Windows Server has existed for almost as long as the consumer Windows versions (Windows 3.1 and onward). The first popular version of Windows Server was called Windows NT, which came in both server and client versions. Microsoft first used the word “Windows Server” when they released Windows Server 2000. Before that, Windows 2000 was the client version, and Windows NT 4.0 was the server version of the Operating System. Microsoft releases a server version of Windows OS, along with each client version. Here’s the list of Windows Servers from Microsoft:
Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1Windows NT Server 3.5Windows NT Server 4.0Windows Server 2000Windows Server 2003Windows Server 2003 R2Windows Server 2008Windows Server 2008 R2Windows Server 2012Windows Server 2012 R2Windows Server 2016Windows Server 2019Windows Server 2022
You can go through the complete list of Windows Server versions and timelines here. You can also read about the difference between different Windows Server editions here. In this article, we will discuss the different capabilities and features introduced in each version of Windows Server and their download link. Since we can only point to official links from Microsoft, unfortunately, some very old versions of the OS are not available for download.
Download Windows Server 2022
Windows Server 2022 is the latest version of Windows Server, which comes as a hybrid platform, an on-premise server, and can connect to Microsoft Azure. While Microsoft has discontinued most older versions of the Server OS, they are available for download, so people with a valid license can get an ISO copy of the Operating System.
Download Windows Server 2022 Download Windows Server 2019 Download Windows Server 2016 Download Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2012 and older
Windows Server 2022 comes with the following editions:
DatacenterStandardEssentialsAzure
Microsoft has left out the free Hyper-V version, which was part of its offering with Windows Server 2019. We have a detailed guide about Windows Server 2022 here. You can learn everything in the post, including the license, pricing, new features and download links. Here’s how you can download the Windows Server 2022 evaluation version (ISO, VHD or Azure): The three versions included in the ISO are Standard, Data Center and Data Center: Azure (or Azure Stack HCI) Edition. Please note that this is an evaluation version and will expire in 180 days. The download page mentions that the user must activate the evaluation version over the Internet within 10 days of installation to avoid hourly automatic restarts. Microsoft has not provided any product keys for Windows Server 2022 yet. That means you will be able to register the evaluation version over the Internet and use it for 6 months. After 180 days, you will need to change your product key to the one which has been purchased from Microsoft.
Download Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019 was released in 2018 and came with Windows Admin Center, Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI), improved security and containers. You can learn more about Windows Server 2019 here. Here’s how you can download Windows Server 2019 ISO images: Your download will now begin with the preferences you have chosen. If you have downloaded an ISO image, you can use Ventoy to deploy it or install it directly from the hard drive.
Download Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2016 was released in 2016 and came with support for containers, Nano Server and Network Controller. It’s mainstream support has ended from Microsoft. Extended support will end in January 2027. Here’s how you can download Windows Server 2016: You can also download the VHD version on the same page, or also try the Operating System on Azure without installing anything on your system.
Download Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2012 R2 was released in 2013 and came with the support for PowerShell and improved storage management. It came with the following editions:
FoundationEssentialsStandardDatacenter
Its mainstream support has ended while extended support will end in October 2023. Here’s how you can download Windows Server 2012 R2: You can also download the VHD version on the same page, or also try the Operating System on Azure without installing anything on your system.
Windows Server 2012 and older
Windows Server 2012 was released in 2012 and came with 64-bit OS, enhanced group policies and Remote desktop Services. It came with the following editions:
WebFoundationStandardEnterpriseDatacenter
All the older Server Operating Systems including Windows Server 2012 are not supported by Microsoft. Therefore there is no public ISO link from Microsoft available to download these versions. But if you are an MSDN subscriber, you might be able to download older versions of the Server OS. Please note that all the download links given in this article are official evaluation links from Microsoft. You can download the ISO and install the evaluation version of Windows Server on your system but you will need to install a valid license after 6 months of use. Otherwise, the software will cease to work.
