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Why Microsoft Extended SharePoint 2010 Support to April 2021
Product Marketing, AODocs · Sep 11, 2023 · Updated Oct 6, 2026
This article concerns Microsoft's historical 2020 support extension. SharePoint Server 2010 was originally due to end extended support on October 13, 2020. Microsoft moved that endpoint to April 13, 2021; the extension is not a current support option.
This was not a surprise, this is a standard mode of operation for most Microsoft products. Nor was the news delivered at short notice–end users had plenty of time to address the issue and either make that painful upgrade, or move to an alternative provider.
Microsoft announced the historical extension of that support deadline from October 13, 2020, to April 13, 2021. Its April 2020 announcement cited the COVID-19 situation and customer requests for additional transition time.
The SharePoint Vision
As mentioned above, SharePoint was designed to make content and document management simple. To allow users the ability to easily create new documents, share them and manage them securely within so-called SharePoint Sites. The problem was that it was actually a little too easy to do this. SharePoint sprawl hit organizations with a vengeance, with new libraries and intranet sites springing up faster than Usain Bolt running the 100m, making it not easier, but much harder to locate information and manage content and processes effectively.
SharePoint 2013, 2016 and SharePoint Online were migration options discussed during the 2020 extension period. Those historical options must not be treated as current lifecycle guidance. Check Microsoft's present support record and the documented target path before planning a transition.
Back to 2020
In April 2020, Microsoft cited the COVID-19 crisis and an increase in customer requests when announcing the extension. The revised deadline gave affected organizations six additional months to plan their transition.
Microsoft's announcement stated that SharePoint Server 2010 would continue to run after April 13, 2021, but would no longer receive the listed technical support and fixes after extended support ended. Continued operation is not evidence of supported maintenance.
Why The Extension?
But back to the original question for a second. Just why did Microsoft extend the EOL deadline?
Microsoft's published explanation, rather than inferred customer counts, establishes the reason for the extension. Historical AIIM research in 2020 is separate from Microsoft's stated rationale and does not establish current SharePoint usage. The six-month extension applied to SharePoint Server 2010, SharePoint Foundation 2010 and Project Server 2010.
The extended deadline expired on April 13, 2021. References to the next eight months describe the original historical context, not a current transition window. The historical article in Workflow Online discusses transition planning from that period. Organizations still using SharePoint 2010 need to assess current supported targets and their own content, workflows and dependencies.
It’s Time To Move On
If SharePoint 2010 remains in use, identify the installed components, content owners and dependent processes, then plan a supported transition. Define migration acceptance criteria and recovery arrangements; do not rely on the expired extension as a maintenance plan.
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Frequently asked questions
Why was SharePoint 2010 support extended from October 2020 to April 2021?
Microsoft's April 2020 announcement linked the extension to the COVID-19 situation and customers' need for more transition time. It moved the end of extended support from October 13, 2020, to April 13, 2021. This was a historical extension, not a current support option. The article's speculation about customer numbers should not be treated as Microsoft's stated reason.
Is SharePoint 2010 still supported?
No. Microsoft's lifecycle record lists April 13, 2021, as the end of extended support for SharePoint Server 2010. The earlier extension did not establish ongoing support after that date. Treat references to an upcoming deadline or the next eight months as historical context. An organization still using that version needs a current transition assessment rather than relying on the old extension.
