Microsoft Windows Server Core

microsoft os windows

Windows Server Core is a minimal installation option of Windows Server offering a smaller disc footprint with a smaller attack surface. It’s also offered as Windows container base image starting with 2016 (1607).

Release Released Active Support Security Support Latest
Windows Server Core 2022 (LTSC) 3 years ago
(18 Aug 2021)
Ends in 2 years
(13 Oct 2026)
Ends in 7 years
(14 Oct 2031)
10.0.20348
Windows Server Core 20H2 3 years and 11 months ago
(20 Oct 2020)
Ended 2 years ago
(09 Aug 2022)
Ended 2 years ago
(09 Aug 2022)
10.0.19042
Windows Server Core 2004 4 years ago
(27 May 2020)
Ended 2 years and 9 months ago
(14 Dec 2021)
Ended 2 years and 9 months ago
(14 Dec 2021)
10.0.19041
Windows Server Core 1909 4 years and 10 months ago
(12 Nov 2019)
Ended 3 years and 4 months ago
(11 May 2021)
Ended 3 years and 4 months ago
(11 May 2021)
10.0.18363
Windows Server Core 1903 5 years ago
(21 May 2019)
Ended 3 years and 10 months ago
(08 Dec 2020)
Ended 3 years and 10 months ago
(08 Dec 2020)
10.0.18362
Windows Server Core 1809 5 years and 10 months ago
(13 Nov 2018)
Ended 3 years and 11 months ago
(10 Nov 2020)
Ended 3 years and 11 months ago
(10 Nov 2020)
10.0.17763
Windows Server Core 2019 (LTSC) 5 years and 10 months ago
(13 Nov 2018)
Ended 9 months ago
(09 Jan 2024)
Ends in 4 years
(09 Jan 2029)
10.0.17763
Windows Server Core 1803 6 years ago
(30 Apr 2018)
Ended 4 years and 10 months ago
(12 Nov 2019)
Ended 4 years and 10 months ago
(12 Nov 2019)
10.0.17134
Windows Server Core 1709 6 years and 11 months ago
(17 Oct 2017)
Ended 5 years ago
(09 Apr 2019)
Ended 5 years ago
(09 Apr 2019)
10.0.16299
Windows Server Core 1607 7 years and 11 months ago
(15 Oct 2016)
Ended 2 years and 8 months ago
(11 Jan 2022)
Ended 2 years and 8 months ago
(11 Jan 2022)
10.0.14393
Windows Server Core 2016 (LTSC) 7 years and 11 months ago
(15 Oct 2016)
Ended 2 years and 8 months ago
(11 Jan 2022)
Ends in 2 years and 3 months
(12 Jan 2027)
10.0.14393
Windows Server Core 2012-R2 (LTSC) 10 years ago
(25 Nov 2013)
Ended 5 years and 12 months ago
(09 Oct 2018)
Ended 12 months ago
(10 Oct 2023)
6.3.9600
Windows Server Core 2012 (LTSC) 11 years ago
(30 Oct 2012)
Ended 5 years and 12 months ago
(09 Oct 2018)
Ended 12 months ago
(10 Oct 2023)
6.2.9200
Windows Server Core 2008-R2-SP1 (LTSC) 13 years ago
(22 Feb 2011)
Ended 9 years ago
(13 Jan 2015)
Ended 4 years and 8 months ago
(14 Jan 2020)
6.1.7601
Windows Server Core 2008-SP2 (LTSC) 15 years ago
(29 Apr 2009)
Ended 9 years ago
(13 Jan 2015)
Ended 4 years and 8 months ago
(14 Jan 2020)
6.0.6003

See Windows Server Servicing channels for information on the servicing channels.

More information is available on the Microsoft Windows Server Core website.

You should be running one of the supported release numbers listed above in the rightmost column.

You can check the version that you are currently using by running:
winver

You can submit an improvement to this page on GitHub :octocat: . This page has a corresponding Talk Page.

A JSON version of this page is available at /api/windows-server-core.json. See the API Documentation for more information. You can subscribe to the iCalendar feed at /calendar/windows-server-core.ics.