Update term for STS releases (#48127)

Author: gewarren

docs/core/install/includes/supported-versions.md

@@ -1,15 +1,15 @@
 ---
 author: adegeo
 ms.author: adegeo
-ms.date: 11/11/2024
+ms.date: 08/26/2025
 ms.topic: include
 ---
 
-Microsoft publishes .NET under two different support policies, Long Term Support (LTS) and Standard Term Support (STS). The quality of all releases is the same. The only difference is the length of support. LTS releases get free support and patches for three years. STS releases get free support and patches for 18 months. For more information, see [.NET Support Policy](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/platform/support/policy/dotnet-core).
+Microsoft publishes .NET under two different support policies, Long Term Support (LTS) and Standard Term Support (STS). The quality of all releases is the same. The only difference is the length of support. LTS releases get free support and patches for three years. STS releases get free support and patches for two years. For more information, see [.NET Support Policy](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/platform/support/policy/dotnet-core).
 
 The versions of .NET that are currently supported by Microsoft are:
 
-- 9.0 (STS)—Support ends **May, 2026**.
+- 9.0 (STS)—Support ends **November 10, 2026**.
 - 8.0 (LTS)—Support ends **November 10, 2026**.
 
 Other entities that build and release .NET might introduce different support policies. Be sure to check with them to understand how .NET is supported.

docs/core/install/linux-scripted-manual.md

@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ title: Install .NET on Linux without using a package manager
 description: Demonstrates how to install the .NET SDK and the .NET Runtime on Linux without a package manager. Use the install script or manually extract the binaries.
 author: adegeo
 ms.author: adegeo
-ms.date: 11/11/2024
-ms.custom: linux-related-content
+ms.date: 08/26/2025
+ms.custom: linux-related-content, updateeachrelease
 ---
 
 # Install .NET on Linux by using an install script or by extracting binaries
@@ -15,26 +15,26 @@ This article demonstrates how to install the .NET SDK or the .NET Runtime on Lin
 
 ## .NET releases
 
-There are two types of supported releases, Long Term Support (LTS) releases or Standard Term Support (STS). The quality of all releases is the same. The only difference is the length of support. LTS releases get free support and patches for 3 years. STS releases get free support and patches for 18 months. For more information, see [.NET Support Policy](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/platform/support/policy/dotnet-core).
+There are two types of supported releases, Long Term Support (LTS) and Standard Term Support (STS). The quality of all releases is the same. The only difference is the length of support. LTS releases get free support and patches for three years. STS releases get free support and patches for two years. For more information, see [.NET Support Policy](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/platform/support/policy/dotnet-core).
 
 The following table lists the support status of each version of .NET (and .NET Core):
 
-| ✔️ Supported | ❌ Unsupported |
-|-------------|---------------|
-| 9 (STS)     | 7             |
-| 8 (LTS)     | 6 (LTS)       |
-|             | 5             |
-|             | 3.1           |
-|             | 3.0           |
-|             | 2.2           |
-|             | 2.1           |
-|             | 2.0           |
-|             | 1.1           |
-|             | 1.0           |
+| ✔️ Supported | ❌ Out of support |
+|-------------|------------------|
+| 9 (STS)     | 7                |
+| 8 (LTS)     | 6 (LTS)          |
+|             | 5                |
+|             | 3.1              |
+|             | 3.0              |
+|             | 2.2              |
+|             | 2.1              |
+|             | 2.0              |
+|             | 1.1              |
+|             | 1.0              |
 
 ## Dependencies
 
-It's possible that when you install .NET, specific dependencies may not be installed, such as when [manually installing](#manual-install). The following list details Linux distributions that are supported by Microsoft and have dependencies you may need to install. Check the distribution page for more information:
+It's possible that when you install .NET, specific dependencies might not be installed, such as when you [manually install](#manual-install). The following list details Linux distributions that are supported by Microsoft and have dependencies you might need to install. Check the distribution page for more information:
 
 - [Alpine](linux-alpine.md#dependencies)
 - [Debian](linux-debian.md#dependencies)
@@ -47,15 +47,15 @@ For generic information about the dependencies, see [Self-contained Linux apps](
 
 ### RPM dependencies
 
-If your distribution wasn't previously listed, and is RPM-based, you may need the following dependencies:
+If your distribution wasn't previously listed, and is RPM-based, you might need the following dependencies:
 
 - krb5-libs
 - libicu
 - openssl-libs
 
 ### DEB dependencies
 
-If your distribution wasn't previously listed, and is debian-based, you may need the following dependencies:
+If your distribution wasn't previously listed, and is debian-based, you might need the following dependencies:
 
 - libc6
 - libgcc1
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ To learn how to use the .NET CLI, see [.NET CLI overview](../tools/index.md).
 
 ## Manual install
 
-<!-- Note, this content is copied in macos.md. Any fixes should be applied there too, though content may be different -->
+<!-- Note, this content is copied in macos.md. Any fixes should be applied there too, though content might be different -->
 
 As an alternative to the package managers, you can download and manually install the SDK and runtime. Manual installation is commonly used as part of continuous integration testing or on an unsupported Linux distribution. For a developer or user, it's better to use a package manager.
 
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ Different versions of .NET can be extracted to the same folder, which coexist si
 
 ### Example
 
-<!-- Note, this content is copied in macos.md. Any fixes should be applied there too, though content may be different -->
+<!-- Note, this content is copied in macos.md. Any fixes should be applied there too, though content might be different -->
 
 The following commands use Bash to set the environment variable `DOTNET_ROOT` to the current working directory followed by `.dotnet`. That directory is created if it doesn't exist. The `DOTNET_FILE` environment variable is the filename of the .NET binary release you want to install. This file is extracted to the `DOTNET_ROOT` directory. Both the `DOTNET_ROOT` directory and its `tools` subdirectory are added to the `PATH` environment variable.
 

docs/core/install/linux-snap-sdk.md

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ author: adegeo
 ms.author: adegeo
 ms.date: 11/11/2024
 ms.topic: install-set-up-deploy
-ms.custom: linux-related-content
+ms.custom: linux-related-content, updateeachrelease
 #customer intent: As a Linux user, I want to install .NET SDK through Snap.
 ---
 

docs/core/releases-and-support.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: .NET releases, patches, and support
 description: Learn about releases, patches, and support for .NET.
-ms.date: 10/10/2023
+ms.date: 08/26/2025
 ms.topic: overview
 ---
 # Releases and support for .NET
@@ -59,31 +59,29 @@ There are two support tracks for releases:
 
 * *Standard Term Support* (STS) releases
 
-  These versions are supported until 6 months after the next major or minor release ships.
+  These versions are supported for two years (24 months).
 
   Example:
 
-  * .NET 5 is an STS release and was released in November 2020. It was supported for 18 months, until May 2022.
-  * .NET 7 is an STS release and was released in November 2022. It's supported for 18 months, until May 2024.
+  * .NET 9 is an STS release and was released in November 2024. It's supported for two years, until November 2026.
 
 * *Long Term Support* (LTS) releases
 
   These versions are supported for a minimum of 3 years, or 1 year after the next LTS release ships if that date is later.
 
   Example:
 
-  * .NET Core 3.1 is an LTS release and was released in December 2019. It was supported for 3 years, until December 2022.
-  * .NET 6 is an LTS release and was released in November, 2021. It's supported for 3 years, until November 2024.
+  * .NET 8 is an LTS release and was released in November 2023. It's supported for three years, until November 2026.
 
-Releases alternate between LTS and STS, so it's possible for an earlier release to be supported longer than a later release. For example, .NET Core 3.1 was an LTS release with support through December 2022. The .NET 5 release shipped almost a year later but went out of support earlier, in May 2022.
+Releases alternate between LTS and STS.
 
 Servicing updates ship monthly and include both security and non-security (reliability, compatibility, and stability) fixes. Servicing updates are supported until the next servicing update is released. Servicing updates have runtime roll forward behavior. That means that applications default to running on the latest installed runtime servicing update.
 
 ## How to choose a release
 
-If you're building a service and expect to continue updating it on a regular basis, then an STS release like the .NET 7 runtime may be your best option to stay up to date with the latest features .NET has to offer.
+If you're building a service and expect to continue updating it on a regular basis, then use the latest release, whether LTS or STS, to stay up to date with the latest features .NET has to offer.
 
-If you're building a client application that will be distributed to consumers, stability might be more important than access to the latest features. Your application might need to be supported for a certain period before the consumer can upgrade to the next version of the application. In that case, an LTS release like the .NET 6 runtime could be the right option.
+If you're building a client application that will be distributed to consumers, stability might be more important than access to the latest features. Your application might need to be supported for a certain period before the consumer can upgrade to the next version of the application. In that case, an LTS release like the .NET 8 runtime could be the right option.
 
 > [!NOTE]
 > We recommend upgrading to the latest SDK version, even if it's an STS release, as it can target all available runtimes.
@@ -102,15 +100,15 @@ End of support refers to the date after which Microsoft no longer provides fixes
 
 ## Supported operating systems
 
-.NET can be run on a range of operating systems. Each of these operating systems has a lifecycle defined by its sponsor organization (for example, Microsoft, Red Hat, or Apple). We take these lifecycle schedules into account when adding and removing support for operating system versions.
+.NET can be run on a range of operating systems. Each of these operating systems has a lifecycle defined by its sponsor organization (for example, Microsoft, Red Hat, or Apple). These lifecycle schedules are taken into account when .NET adds and removes support for operating system versions.
 
-When an operating system version goes out of support, we stop testing that version and providing support for that version. Users need to move forward to a supported operating system version to get support.
+When an operating system version reaches end of support, Microsoft stops testing and providing support for that version. Users need to move forward to a supported operating system version to get support.
 
 For more information, see the [.NET OS Lifecycle Policy](https://github.com/dotnet/core/blob/main/os-lifecycle-policy.md).
 
 ## Get support
 
-You have a choice between Microsoft assisted support and Community support.
+You have a choice between Microsoft-assisted support and Community support.
 
 ### Microsoft support
 

docs/core/versions/index.md

@@ -2,14 +2,14 @@
 title: How the .NET Runtime and SDK are versioned
 description: This article explains how the .NET SDK and Runtime are versioned (similar to semantic versioning).
 ms.custom: updateeachrelease
-ms.date: 04/26/2023
+ms.date: 08/26/2025
 ---
 
 # How .NET is versioned
 
 The [.NET Runtime and the .NET SDK](../introduction.md) add new features at different frequencies. In general, the SDK is updated more frequently than the runtime. This article explains the runtime and the SDK version numbers.
 
-.NET releases a new major version every November. Even-numbered releases, such as .NET 6 or .NET 8, are long-term supported (LTS). LTS releases get free support and patches for three years. Odd-numbered releases are standard-term support. Standard-term support releases get free support and patches for 18 months.
+.NET releases a new major version every November. Even-numbered releases, such as .NET 6 or .NET 8, are long-term support (LTS) releases. LTS releases get free support and patches for three years. Odd-numbered releases are standard-term support (STS) releases. Standard-term support releases get free support and patches for two years (starting with .NET 9).
 
 ## Versioning details
 

docs/core/whats-new/dotnet-7.md

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ author: gewarren
 ---
 # What's new in .NET 7
 
-.NET 7 is the successor to [.NET 6](dotnet-6.md) and focuses on being unified, modern, simple, and *fast*. .NET 7 will be [supported for 18 months](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/platform/support/policy/dotnet-core) as a standard-term support (STS) release (previously known as a *current* release).
+.NET 7 was the successor to [.NET 6](dotnet-6.md) and focused on being unified, modern, simple, and *fast*. .NET 7 was a standard-term support (STS) release (previously known as a *current* release).
 
 This article lists the new features of .NET 7 and provides links to more detailed information on each.
 

docs/core/whats-new/dotnet-9/overview.md

@@ -2,15 +2,15 @@
 title: What's new in .NET 9
 description: Learn about the new .NET features introduced in .NET 9 for the runtime, libraries, and SDK. Also find links to what's new in other areas, such as ASP.NET Core.
 titleSuffix: ""
-ms.date: 11/11/2024
+ms.date: 08/26/2025
 ms.topic: whats-new
 ---
 
 # What's new in .NET 9
 
 Learn about the new features in .NET 9 and find links to further documentation.
 
-.NET 9, the successor to [.NET 8](../dotnet-8/overview.md), has a special focus on cloud-native apps and performance. It will be [supported for 18 months](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/platform/support/policy/dotnet-core) as a standard-term support (STS) release. You can [download .NET 9 here](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/9.0).
+.NET 9, the successor to [.NET 8](../dotnet-8/overview.md), has a special focus on cloud-native apps and performance. It will be [supported for two years](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/platform/support/policy/dotnet-core) as a standard-term support (STS) release. You can [download .NET 9 here](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/9.0).
 
 New for .NET 9, the engineering team posts .NET 9 preview updates on [GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/dotnet/core/discussions/9234). That's a great place to ask questions and provide feedback about the release.