews-your-time-is-almost-up/4492361","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-04-07","product":"Entra ID","title":"Entra Connect Sync must use app-based auth","detail":"Legacy authentication for Entra Connect Sync is retired, and sync stops working unless the server runs version 2.6.84.0 or later with application-based authentication configured. Upgrade and switch the authentication method before this date.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/hybrid/connect/reference-connect-version-history","post":"https://azureblog.co.uk/posts/connect-sync-to-cloud-sync/","past":false},{"date":"2027-04-13","product":"Visual Studio","title":"Visual Studio 2017 reaches end of support","detail":"Visual Studio 2017 (final version 15.9) stops receiving fixes and security updates. Move developers and build agents to Visual Studio 2022 or later.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/visual-studio-2017","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-06-28","product":"Azure","title":"Azure Lab Services retires","detail":"Lab accounts, lab plans and labs stop working and you lose access to them, although images in Azure compute gallery are kept. Move to a Microsoft or partner alternative and clean up unused resources.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/azure/lab-services/retirement-guide","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-07-01","product":"Entra ID","title":"SMS and voice retirement for Global Admins and external users","detail":"The final phase of the Microsoft-provided SMS and voice retirement.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/authentication/concept-sms-voice-retirement-faq","post":"https://azureblog.co.uk/posts/entra-sms-voice-mfa-retirement/","past":false},{"date":"2027-09-03","product":"Teams","title":"Microsoft Teams Displays retire","detail":"Microsoft Teams Displays reach retirement under the Modern Lifecycle Policy. Plan to replace these devices with supported Teams devices.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/end-of-support/end-of-support-2027","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-09-30","product":"Azure","title":"Automanage for Virtual Machines retires","detail":"Azure Automanage for VMs is retired. Replace its configuration profiles with Azure Policy, Machine Configuration, Azure Update Manager and other native services.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/end-of-support/end-of-support-2027","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-09-30","product":"Azure","title":"Azure CDN Standard from Microsoft (classic) retires","detail":"Classic CDN profiles can no longer be managed or accessed and lose support. Migrate to Azure Front Door Standard or Premium with the migration tool, then delete the classic resource.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cdn/classic-cdn-retirement-faq","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-10-12","product":"SQL Server","title":"SQL Server 2017 extended support ends","detail":"SQL Server 2017 stops receiving security updates. Upgrade to a supported version, move to Azure SQL, or buy Extended Security Updates.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/sql-server-2017","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-10-12","product":"Windows","title":"Windows 10 consumer ESU programme ends","detail":"Microsoft has extended the consumer Windows 10 ESU programme by a year to 12 October 2027, after which personal and Home devices get no further security updates. This does not change commercial ESU licensing.","source":"https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/extended-security-updates","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2027-10-12","product":"Windows","title":"Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise and 25H2 Home/Pro servicing ends","detail":"Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise and Education, and 25H2 Home and Pro, stop receiving updates. Use feature update policies to move devices to a supported release before this date.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/windows11-release-information","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2028-01-11","product":"SQL Server","title":"SQL Server 2022 mainstream support ends","detail":"SQL Server 2022 moves to extended support, so only security updates are released until January 2033. Plan feature-driven upgrades to a newer version.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/sql-server-2022","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2028-03-31","product":"Azure","title":"AKS kubenet networking retires","detail":"Workloads on kubenet networking in Azure Kubernetes Service are no longer supported. Upgrade clusters to Azure CNI Overlay before this date.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/configure-kubenet","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2028-03-31","product":"Azure","title":"Azure Spring Apps retires","detail":"All Azure Spring Apps plans are discontinued and you lose access to workloads. Migrate to Azure Container Apps or AKS.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/spring-apps/basic-standard/retirement-announcement","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2028-06-30","product":"Azure","title":"AKS stops supporting Windows Server 2022 node pools","detail":"AKS ends support for Windows Server 2022 node pools, and the node images are removed on 30 June 2029, after which scaling fails. Move Windows workloads to Windows Server 2025 node pools.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/aks/windows-vs-linux-containers","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2028-09-30","product":"Azure","title":"Azure Cache for Redis Basic, Standard and Premium retire","detail":"All Basic, Standard and Premium Azure Cache for Redis instances are retired, and any that remain are disabled from 1 October 2028. Migrate to Azure Managed Redis.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-cache-for-redis/retirement-faq","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2028-09-30","product":"Azure","title":"Azure Functions Linux Consumption plan retires","detail":"Support for hosting function apps on Linux in the Consumption plan ends. Migrate them to the Flex Consumption plan.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-functions/migration/migrate-plan-consumption-to-flex","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2028-10-10","product":"Microsoft 365","title":"Microsoft 365 Apps security updates on Windows 10 end","detail":"Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10, held at Version 2608, stop receiving security updates. Complete any remaining Windows 11 upgrades before this date.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-apps/end-of-support/windows-10-support","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2028-10-10","product":"Windows","title":"Windows 11 25H2 Enterprise and Education servicing ends","detail":"Windows 11 25H2 Enterprise, Education and IoT Enterprise stop receiving updates. Plan the move to a later release.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/windows11-release-information","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2028-11-14","product":"PowerShell","title":".NET 10 and PowerShell 7.6 LTS end of support","detail":".NET 10 (LTS) and PowerShell 7.6 (LTS), which is built on it, reach end of support. Plan upgrades to the next LTS releases.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/install/powershell-support-lifecycle","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2029-01-09","product":"Windows Server","title":"Windows Server 2019 reaches end of support","detail":"Windows Server 2019, Hyper-V Server 2019 and WSUS for Windows Server 2019 stop receiving free security updates. Upgrade or migrate servers, or buy Extended Security Updates.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2019","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2029-01-09","product":"Windows","title":"Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 reaches end of support","detail":"Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 and IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019 stop receiving security updates. Replace or upgrade these fixed-purpose devices.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-enterprise-ltsc-2019","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2029-01-09","product":".NET","title":".NET Framework 3.5 SP1 reaches end of support","detail":".NET Framework 3.5 SP1 stops receiving security updates. Move legacy applications that still need it to .NET Framework 4.8.x or modern .NET.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/microsoft-net-framework","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2029-04-10","product":"Visual Studio","title":"Visual Studio 2019 reaches end of support","detail":"Visual Studio 2019 (final version 16.11) stops receiving fixes and security updates. Move developers and build agents to a supported version.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/visual-studio-2019","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2029-10-09","product":"Microsoft 365","title":"Office LTSC 2024 and Office 2024 reach end of support","detail":"Office LTSC 2024 and the Office 2024 apps stop receiving security updates. Move users to Microsoft 365 Apps or a later LTSC release.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/end-of-support/end-of-support-2029","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2029-10-09","product":"Windows","title":"Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 reaches end of support","detail":"Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 stops receiving security updates. The IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 edition only moves to extended support. Plan the move to the next LTSC release or the General Availability Channel.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/end-of-support/end-of-support-2029","post":null,"past":false},{"date":"2029-11-13","product":"Windows Server","title":"Windows Server 2025 mainstream support ends","detail":"Windows Server 2025 moves to extended support, so only security updates are released until November 2034. No action is needed beyond normal upgrade planning.","source":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-server-2025","post":null,"past":false}]}