Microsoft Visual Studio 16.0 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
Microsoft Visual Studio 16.0 reached end of life on 12 Jan 2021. It no longer receives security fixes.
Support timeline
Official dates from the Microsoft Visual Studio release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 2 Apr 2019 | — |
| End of life | 12 Jan 2021 | 5.6 years ago |
| Latest release | 16.0.22 · 12 Jan 2021 | final |
Where to go from 16.0
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 16.0 still safe to use?
Microsoft Visual Studio 16.0 reached end of life on 12 Jan 2021, 2,035 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download Microsoft Visual Studio 16.0?
Yes — the final release (16.0.22) 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 16.0 to?
Upgrade to Microsoft Visual Studio 18.8, the newest actively supported branch.