Azure Guest OS releases and SDK compatibility matrix

Provides you with up-to-date information about the latest Azure Guest OS releases for Cloud Services. This information helps you plan your upgrade path before a Guest OS is disabled. If you configure your roles to use automatic Guest OS updates as described in Azure Guest OS Update Settings, it is not vital that you read this page.

Important

This page applies to Cloud Services web and worker roles, which run on top of a Guest OS. It does not apply to IaaS Virtual Machines.

Tip

Subscribe to the Guest OS Update RSS Feed to receive the most timely notification on all Guest OS changes.

Important

Only the latest 2 versions of the Guest OS will be supported and available in the Azure portal.

Unsure about how to update your Guest OS? Check this out.

News updates

June 1, 2024

The May Guest OS has released.

April 19, 2024

The April Guest OS has released.

April 9, 2024

The March Guest OS has released.

February 24, 2024

The February Guest OS has released.

January 22, 2024

The January Guest OS has released.

January 16, 2023

The December Guest OS has released.

December 8, 2023

The November Guest OS has released.

October 23, 2023

The October Guest OS has released.

September 26, 2023

The September Guest OS has released.

August 21, 2023

The August Guest OS has released.

July 27, 2023

The July Guest OS has released.

July 8, 2023

The June Guest OS has released.

May 19, 2023

The May Guest OS has released.

April 27, 2023

The April Guest OS has released.

March 28, 2023

The March Guest OS has released.

March 1, 2023

The February Guest OS has released.

January 31, 2023

The January Guest OS has released.

January 19, 2023

The December Guest OS has released.

December 12, 2022

The November Guest OS has released.

November 4, 2022

The October Guest OS has released.

September 29, 2022

The September Guest OS has released.

September 2, 2022

The August Guest OS has released.

August 3, 2022

The July Guest OS has released.

July 11, 2022

The June Guest OS has released.

May 26, 2022

The May Guest OS has released.

April 30, 2022

The April Guest OS has released.

March 19, 2022

The March Guest OS has released.

March 2, 2022

The February Guest OS has released.

February 11, 2022

The January Guest OS has released.

January 10, 2022

The December Guest OS has released.

November 19, 2021

The November Guest OS has released.

November 1, 2021

The October Guest OS has released.

October 8, 2021

The September Guest OS has released.

August 27, 2021

The August Guest OS has released.

August 13, 2021

The July Guest OS has released.

July 1, 2021

The June Guest OS has released.

May 26, 2021

The May Guest OS has released.

April 30, 2021

The April Guest OS has released.

March 28, 2021

The March Guest OS has released.

February 19, 2021

The February Guest OS has released.

February 5, 2021

The January Guest OS has released.

January 15, 2021

The December Guest OS has released.

December 19, 2020

The November Guest OS has released.

November 17, 2020

The October Guest OS has released.

October 10, 2020

The September Guest OS has released.

September 5, 2020

The August Guest OS has released.

August 17, 2020

The July Guest OS has released.

August 10, 2020

The June Guest OS has released.

June 2, 2020

The May Guest OS has released.

May 4, 2020

The April Guest OS has released.

April 2, 2020

The March Guest OS has released.

March 5, 2020

The February Guest OS has released.

January 24, 2020

The January Guest OS has released.

January 8, 2020

The December Guest OS has released.

December 5, 2019

The November Guest OS has released.

November 1, 2019

The October Guest OS has released.

October 7, 2019

The September Guest OS has released.

September 4, 2019

The August Guest OS has released.

July 26, 2019

The July Guest OS has released.

July 8, 2019

The June Guest OS has released.

June 6, 2019

The May Guest OS has released.

May 7, 2019

The April Guest OS has released.

March 26, 2019

The March Guest OS has released.

March 12, 2019

The February Guest OS has released.

February 5, 2019

The January Guest OS has released.

January 24, 2019

Family 6 Guest OS (Windows Server 2019) has released.

January 7, 2019

The December Guest OS has released.

December 14, 2018

The November Guest OS has released.

November 8, 2018

The October Guest OS has released.

October 12, 2018

The September Guest OS has released.

Releases

Family 7 releases

Windows Server 2022

.NET Framework installed: 4.8

Configuration string Release date Disable date
WA-GUEST-OS-7.41_202405-01 June 1, 2024 Post 7.44
WA-GUEST-OS-7.40_202404-01 April 19, 2024 Post 7.43
WA-GUEST-OS-7.39_202403-02 April 9, 2024 Post 7.42
WA-GUEST-OS-7.38_202402-01 February 24, 2024 June 1, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-7.37_202401-01 January 22, 2024 April 19, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-7.36_202312-01 January 16, 2024 April 9, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-7.35_202311-01 December 8, 2023 January 22, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-7.34_202310-01 October 23, 2023 January 16, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-7.32_202309-01 September 25, 2023 December 8, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-7.30_202308-01 August 21, 2023 October 23, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-7.28_202307-01 July 27, 2023 September 25, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-7.27_202306-02 July 8, 2023 August 21, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-7.25_202305-01 May 19, 2023 July 27, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-7.24_202304-01 April 27, 2023 July 8, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-7.23_202303-01 March 28, 2023 May 19, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-7.22_202302-01 March 1, 2023 April 27, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-7.21_202301-01 January 31, 2023 March 28, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-7.20_202212-01 January 19, 2023 March 1, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-7.19_202211-01 December 12, 2022 January 31, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-7.18_202210-02 November 4, 2022 January 19, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-7.16_202209-01 September 29, 2022 December 12, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-7.15_202208-01 September 2, 2022 November 4, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-7.14_202207-01 August 3, 2022 September 29, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-7.13_202206-01 July 11, 2022 September 2, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-7.12_202205-01 May 26, 2022 August 3, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-7.11_202204-01 April 30, 2022 July 11, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-7.10_202203-01 March 19, 2022 May 26, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-7.9_202202-01 March 2, 2022 April 30, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-7.8_202201-02 February 11, 2022 March 19, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-7.6_202112-01 January 10, 2022 March 2, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-7.5_202111-01 November 19, 2021 February 11, 2022

Family 6 releases

Windows Server 2019

.NET Framework installed: 3.5, 4.7.2

Note

It is recommended to develop Cloud Services on Visual Studio 2019 and install the Azure Workload.

Guest OS Family 6 release enforces TLS 1.2 by explicitly disabling TLS 1.0 and 1.1 and defining a specific set of cipher suites. Learn more.

Configuration string Release date Disable date
WA-GUEST-OS-6.71_202405-01 June 1, 2024 Post 6.74
WA-GUEST-OS-6.70_202404-01 April 19, 2024 Post 6.73
WA-GUEST-OS-6.69_202403-02 April 9, 2024 Post 6.72
WA-GUEST-OS-6.68_202402-01 February 24, 2024 June 1, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-6.67_202401-01 January 22, 2024 April 19, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-6.66_202312-01 January 16, 2024 April 9, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-6.65_202311-01 December 8, 2023 January 22, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-6.64_202310-01 October 23, 2023 January 16, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-6.62_202309-01 September 25, 2023 December 8, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-6.61_202308-01 August 21, 2023 October 23, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-6.60_202307-01 July 27, 2023 September 25, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-6.59_202306-02 July 8, 2023 August 21, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-6.57_202305-01 May 19, 2023 July 27, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-6.56_202304-01 April 27, 2023 July 8, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-6.55_202303-01 March 28, 2023 May 19, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-6.54_202302-01 March 1, 2023 April 27, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-6.53_202301-01 January 31, 2023 March 28, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-6.52_202212-01 January 19, 2023 March 1, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-6.51_202211-01 December 12, 2022 January 31, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-6.50_202210-02 November 4, 2022 January 19, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-6.48_202209-01 September 29, 2022 December 12, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-6.47_202208-01 September 2, 2022 November 4, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-6.46_202207-01 August 3, 2022 September 29, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-6.45_202206-01 July 11, 2022 September 2, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-6.44_202205-01 May 26, 2022 August 3, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-6.43_202204-01 April 30, 2022 July 11, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-6.42_202203-01 March 19, 2022 May 26, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-6.41_202202-01 March 2, 2022 April 30, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-6.40_202201-02 February 11, 2022 March 19, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-6.38_202112-01 January 10, 2022 March 2, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-6.37_202111-01 November 19, 2021 February 11, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-6.36_202110-01 November 1, 2021 January 10, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-6.35_202109-01 October 8, 2021 November 19, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-6.34_202108-01 August 27, 2021 November 1, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-6.33_202107-01 August 13, 2021 October 8, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-6.32_202106-01 July 1, 2021 August 27, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-6.31_202105-0 May 26, 2021 August 13, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-6.30_202104-01 April 30, 2021 July 1, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-6.29_202103-01 March 28, 2021 May 26, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-6.28_202102-01 February 19, 2021 April 30, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-6.27_202101-01 February 5, 2021 March 28, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-6.26_202012-01 January 15, 2021 February 19, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-6.25_202011-01 December 19, 2020 February 5, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-6.24_202010-02 November 17, 2020 January 15, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-6.23_202009-01 October 10, 2020 December 19, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-6.22_202008-02 September 5, 2020 November 17, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-6.21_202007-01 August 17, 2020 October 10, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-6.20_202006-02 August 10, 2020 September 5, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-6.19_202005-02 June 2, 2020 August 17, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-6.18_202004-01 May 4, 2020 August 10, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-6.17_202003-01 April 2, 2020 June 2, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-6.16_202002-01 March 5, 2020 May 4, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-6.15_202001-01 January 24, 2020 April 2, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-6.14_201912-01 January 8, 2020 March 5, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-6.13_201911-01 December 5, 2019 January 24, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-6.12_201910-01 November 1, 2019 January 8, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-6.11_201909-01 October 7, 2019 December 5, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-6.10_201908-01 August 4, 2019 November 1, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-6.9_201907-0 July 26, 2019 October 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-6.8_201906-01 July 8, 2019 August 4, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-6.7_201905-01 June 6, 2019 July 26, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-6.6_201904-01 May 7, 2019 July 8, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-6.5_201903-01 March 26, 2019 June 6, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-6.4_201902-01 March 12, 2019 May 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-6.3_201901-01 February 5, 2019 March 26, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-6.2_201812-01 January 24, 2019 March 12, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-6.1_201811-01 January 24, 2019 February 5, 2019

Family 5 releases

Windows Server 2016

.NET Framework installed: 3.5, 4.6.2

Note

The RDP password for OS family 5 must be a minimum of 10 characters.

Configuration string Release date Disable date
WA-GUEST-OS-5.95_202405-01 June 1, 2024 Post 5.98
WA-GUEST-OS-5.94_202404-01 April 19, 2024 Post 5.97
WA-GUEST-OS-5.93_202403-02 April 9, 2024 Post 5.96
WA-GUEST-OS-5.92_202402-01 February 24, 2024 June 1, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-5.91_202401-01 January 22, 2024 April 19, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-5.90_202312-01 January 16, 2024 April 9, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-5.89_202311-01 December 8, 2023 January 22, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-5.88_202310-01 October 23, 2023 January 16, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-5.86_202309-01 September 25, 2023 December 8, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-5.85_202308-01 August 21, 2023 October 23, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-5.84_202307-01 July 27, 2023 September 25, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-5.83_202306-02 July 8, 2023 August 21, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-5.81_202305-01 May 19, 2023 July 27, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-5.80_202304-01 April 27, 2023 July 8, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-5.79_202303-01 March 28, 2023 May 19, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-5.78_202302-01 March 1, 2023 April 27, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-5.77_202301-01 January 31, 2023 March 28, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-5.76_202212-01 January 19, 2023 March 1, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-5.75_202211-01 December 12, 2022 January 31, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-5.74_202210-02 November 4, 2022 January 19, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-5.72_202209-01 September 29, 2022 December 12, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-5.71_202208-01 September 2, 2022 November 4, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-5.70_202207-01 August 3, 2022 September 29, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-5.69_202206-01 July 11, 2022 September 2, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-5.68_202205-01 May 26, 2022 August 3, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-5.67_202204-01 April 30, 2022 July 11, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-5.66_202203-01 March 19, 2022 May 26, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-5.65_202202-01 March 2, 2022 April 30, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-5.64_202201-02 February 11, 2022 March 19, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-5.62_202112-01 January 10, 2022 March 2, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-5.61_202111-01 November 19, 2021 February 11, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-5.60_202110-01 November 1, 2021 January 10, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-5.59_202109-01 October 8, 2021 November 19, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-5.58_202108-01 August 27, 2021 November 1, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-5.57_202107-01 August 13, 2021 October 8, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-5.56_202106-01 July 1, 2021 August 27, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-5.55_202105-01 May 26, 2021 August 13, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-5.54_202104-01 April 30, 2021 July 1, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-5.53_202103-01 March 28, 2021 May 26, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-5.52_202102-01 February 19, 2021 April 30, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-5.51_202101-01 February 5, 2021 March 28, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-5.50_202012-01 January 15, 2021 February 19, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-5.49_202011-01 December 19, 2020 February 5, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-5.48_202010-02 November 17, 2020 January 15, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-5.47_202009-01 October 10, 2020 December 19, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-5.46_202008-02 September 5, 2020 November 17, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-5.45_202007-01 August 17, 2020 October 10, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-5.44_202006-02 August 10, 2020 September 5, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-5.43_202005-02 June 2, 2020 August 17, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-5.42_202004-01 May 4, 2020 August 10, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-5.41_202003-01 April 2, 2020 June 2, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-5.40_202002-01 March 5, 2020 May 4, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-5.39_202001-01 January 24, 2020 April 2, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-5.38_201912-01 January 8, 2020 March 5, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-5.37_201911-01 December 5, 2019 January 24, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-5.36_201910-01 November 1, 2019 January 8, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-5.35_201909-01 October 7, 2019 December 5, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-5.34_201908-01 August 4, 2019 November 1, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-5.33_201907-01 July 26, 2019 October 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-5.32_201906-01 July 8, 2019 August 4, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-5.31_201905-01 June 6, 2019 July 26, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-5.30_201904-01 May 7, 2019 July 8, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-5.29_201903-01 March 26, 2019 June 6, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-5.28_201902-01 March 12, 2019 May 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-5.27_201901-01 February 5, 2019 March 26, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-5.26_201812-01 January 7, 2019 March 12, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-5.25_201811-01 December 14, 2018 February 5, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-5.24_201810-01 November 8, 2018 January 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-5.23_201809-01 October 12, 2018 December 14, 2018

Family 4 releases

Windows Server 2012 R2

.NET Framework installed: 3.5, 4.6.2

Configuration string Release date Disable date
WA-GUEST-OS-4.131_202405-01 June 1, 2024 Post 4.134
WA-GUEST-OS-4.130_202404-01 April 19, 2024 Post 4.133
WA-GUEST-OS-4.129_202403-02 April 9, 2024 Post 4.132
WA-GUEST-OS-4.128_202402-01 February 24, 2024 June 1, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-4.127_202401-01 January 22, 2024 April 19, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-4.126_202312-01 January 16, 2024 April 9, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-4.125_202311-01 December 8, 2023 January 22, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-4.124_202310-01 October 23, 2023 January 16, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-4.122_202309-01 September 25, 2023 December 8, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-4.121_202308-01 August 21, 2023 October 23, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-4.120_202307-01 July 27, 2023 September 25, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-4.119_202306-02 July 8, 2023 August 21, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-4.117_202305-01 May 19, 2023 July 27, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-4.116_202304-01 April 27, 2023 July 8, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-4.115_202303-01 March 28, 2023 May 19, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-4.114_202302-01 March 1, 2023 April 27, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-4.113_202301-01 January 31, 2023 March 28, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-4.112_202212-01 January 19, 2023 March 1, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-4.111_202211-01 December 12, 2022 January 31, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-4.110_202210-02 November 4, 2022 January 19, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-4.108_202209-01 September 29, 2022 December 12, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-4.107_202208-01 September 2, 2022 November 4, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-4.106_202207-02 August 3, 2022 September 29, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-4.105_202206-02 July 11, 2022 September 2, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-4.103_202205-01 May 26, 2022 August 2, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-4.102_202204-01 April 30, 2022 July 11, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-4.101_202203-01 March 19, 2022 May 26, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-4.100_202202-01 March 2, 2022 April 30, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-4.99_202201-02 February 11 , 2022 March 19, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-4.97_202112-01 January 10 , 2022 March 2, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-4.96_202111-01 November 19, 2021 February 11, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-4.95_202110-01 November 1, 2021 January 10, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-4.94_202109-01 October 8, 2021 November 19, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-4.93_202108-01 August 27, 2021 November 1, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-4.92_202107-01 August 13, 2021 October 8, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-4.91_202106-01 July 1, 2021 August 27, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-4.90_202105-01 May 26, 2021 August 13, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-4.89_202104-01 April 30, 2021 July 1, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-4.88_202103-01 March 28, 2021 May 26, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-4.87_202102-01 February 19, 2021 April 30, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-4.86_202101-01 February 5, 2021 March 28, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-4.85_202012-01 January 15, 2021 February 19, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-4.84_202011-01 December 19, 2020 February 5, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-4.83_202010-02 November 17, 2020 January 15, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-4.82_202009-01 October 10, 2020 December 19, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-4.81_202008-02 September 5, 2020 November 17, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-4.80_202007-01 August 17, 2020 October 10, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-4.79_202006-02 August 10, 2020 September 5, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-4.78_202005-02 June 2, 2020 August 17, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-4.77_202004-01 May 4, 2020 August 10, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-4.76_202003-01 April 2, 2020 June 2, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-4.75_202002-01 March 5, 2020 May 4, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-4.74_202001-01 January 24, 2020 April 2, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-4.73_201912-01 January 8, 2020 March 5, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-4.72_201911-01 December 5, 2019 January 24, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-4.71_201910-01 November 1, 2019 January 8, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-4.70_201909-01 October 7, 2019 December 5, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-4.69_201908-01 August 4, 2019 November 1, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-4.68_201907-01 July 26, 2019 October 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-4.67_201906-01 July 8, 2019 August 4, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-4.66_201905-01 June 6, 2019 July 26, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-4.65_201904-01 May 7, 2019 July 8, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-4.64_201903-01 March 26, 2019 June 6, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-4.63_201902-01 March 12, 2019 May 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-4.62_201901-01 February 5, 2019 March 26, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-4.61_201812-01 January 7, 2019 March 12, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-4.60_201811-01 December 14, 2018 February 5, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-4.59_201810-01 November 8, 2018 January 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-4.58_201809-01 October 12, 2018 December 14, 2018

Family 3 releases

Windows Server 2012

.NET Framework installed: 3.5, 4.6.2

Configuration string Release date Disable date
WA-GUEST-OS-3.139_202405-01 June 1, 2024 Post 3.142
WA-GUEST-OS-3.138_202404-01 April 19, 2024 Post 3.141
WA-GUEST-OS-3.137_202403-02 April 9, 2024 Post 3.140
WA-GUEST-OS-3.136_202402-01 February 24, 2024 June 1, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-3.135_202401-01 January 22, 2024 April 19, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-3.134_202312-01 January 16, 2024 April 9, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-3.133_202311-01 December 8, 2023 January 22, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-3.132_202310-01 October 23, 2023 January 16, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-3.130_202309-01 September 25, 2023 December 8, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-3.129_202308-01 August 21, 2023 October 23, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-3.128_202307-01 July 27, 2023 September 25, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-3.127_202306-02 July 8, 2023 August 21, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-3.125_202305-01 May 19, 2023 July 27, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-3.124_202304-02 April 27, 2023 July 8, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-3.122_202303-01 March 28, 2023 May 19, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-3.121_202302-01 March 1, 2023 April 27, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-3.120_202301-01 January 31, 2023 March 28, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-3.119_202212-01 January 19, 2023 March 1, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-3.118_202211-01 December 12, 2022 January 31, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-3.117_202210-02 November 4, 2022 January 19, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-3.115_202209-01 September 29, 2022 December 12, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-3.114_202208-01 September 2, 2022 November 4, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-3.113_202207-02 August 3, 2022 September 29, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-3.112_202206-02 July 11, 2022 September 2, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-3.110_202205-01 May 26, 2022 August 3, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-3.109_202204-01 April 30, 2022 July 11, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-3.108_202203-01 March 19, 2022 May 26, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-3.107_202202-01 March 2, 2022 April 30, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-3.106_202201-02 February 11, 2022 March 19, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-3.104_202112-01 January 10, 2022 March 2, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-3.103_202111-01 November 19, 2021 February 11, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-3.102_202110-01 November 1, 2021 January 10, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-3.101_202109-01 October 8, 2021 November 19, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-3.100_202108-01 August 27, 2021 November 1, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-3.99_202107-01 August 13, 2021 October 8, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-3.98_202106-01 July 1, 2021 August 27, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-3.97_202105-01 May 26, 2021 August 13, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-3.96_202104-01 April 30, 2021 July 1, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-3.95_202103-01 March 28, 2021 May 26, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-3.94_202102-01 February 19, 2021 April 30, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-3.93_202101-01 February 5, 2021 March 28, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-3.92_202012-01 January 15, 2021 February 19, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-3.91_202011-01 December 19, 2020 February 5, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-3.90_202010-02 November 17, 2020 January 15, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-3.89_202009-01 October 10, 2020 December 19, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-3.88_202008-02 September 5, 2020 November 17, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-3.87_202007-01 August 17, 2020 October 10, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-3.86_202006-02 August 10, 2020 September 5, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-3.85_202005-02 June 2, 2020 August 17, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-3.84_202004-01 May 4, 2020 August 10, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-3.83_202003-01 April 2, 2020 June 2, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-3.82_202002-01 March 5, 2020 May 4, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-3.81_202001-01 January 24, 2020 April 2, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-3.80_201912-01 January 8, 2020 March 5, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-3.79_201911-01 December 5, 2019 January 24, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-3.78_201910-01 November 1, 2019 January 8, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-3.77_201909-01 October 7, 2019 December 5, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-3.76_201908-01 August 4, 2019 November 1, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-3.75_201907-01 July 26, 2019 October 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-3.74_201906-01 July 8, 2019 August 4, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-3.73_201905-01 June 6, 2019 July 26, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-3.72_201904-01 May 7, 2019 July 8, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-3.71_201903-01 March 26, 2019 June 6, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-3.70_201902-01 March 12, 2019 May 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-3.69_201901-01 February 5, 2019 March 26, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-3.68_201812-01 January 7, 2019 March 12, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-3.67_201811-01 December 14, 2018 February 5, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-3.66_201810-01 November 8, 2018 January 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-3.65_201809-01 October 12, 2018 December 14, 2018

Family 2 releases

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

.NET Framework installed: 3.5 (includes 2.0 and 3.0), 4.6.2

Configuration string Release date Disable date
WA-GUEST-OS-2.151_202405-01 June 1, 2024 Post 2.154
WA-GUEST-OS-2.150_202404-01 April 19, 2024 Post 2.153
WA-GUEST-OS-2.149_202403-02 April 9, 2024 Post 2.152
WA-GUEST-OS-2.148_202402-01 February 24, 2024 June 1, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-2.147_202401-01 January 22, 2024 April 19, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-2.146_202312-01 January 16, 2024 April 9, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-2.145_202311-01 December 8, 2023 January 22, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-2.144_202310-01 October 23, 2023 January 16, 2024
WA-GUEST-OS-2.142_202309-01 September 25, 2023 December 8, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-2.141_202308-01 August 21, 2023 October 23, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-2.140_202307-01 July 27, 2023 September 25, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-2.139_202306-02 July 8, 2023 August 21, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-2.137_202305-01 May 19, 2023 July 27, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-2.136_202304-01 April 27, 2023 July 8, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-2.135_202303-01 March 28, 2023 May 19, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-2.134_202302-01 March 1, 2023 April 27, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-2.133_202301-01 January 31, 2023 March 28, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-2.132_202212-01 January 19, 2023 March 1, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-2.131_202211-01 December 12, 2022 January 31, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-2.130_202210-02 November 4, 2022 January 19, 2023
WA-GUEST-OS-2.128_202209-01 September 29, 2022 December 12, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-2.127_202208-01 September 2, 2022 November 4, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-2.126_202207-02 August 3, 2022 September 29, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-2.125_202206-02 July 11, 2022 September 2, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-2.123_202205-01 May 26, 2022 August 3, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-2.122_202204-01 April 30, 2022 July 11, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-2.121_202203-01 March 19, 2022 May 26, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-2.120_202202-01 March 2, 2022 April 30, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-2.119_202201-02 February 11, 2022 March 19, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-2.117_202112-01 January 10, 2022 March 2, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-2.116_202111-01 November 19, 2021 February 11, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-2.115_202110-01 November 1, 2021 January 10, 2022
WA-GUEST-OS-2.114_202109-01 October 8, 2021 November 19, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-2.113_202108-01 August 27, 2021 November 1, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-2.112_202107-01 August 13, 2021 October 8, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-2.111_202106-01 July 1, 2021 August 27, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-2.110_202105-01 May 26, 2021 August 13, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-2.109_202104-01 April 30, 2021 July 1, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-2.108_202103-01 March 28, 2021 May 26, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-2.107_202102-01 February 19, 2021 April 30, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-2.106_202101-01 February 5, 2021 March 28, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-2.105_202012-01 January 15, 2021 February 19, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-2.104_202011-01 December 19, 2020 February 5, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-2.103_202010-02 November 17, 2020 January 15, 2021
WA-GUEST-OS-2.102_202009-01 October 10, 2020 December 19, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-2.101_202008-02 September 5, 2020 November 17, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-2.100_202007-01 August 17, 2020 October 10, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-2.99_202006-02 August 10, 2020 September 5, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-2.98_202005-02 June 2, 2020 August 17, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-2.97_202004-01 May 4, 2020 August 10, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-2.96_202003-01 April 2, 2020 June 2, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-2.95_202002-01 March 5, 2020 May 4, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-2.94_202001-01 January 24, 2020 April 2, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-2.93_201912-01 January 8, 2020 March 5, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-2.92_201911-01 December 5, 2019 January 24, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-2.91_201910-01 November 1, 2019 January 8, 2020
WA-GUEST-OS-2.90_201909-01 October 7, 2019 December 5, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-2.89_201908-01 August 4, 2019 November 1, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-2.88_201907-01 July 26, 2019 October 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-2.87_201906-01 July 8, 2019 August 4, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-2.86_201905-01 June 6, 2019 July 26, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-2.85_201904-01 May 7, 2019 July 8, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-2.84_201903-01 March 26, 2019 June 6, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-2.83_201902-01 March 12, 2019 May 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-2.82_201901-01 February 5, 2019 March 26, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-2.81_201812-01 January 7, 2019 March 12, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-2.80_201811-01 December 14, 2018 February 5, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-2.79_201810-01 November 8, 2018 January 7, 2019
WA-GUEST-OS-2.78_201809-01 October 12, 2018 December 14, 2018

MSRC patch updates

The list of patches that are included with each monthly Guest OS release is available here.

SDK support

Even though the retirement policy for the Azure SDK indicates that only versions above 2.2 are supported, specific Guest OS families allow you to use earlier versions. You should always use the latest supported SDK.

Guest OS family Compatible SDK versions
6 Version 2.9.6+
5 Version 2.9.5.1+
4 Version 2.1+
3 Version 1.8+
2 Version 1.3+
1 Version 1.0+

Guest OS release information

There are three dates that are important to Guest OS releases: release date, disabled date, and expiration date. A Guest OS is considered available when it is in the Portal and can be selected as the target Guest OS. When a Guest OS reaches the disabled date, it is removed from Azure. However, any Cloud Service targeting that Guest OS will still operate as normal.

The window between the disabled date and the expiration date provides you with a buffer to easily transition from one Guest OS to one newer. If you're using automatic as your Guest OS, you'll always be on the latest version and you don't have to worry about it expiring.

When the expiration date passes, any Cloud Service still using that Guest OS will be stopped, deleted, or forced to upgrade. You can read more about the retirement policy here.

Guest OS family-version explanation

The Guest OS families are based on released versions of Microsoft Windows Server. The Guest OS is the underlying operating system that Azure Cloud Services runs on. Each Guest OS has a family, version, and release number.

  • Guest OS family
    A Windows Server operating system release that a Guest OS is based on. For example, family 3 is based on Windows Server 2012.

  • Guest OS version
    Specific to a Guest OS family image plus relevant Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) patches that are available at the date the new Guest OS version is produced. Not all patches may be included.

    Numbers start at 0 and increment by 1 each time a new set of updates is added. Trailing zeros are only shown if important. That is, version 2.10 is a different, much later version than version 2.1.

  • Guest OS release
    A rerelease of a Guest OS version. A rerelease occurs if Microsoft finds issues during testing; requiring changes. The latest release always supersedes any previous releases, public or not. The Azure portal will only allow users to pick the latest release for a given version. Deployments running on a previous release are usually not force upgraded depending on the severity of the bug.

In the example below, 2 is the family, 12 is the version and "rel2" is the release.

Guest OS release - 2.12 rel2

Configuration string for this release - WA-GUEST-OS-2.12_201208-02

The configuration string for a Guest OS has this same information embedded in it, along with a date showing which MSRC patches were considered for that release. In this example, MSRC patches produced for Windows Server 2008 R2 up to and including August 2012 were considered for inclusion. Only patches specifically applying to that version of Windows Server are included. For example, if an MSRC patch applies to Microsoft Office, it will not be included because that product is not part of the Windows Server base image.

Guest OS system update process

This page includes information on upcoming Guest OS Releases. Customers have indicated that they want to know when a release occurs because their cloud service roles will reboot if they are set to "Automatic" update. Guest OS releases typically occur 2-3 weeks after the MSRC update release that occurs on the second Tuesday of every month. New releases include all the relevant MSRC patches for each Guest OS family.

Microsoft Azure is constantly releasing updates. The Guest OS is only one such update in the pipeline. A release can be affected by many factors too numerous to list here. In addition, Azure runs on literally hundreds of thousands of machines. This means that it's impossible to give an exact date and time when your role(s) will reboot. We are working on a plan to limit or time reboots.

When a new release of the Guest OS is published, it can take time to fully propagate across Azure. As services are updated to the new Guest OS, they are rebooted honoring update domains. Services set to use "Automatic" updates will get a release first. After the update, you’ll see the new Guest OS version listed for your service in the Azure portal. Rereleases may occur during this period. Some versions may be deployed over longer periods of time and automatic upgrade reboots may not occur for many weeks after the official release date. Once a Guest OS is available, you can then explicitly choose that version from the portal or in your configuration file.

For a great deal of valuable information on restarts and pointers to more information technical details of Guest and Host OS updates, see the MSDN blog post titled Role Instance Restarts Due to OS Upgrades.

If you manually update your Guest OS, see the Guest OS retirement policy for additional information.

Guest OS supportability and retirement policy

The Guest OS supportability and retirement policy is explained here.