Support is set to conclude for three Windows products that debuted in 2016, with critical deadlines approaching in the coming years. Both Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2016 LTSB will officially reach their end of support on October 13, 2026, while Windows Server 2016 will follow suit on January 12, 2027.
According to Microsoft, organizations still utilizing these products will receive one final monthly security update on the specified dates. Post-deadline, these systems will no longer benefit from security patches, non-security updates, bug fixes, technical support, or online documentation updates.
Extended Security Updates Program
For organizations concerned about security vulnerabilities, there is a silver lining: the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program. This paid option allows certain legacy Microsoft products to remain operational beyond their end-of-support dates. However, it is important to note that the ESU program does not encompass new features, quality fixes, or design change requests. As Sarthak Agrawal, Product Manager at Microsoft, clarified, “The ESU program does not extend technical support for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016, Windows IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016, or Windows Server 2016.”
Organizations can opt to purchase up to three years of ESU coverage following the end of support. The pricing structure begins at per device for the first year, with a reduced rate of per device available for systems managed through Microsoft Intune or Windows Autopatch. It is essential to keep in mind that the cost doubles for each subsequent year of coverage, and ESU licenses are cumulative; thus, organizations enrolling in later years must also pay for the previous years of coverage.
While the pricing details for Windows Server 2016’s ESU have yet to be officially announced, Microsoft advocates for upgrading to the latest Long-Term Servicing Channel releases. These include Windows Server 2025, Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024, and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024, which are recommended as the preferred long-term solutions.
Last year, a push from Euroconsumers, a European consumer advocacy group, led to modifications in the ESU policy within the European Economic Area (EEA). The group raised concerns regarding the necessity of payment or cloud account conditions for continued security updates. In response to this advocacy, Windows 10 users in the EEA were granted access to ESU until October 14, 2026, without any payment requirement and without needing to back up their settings, apps, or credentials to a Microsoft cloud account.
