Final Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update Delayed Until 2025

Microsoft has postponed the release of the final Cumulative Update for Exchange Server 2019. This update, known as Exchange Server 2019 CU15 (or H2 2024 CU), will be delivered to commercial customers next year.

In 2022, Microsoft announced that it would be moving to a biannual update scheme for Exchange Server products, which typically receive these updates around March and September. However, the company mentioned that it prioritizes the quality of CUs over sticking to a strict release schedule and the actual release dates might be delayed to April, October, or even later if more time is needed to ensure the updates meet their quality standards.

Microsoft was supposed to release the final Cumulative Update for Exchange Server 2019 sometime in 2024. The company has received feedback from customers indicating that December is not a convenient time for them to receive Cumulative Updates. The holiday season makes it challenging for organizations to implement and test updates.

When will Exchange Server 2019 receive its final update?

Now, Microsoft has officially announced that the final Cumulative Update (CU15) for Exchange Server 2019 has been delayed and it will begin rolling out to customers in early January 2025. It will be referred to as the H1 2025 CU rather than the H2 2024 CU.

Microsoft plans to drop support for Exchange Server 2019 on October 14, 2025. After this date, the company will no longer provide security updates, bug fixes, and technical support for Exchange Server 2019. Microsoft will release the next Exchange Server version (Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE)) in early 2025.

Microsoft advises all customers to upgrade to Exchange Server 2019, ensure it is fully updated, and then perform an in-place upgrade to Exchange Server SE when it becomes available. This approach ensures users are on the most secure and supported version, facilitating a smooth transition to the new SE version.