Windows Server 2016 End of Life
Server 2016 is the eighth release of the Microsoft Windows Server operating system and it was developed along with Windows 10. On October 1, 2014, its first preview version appeared. On Sep 26, 2016, Server 2016 was released and then broadly released for retail sale on Oct 12, 2016.
Now Windows Server 2022 has come for several years, and then you may ask: is Windows Server 2016 end of support? Generally, each operating system has its lifecycle. Speaking of Server 2016 end of life, Microsoft ended its Mainstream Support on Jan 11, 2022.
After that date, the system won’t receive some updates but security updates are still available. Besides, Server 2016 won’t receive any bug fixes or improvements.
But after the Mainstream end date, you can choose to purchase Extended Security Update (ESU) to gain Extended Support which is usually 5 years. When it comes to “Windows Server 2016 end of life extended support”, its end date refers to Jan 12, 2027. That is, the final Server 2016 EOL lasts until Jan 12, 2027.
The two dates here apply to these editions of the Server system, including Datacenter, Essentials, MultiPoint Premium, and Standard.
Upgrade to Windows Server 2022 from 2016
As this operating system ages, it is liable to virus attacks or other malicious software from cybercriminals. Eventually, manufacturers cannot patch and update the old system because of outdated architecture. So to protect your data from various attacks and prevent data loss, upgrade your Windows Server 2016 to 2022 after Server 2016 end of life.
Back up Files in Server
Before the update, we recommend you to back up your important files in Server 2016 since you may run into some update issues or errors, leading to data loss. To prevent file loss, run the backup software – MiniTool ShadowMaker for data backup. Besides, if you use an ISO file to perform a clean install of the Server system, we also advise you to backup files since this installation process can erase your C drive including files saved in it.
MiniTool ShadowMaker enables you to easily backup files, folders, disks, partitions, and Windows, and its Trial Edition can work well in Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7 and Windows Server 2022/2019/2016/2012/2008. Now, download and install it on your Server 2016 for data backup.
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Step 1: Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial Edition and connect a USB drive or external hard drive to the PC.
Step 2: Go to Backup > SOURCE > Folders and Files, choose files to back up, and click OK.
Step 3: In Backup, click SOURCE to choose an external drive or USB drive.
Step 4: Click Back Up Now to begin file backup.
How to Upgrade to Server 2022 After Windows Server End of Life
After the backup, now you can choose to upgrade to Windows Server 2022 and here we take an in-place upgrade as an example:
Step 1: Download Windows Server 2022 ISO and save it on the Desktop.
Step 2: Right-click on the ISO and choose Mount.
Step 3: Double-click on the setup.exe file and then the Windows Server Setup window opens. Tap on Next to continue.
Step 4: Choose an edition of Windows Server 2022.
Step 5: Finish the update by following the on-screen instructions.
Final Words
In light of Windows Server 2016 end of life (EOL), you should take action to upgrade to an up-to-date version. To keep data safe, you had better back up crucial files before the update. Besides, if the PC is not suitable for the upgrade, it is also essential to back up data to safeguard against data loss or corruption resulting from system crashes using MiniTool ShadowMaker.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Vera is an editor of the MiniTool Team since 2016 who has more than 7 years’ writing experiences in the field of technical articles. Her articles mainly focus on disk & partition management, PC data recovery, video conversion, as well as PC backup & restore, helping users to solve some errors and issues when using their computers. In her spare times, she likes shopping, playing games and reading some articles.