Microsoft warns Windows Server 20H2 reaches EOS next month

Microsoft warned customers today that Windows Server, version 20H2 will be reaching its End of Service (EOS) next month, on August 9.

This comes after another warning in May 2022 that Windows Server 20H2 will reach the mainstream support end date for Standard Core and Datacenter Core users.

"Windows Server, version 20H2 will reach end of service on August 9, 2022. After August 9, 2022, these devices will no longer receive monthly security and quality updates that contain protection from the latest security threats," Microsoft told admins today.

"To continue receiving security and quality updates, Microsoft recommends updating to the latest version of Windows Server."

Released on October 20, 2020, this Semi-Annual Channel release of the Windows Server version will not receive security/non-security updates after the EOS date is reached.

Redmond also revealed in its May notification that the Windows Server Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) would be retired on August 9.

Those still running SAC releases are advised to switch to the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC), which will become the primary Windows Server release channel.

"There will be no future SAC releases of Windows Server, and this product will no longer receive security updates after August 9, 2022," Microsoft said at the time. "Windows Server is moving to the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) as the primary release channel."

Extended support after LTSC switch

Windows Server LTSC versions are released every two to three years, with their users entitled to 5 years of mainstream support with an extra five years of extended support.

It's also worth noting that you cannot upgrade or change from SAC to LTSC without doing a clean install because they are different servicing channels.

With SAC soon shutting down, most of the features introduced in this servicing channel have already been rolled up into the next LTSC release of Windows Server (i.e., Windows Server 2022).

Thus, customers are advised to move to Azure Stack HCI for the same release cadence or make the switch to Windows Server 2019/2022 in the LTSC servicing channel.

Windows Server release	Availability	Build	End of support	Extended support
Windows Server 2022	2021-08-18	20348.169	2026-10-13	2031-10-14
Windows Server 2019 (version 1809)	2018-11-13	17763.107	2024-01-09	2029-01-09

While upgrading your server to a new Windows version, you can go through this guided walk-through to fix any errors encountered during the update process or use this support document to troubleshoot update problems.