Microsoft is moving to a one year lifecycle on all of its client agents like Azure Entra Connect and Azure File Sync. Fortunately, Azure File Sync SHOULD upgrade itself 3 weeks before it expires.
If you want to know how to setup Azure File Sync, we have just the short video for you HERE.
Here is the version history brief:
| Agent Version | Release Type | Release Date | Last Supported Date | Improvements |
| 20.0.0.0 | Major | Feb-25 | February 2026 (Est.) | General improvements and fixes, Support for Windows Server 2025 |
| 19.1.0.0 | Major | Sep-24 | September 2025 (Est.) | Faster server provisioning, Managed Identities preview |
| 18.2.0.0 | Minor | Jul-24 | July 2025 (Est.) | Rollup update |
| 18.1.0.0 | Minor (Security) | Jun-24 | July 2025 (Est.) | Security update |
| 17.3.0.0 | Minor (Security) | Jun-24 | Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | Last agent for Windows Server 2012 R2 |
| 18.0.0.0 | Major | May-24 | July 2025 (Est.) | Faster server provisioning, Sync performance improvements |
| 17.2.0.0 | Minor | Feb-24 | Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | General improvements and fixes |
| 17.1.0.0 | Minor (Security) | Feb-24 | Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | Security update |
| 17.0.0.0 | Major | Dec-23 | Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | General improvements and fixes |
| 16.x.x.x | Major | N/A | Tuesday, October 7, 2025 | N/A |
| 15.x.x.x | Major | N/A | Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | N/A |
There are five approved and tested ways to install the Azure File Sync agent updates:
- Use Azure File Sync agent auto upgrade feature to install agent updates. The Azure File Sync agent auto upgrades. You can select to install the latest agent version when available or update when the currently installed agent is near expiration. To learn more, see Automatic agent lifecycle management.
- Configure Microsoft Update to automatically download and install agent updates. We recommend installing every Azure File Sync update to ensure you have access to the latest fixes for the server agent. Microsoft Update makes this process seamless by automatically downloading and installing updates for you.
- Use AfsUpdater.exe to download and install agent updates. The AfsUpdater.exe is located in the agent installation directory. Double-click the executable to download and install agent updates. Depending on the release version, you might need to restart the server.
- Patch an existing Azure File Sync agent by using a Microsoft Update patch file, or a .msp executable. The latest Azure File Sync update package can be downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog. Running an .msp executable upgrades your Azure File Sync installation with the same method used automatically by Microsoft Update. Applying a Microsoft Update patch performs an in-place upgrade of an Azure File Sync installation.
- Download the newest Azure File Sync agent installer from the Microsoft Download Center. To upgrade an existing Azure File Sync agent installation, uninstall the older version and then install the latest version from the downloaded installer. Agent settings (server registration, server endpoints, etc.) are maintained when the Azure File Sync agent is uninstalled.
…The default setting attempts to prevent the agent from expiration. Within 21 days of the posted expiration date of an agent, the agent attempts to self-upgrade. It starts an attempt to upgrade once a week within 21 days prior to expiration and in the selected maintenance window.
Source – https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/file-sync/file-sync-planning
0 Comments