SQL Server end-of-support dates
Each SQL Server version gets about five years of mainstream support and about five more of extended support. This page lists every version from 2008 to 2025, its dates and where it stands today.
Support dates by version
Status as of 3 October 2026. Dates come from the Microsoft product lifecycle; check there before relying on them for a decision.
| Version | Released | Mainstream support ended | Security fixes end | Paid extension ends | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 | 6 August 2008 | 8 July 2014 | 9 July 2019 | 12 July 2022 | Support ended |
| SQL Server 2012 | 20 May 2012 | 11 July 2017 | 12 July 2022 | 8 July 2025 | Support ended |
| SQL Server 2014 | 5 June 2014 | 9 July 2019 | 9 July 2024 | 12 July 2027 | Support ended |
| SQL Server 2016 | 1 June 2016 | 13 July 2021 | 14 July 2026 | 17 July 2029 | Support ended |
| SQL Server 2017 | 29 September 2017 | 11 October 2022 | 12 October 2027 | – | Supported |
| SQL Server 2019 | 4 November 2019 | 28 February 2025 | 8 January 2030 | – | Supported |
| SQL Server 2022 | 16 November 2022 | 11 January 2028 | 11 January 2033 | – | Supported |
| SQL Server 2025 | 18 November 2025 | 6 January 2031 | 6 January 2036 | – | Supported |
How SQL Server support works
Microsoft supports each SQL Server version in two phases. Mainstream support lasts about five years and includes functional fixes and improvements as well as security fixes. Extended support follows for about five more years and provides security fixes only. When extended support ends, the free security fixes stop.
For some versions Microsoft then sells Extended Security Updates (ESU). This is a paid programme that provides security fixes for up to three years after extended support ends. It buys time to finish an upgrade and should be treated as a stopgap, not a plan.
What to do if you are out of support
- On SQL Server 2012 or earlier: there are no security fixes at all, free or paid. ESU for SQL Server 2012 ended on 8 July 2025. Upgrade as a priority.
- On SQL Server 2014: out of support since 9 July 2024. ESU is available until 12 July 2027, which is the latest date an upgrade can sensibly wait for.
- On SQL Server 2016: extended support ended on 14 July 2026. ESU runs until 17 July 2029. Plan the upgrade now and use ESU only to cover the gap.
- On SQL Server 2017: security fixes continue until 12 October 2027. Plan the upgrade before then.
- On SQL Server 2019 or later: you are supported. SQL Server 2019 receives security fixes until 8 January 2030.
Most of the risk in an upgrade is removed by rehearsing it. Restore a copy of the production database onto the new version, point a test copy of the application at it and run the work the business depends on, including month-end jobs and the slowest reports.
An upgraded database keeps its previous compatibility level where the new version supports it, so most query behaviour stays as it was. Raise the compatibility level later as a separate, tested step, because it is the change most likely to alter performance. If performance is already a concern, see our database performance service.
Things that are easy to miss
- Everything around the database. Reporting Services reports, Integration Services packages, SQL Agent jobs, linked servers and server logins are held outside the application’s database and do not come across when it is restored. List them before you start.
- The Windows Server version underneath. An old database server is often on an old operating system too, and a new SQL Server version needs a recent one. Check the Windows Server dates and plan the two together.
- The application’s side. Old database drivers in the application may need updating before it can connect to a newer server.
Questions we are asked
When does SQL Server 2016 support end?
Extended support for SQL Server 2016 ended on 14 July 2026, so it no longer receives free security fixes. Paid Extended Security Updates are available until 17 July 2029.
Is SQL Server 2014 still supported?
No. Extended support for SQL Server 2014 ended on 9 July 2024. Paid Extended Security Updates run until 12 July 2027, after which there are no security fixes of any kind.
When does SQL Server 2017 support end?
Mainstream support for SQL Server 2017 ended on 11 October 2022. Extended support, which means security fixes only, ends on 12 October 2027.
Is SQL Server 2019 still supported?
Yes. Mainstream support ended on 28 February 2025, so SQL Server 2019 now receives security fixes only, and those continue until 8 January 2030.
Will our database stop working when support ends?
No. It carries on running as before. What stops is the supply of security fixes, so any vulnerability found afterwards stays open. Over time, newer operating systems, drivers and third-party tools also stop supporting the old version.
Running a version that is out of support?
Tell us which version, what depends on it and how it is hosted. We will set out the upgrade route and what it is likely to involve.