Microsoft Axes Windows Deployment Services in Next Windows Server Version

Microsoft has announced plans to deprecate its Windows Deployment Services (WDS) server role in the next version of Windows Server. WDS allows IT administrators to remotely install Windows operating systems on dozens or hundreds of computers over a network.

This change means Microsoft will stop active development and eventually remove WDS completely, although it will continue to work on currently supported versions of Windows Server.

WDS has already been partially deprecated in the past year with the removal of boot.wim support in 2021 and hands-free deployment disabled by default for all customers who installed the April 2026 Windows updates or subsequent ones.