Dynamics GP 2016 Support Has Ended: What Now?

What has happened

On 14 July 2026, Microsoft ended extended support for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 and Dynamics GP 2016 R2. From that date, there are no more security patches, no more bug fixes, and no Microsoft technical support for those versions. If your business still runs GP 2016, you are now operating on officially unsupported software.

Microsoft Dynamics GP, which many people still know under its original name Great Plains, is a business management and accounting system that has been a mainstay for many UK and international SMBs for decades. It handles financial ledgers, payroll, stock and inventory, purchasing, and reporting at the core of day-to-day business operations. For many businesses it sits quietly in the background, running critical processes without much attention, which is exactly why an end-of-support date like this can catch organisations off guard.

Who is affected

This affects businesses running either of these specific versions:

• Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016
• Microsoft Dynamics GP 2016 R2

To check your version, open GP and go to Help > About Microsoft Dynamics GP. If you see 2016 in the version information, you are on an unsupported build.

If you are on GP 2018 or GP 2018 R2, you have a little more time: Microsoft extends support for those versions until January 2028. GP 2019 and later versions have longer support horizons still. However, it is worth knowing the broader direction of travel: Microsoft has confirmed that Dynamics GP as a whole product will reach end of product enhancements in December 2029 and full end of security updates in April 2031. New customers have been unable to purchase Dynamics GP subscriptions since April 2026. This is a product in a managed wind-down. Microsoft’s own recommended long-term path is migration to Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Why this matters

Security risk. Unpatched software is exploitable software. Accounting and ERP systems (ERP stands for enterprise resource planning, the category of software that manages core business functions such as finance, stock, purchasing and payroll) hold some of your most sensitive data. With no further security updates for GP 2016, any vulnerability discovered from now on will never be fixed. Ransomware groups specifically target businesses running end-of-life software because they know defences cannot be updated.

Data protection exposure. Under UK GDPR, you are required to implement appropriate technical measures to protect personal data. Running business software you know is no longer receiving security patches is a difficult position to defend if a breach occurs and the ICO investigates. The obligation to patch known vulnerabilities does not go away just because the vendor has stopped issuing patches.

No safety net when things go wrong. If GP 2016 develops a fault, clashes with a Windows update, or simply stops behaving as expected, there is no Microsoft support line. You will rely on specialist partners working on a best-efforts basis, with no guaranteed resolution path.

Audit and compliance concerns. Organisations that go through finance audits, IT audits, or cyber insurance renewals may face direct questions about running a core business system on an unsupported software version. Insurers in particular are tightening their requirements around software lifecycle management.

What are your options

Option 1 – Upgrade to a newer GP version (short-term bridge)

Moving from GP 2016 to GP 2018 or later restores vendor support and buys more time. But it does not resolve the long-term direction; it is a bridge rather than a destination. If you are running GP 2016 on hardware that may struggle with a version upgrade, this also requires some infrastructure assessment first.

Option 2 – Migrate to Dynamics 365 Business Central (Microsoft’s recommended path)

Business Central is Microsoft’s cloud-based replacement for Dynamics GP. It covers the same core business management functions but runs in the cloud with automatic updates and no separate version lifecycle to manage. Microsoft provides migration tools to help transfer data from GP to Business Central. However, migrations of this kind are not quick: they typically take between nine and eighteen months from initial scoping to go-live. The work involves remapping your chart of accounts, migrating historical data, rebuilding any integrations with other business systems, and retraining staff. If you are on GP 2016 today, the time to start planning is now, not when something breaks.

Option 3 – Assess alternative platforms

A GP end-of-life moment is a natural point to ask whether your current system still fits your business. Platforms such as Sage, Xero (for smaller operations), and other ERP solutions are all worth considering alongside Business Central. The right answer depends on the size and complexity of your operations.

What to do right now

The most important thing, if you are on GP 2016, is not to sit on this. The first step is a conversation: with your finance team about what a replacement or upgraded system would need to do, and with your IT partner about the infrastructure and timeline implications.

System Force IT works with UK businesses to keep their technology stack supported, secure, and fit for purpose. Our IT support and maintenance service includes lifecycle monitoring so that issues like this do not catch clients by surprise. If your migration will involve moving to a cloud-based platform, our cloud systems team can ensure your wider infrastructure is ready to support it. And if you would like a clear view of your overall IT risk position as part of this process, our managed IT service gives you exactly that.

The support deadline has already passed. The longer GP 2016 runs without patches, the greater your exposure. Get in touch and we can help you work out the right next step for your business.