Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0 reached end of life on 9 Apr 2024. It no longer receives security fixes.
Support timeline
Official dates from the Microsoft Visual Studio release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 15 Jan 2014 | — |
| End of life | 9 Apr 2024 | 2.3 years ago |
| Latest release | Update 5 · 20 Jul 2015 | final |
Where to go from 12.0
Recommended target: Microsoft Visual Studio 18.8.
The newest actively supported branch is Microsoft Visual Studio 18.8 (latest release 18.8.2).
Frequently asked questions
Is Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0 still safe to use?
Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0 reached end of life on 9 Apr 2024, 852 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0?
Yes — the final release (Update 5) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade Microsoft Visual Studio 12.0 to?
Upgrade to Microsoft Visual Studio 18.8, the newest actively supported branch.