Microsoft Windows XP End of Life and Retirement Dates.
History of Windows XP retirement
Windows XP, one of Microsoft’s most popular operating systems, officially reached its end of life on April 8, 2014. This marked the end of extended support, following the end of mainstream support on April 14, 2009. Over its lifecycle, various editions and service packs of Windows XP were released, each with specific retirement dates. The original release of Windows XP ended support on August 30, 2005, while Service Pack 1 and 1a ended on October 10, 2006. Service Pack 2 reached its end on July 13, 2010, and Service Pack 3 concluded on April 8, 2014. The Professional x64 Edition had its support end on April 14, 2009. These dates signify the end of updates and security patches, urging users to migrate to newer operating systems to ensure continued security and support.
What if I cannot update a Windows XP computer
For mission-critical operations that rely on Windows XP and cannot be updated, maintaining security is paramount. To mitigate risks, it’s essential to isolate the Windows XP machine from the internet and other untrusted networks. Implementing a robust firewall and using network segmentation can help protect the system from external threats. Regularly backing up data and creating system images ensures that you can quickly recover in case of a failure. Additionally, using up-to-date antivirus software and applying any available security patches can provide an extra layer of defense. Consider using a virtual machine to run Windows XP within a more secure, modern operating system, which can help contain potential vulnerabilities. Lastly, limiting user access and permissions to only what is necessary can reduce the risk of accidental or malicious changes to the system.
Chart of Microsoft Windows XP End of Life and Retirement Dates
| Products Released | General Availability Date | Mainstream Support Retired | Extended Support Retired | Service Pack Retired | Notes |
| Windows XP Home Edition | 31/12/2001 | 14/04/2009 | 8/4/2014 | 30/08/2005 | |
| Windows XP Media Center Edition 2002 | 28/10/2002 | 14/04/2009 | 8/4/2014 | 30/08/2005 | |
| Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 | 27/10/2003 | 14/04/2009 | 8/4/2014 | 10/10/2006 | |
| Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 | 30/12/2004 | 14/04/2009 | 8/4/2014 | ||
| Windows XP Professional | 31/12/2001 | 14/04/2009 | 8/4/2014 | 30/08/2005 | |
| Windows XP Professional x64 Edition | 24/04/2005 | 14/04/2009 | 8/4/2014 | 14/04/2009 | |
| Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2 | Not Available | Review Note | Review Note | Support ends 24 months after the next service pack releases or at the end of the product’s support lifecycle, whichever comes first. For more information, please see the service pack policy at http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/#ServicePackSupport. | |
| Windows XP Service Pack 1 | 30/08/2002 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | 10/10/2006 | |
| Windows XP Service Pack 1a | 3/2/2003 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | 10/10/2006 | |
| Windows XP Service Pack 2 | 17/09/2004 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | 13/07/2010 | |
| Windows XP Service Pack 3 | 21/04/2008 | Review Note | Review Note | Support ends 24 months after the next service pack releases or at the end of the product’s support lifecycle, whichever comes first. For more information, please see the service pack policy at http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/#ServicePackSupport | |
| Windows XP Tablet PC Edition | 11/2/2003 | 14/04/2009 | 8/4/2014 | 10/10/2006 | |
| Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 | 25/08/2004 | 14/04/2009 | 8/4/2014 | 30/08/2005 |