Every Windows product has a lifecycle. The lifecycle begins when a product is released and ends when it's no longer supported or sold. Knowing key dates in this lifecycle helps you make informed decisions about when to upgrade or make other changes to your software. Here are the rights and limits of the Windows lifecycle.
End of sales refers to the date when a particular version of Windows is no longer shipped to retailers or Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Examples of OEMS are Dell and Toshiba—PC manufacturers who often preinstall Windows software. When a version of Windows reaches its end of sales date, it's a good time to think about upgrading.
This table gives end of sales dates for specific Windows operating systems.
Windows XP
December 31, 2001
June 30, 2008
October 22, 2010
Windows Vista
January 30, 2007
October 22, 2011
Windows 7
October 22, 2009
To be determined
* Note that when the retail software product reaches its end of sales date, it can still be purchased through OEMs (the company that made your PC) until it reaches the end of sales date for PCs with Windows preinstalled.
End of sales: questions and answers
When Microsoft launches a new version of Windows, we will continue to allow OEMs to sell PCs pre-installed with the previous version for up to two years after the launch date of the new version. Certain OEM versions of Windows products include Downgrade Rights (as outlined within the software license terms). Downgrade Rights make it possible to use a previous version of Windows instead of the licensed software preinstalled on a new PC. See Downgrade Rights for additional details.
We will continue to allow retailers to sell the previous version of Windows for a year after the launch date of the new version.
For Volume Licensing programs, licenses will continue to be available through Downgrade Rights after the end of general availability. General availability of licenses for the previous version of Windows will cease as soon as the new version is available. However, we will make media available for the current version as well as the previous two versions.
End of support refers to the date when Microsoft no longer provides automatic fixes, updates, or online technical assistance. This is the time to make sure you have the latest available service pack installed. Without Microsoft support, you will no longer receive security updates that can help protect your PC from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software that can steal your personal information. For more information go to Microsoft Support Lifecycle.
Service Pack 3
April 14, 2009
April 8, 2014
Service Pack 2
April 10, 2012
April 11, 2017
Service Pack 1
January 12, 2015
January 14, 2020
End of support: questions and answers
Mainstream support—Microsoft will offer mainstream support for a minimum of 5 years from the date of a product's general availability, or for 2 years after the successor product is released, whichever is longer. For example, if you buy a new version of Windows and five years later another version is released, you will still have two years of support left for the previous version.
Extended support—Microsoft will offer extended support for either a minimum of 5 years from the date of a product's general availability, or for 2 years after the second successor product (two versions later) is released, whichever is longer. Please note: Extended support is only available for commercial customers.
For more details on the difference between mainstream support and extended support, refer to the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ.
You can either install the latest available service pack or upgrade to a newer version of Windows. For more information, see What does it mean if my version of Windows is no longer supported?
See End of support for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) for this information. These are the most recent versions of Windows to be affected by end of support deadlines. To find the end of support dates for all versions of Windows products, see Lifecycle Information for Windows Client Products.
Service packs are part of the process of keeping your Windows product up to date. They combine the latest updates and fixes into one package or download. A service pack can include security and performance improvements as well as support for new types of hardware. To install the latest service pack of Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7, visit the Service Pack Center.
Windows XP SP1
August 30, 2002
October 10, 2006
Windows XP SP2
September 17, 2004
July 13, 2010
Windows XP SP3
April 21, 2008
Available now
Windows Vista SP1
February 4, 2008
July 12, 2011
Windows Vista SP2
May 26, 2009
Windows 7 SP1
February 22, 2011
Service packs: questions and answers
Support ends 24 months after the next service pack releases or at the end of the product's support lifecycle, whichever comes first. If you are using software without the latest service pack you won't be offered any new security or non-security updates, although preexisting updates will continue to be offered. Refer to the Service Pack Lifecycle Support Policy for further information.
Not necessarily. Update notices only indicate your software has not reached its end of support date. To find out if you already have a service pack installed, read the information on our Windows Update page. To install the latest Windows service packs, see the Service Pack Center.
See the following table for service pack support information.
Windows NT Workstation, Windows NT Server 4.xx
SP5 or earlier
SP6a and SP6a SRP1November 30, 1999
Support for Windows NT 4.xx ended on December 31, 2004. Microsoft is no longer producing public monthly security updates or service packs.
Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, Advanced Server, and Datacenter Server
SP3 or earlier
SP4June 26, 2003
Update Rollup #1 for SP4June 28, 2005
Support for Windows 2000 ended on July 13, 2010. Microsoft is no longer producing public monthly security updates or service packs.
Windows Server 2003
SP1
SP2March 13, 2007
No further updates planned
Windows Server 2008
SP1(Windows Server 2008 was released including SP1)
SP2May 26, 2009
Windows Server 2008 R2
No service pack available at this time
Not applicable
To use prior versions of Windows software on PCs installed with newer versions, it is possible for consumers to obtain a license for Downgrade Rights. The following table compares Volume Licensing Downgrade Rights with those provided under OEM and FPP licenses.
Select License and Open License
Downgrade Rights are granted with all application software licenses acquired through the Select License and Open License programs.
Downgrade Rights are granted with all system software licenses acquired through the Select License and Open License programs.
Downgrade Rights are granted with all server software licenses acquired through the Select License and Open License programs.
Licenses enrolled in Software Assurance
Downgrade Rights give you the right to use previous versions of Microsoft software. Microsoft Volume Licensing programs include specific Downgrade Rights granted in connection with all application software licenses acquired through Volume Licensing, FPP (Full Packaged Product), and OEMs enrolled in Software Assurance coverage. Please refer to the Microsoft Volume Licensing Product List for current information about which retail and OEM applications qualify for enrollment in Software Assurance.
Downgrade Rights are granted in connection with system software licenses acquired through Volume Licensing, FPPs, and OEMs enrolled in Software Assurance coverage.
Downgrade Rights are granted in connection with all server software licenses acquired through Volume Licensing, FPPs, and OEMs enrolled in Software Assurance coverage.
OEM End User License Agreement (License Terms)
Rights to OEM versions of application software are granted in the OEM License Terms. The OEM License Terms for OEM versions of application software do not grant Downgrade Rights.
Rights to OEM versions of system software are granted in the OEM License Terms. The OEM License Terms for most OEM versions of system software do not grant Downgrade Rights. The exception is the OEM License Terms for Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows Vista Business, and Windows Vista Ultimate operating systems, which grant Downgrade Rights. See the full text of the OEM License Terms for specifics.
Rights to server software are granted in the OEM License Terms. The OEM License Terms for most OEM versions released with or after Windows Server 2003 R2 allow for the end user to downgrade to an earlier version. New products that do not have earlier versions do not allow a user to downgrade. See the full text of the applicable OEM License Terms for the specific Downgrade Rights.
FPP End User License Agreement
Downgrade Rights are not granted under most FPP Applications Licenses.
Downgrade Rights are not granted under FPP System Licenses.
Some Server products offer Downgrade Rights. Please refer to the FPP License Terms for complete details.
Note: The information above contains the Downgrade Rights for the most commonly acquired systems as outlined in their License Terms. For downgrade provisions for other system licenses, please consult the License Terms for the software in question.
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