Bramvia — Business Central Experts
Dynamics NAV End of Support: What It Means and Your Options in 2026
Microsoft is winding down mainstream support for older Dynamics NAV versions. Here is what end of support actually means for your business and the three realistic paths forward.
If you are still running Dynamics NAV 2018 or earlier, you have probably heard that support is ending. It is worth understanding exactly what that means before it becomes urgent.
What "end of support" actually means
End of support does not switch your system off. NAV will keep running. What stops is Microsoft delivering security patches, regulatory and tax updates, and hotfixes. Over time that turns a stable system into a quiet liability: compliance gaps, integration breakage as connected software moves on, and no safety net when something fails.
Your three realistic options
1. Stay on NAV and self-insure. Cheapest today, most expensive later. You take on the risk of unpatched vulnerabilities and manual regulatory updates. Reasonable only as a short bridge while you plan.
2. Upgrade to a newer on-premise version. Buys a few more years but repeats the same costly, disruptive upgrade cycle and leaves you without cloud AI and automation.
3. Migrate to Dynamics 365 Business Central. Business Central is the cloud successor to NAV, built on the same heritage. Your familiar processes carry over, upgrades become automatic, and you gain Copilot, AI agents, and the wider Microsoft ecosystem.
How to decide
Map your timeline against three things: the version you are on, how heavily customized it is, and your appetite for IT maintenance. The more customizations and the older the version, the sooner migration pays off.
The good news: a NAV-to-Business-Central move is the path we run most often, and a phased migration keeps you live throughout. Get a free migration assessment and we will tell you honestly whether you should move now or wait.
FAQ
Will my NAV stop working after the support date? No. It stops receiving security patches, regulatory updates and Microsoft support. It keeps running — at your risk.
Which NAV versions are still supported? None after 11 January 2028. NAV 2017 ends 11 January 2027; NAV 2018 is the last version and ends in 2028.
Can I migrate straight from NAV 2009? Yes, in a single project. Older versions mean more C/AL to inventory, but the jump is direct.