EOL Node.js 18 (18.20.8) used in windows-latest (windows-2022)

[MikeMcC399]

Description

Workflows specifying windows-latest currently use windows-2022 with Node.js default 18.20.8. This version of Node.js is no longer supported.

Node.js 18 entered end-of-life status on Apr 30, 2025 and the lowest supported release line is now Node.js 20 (currently Node.js 20.19.1).

Platforms affected

• [ ] Azure DevOps
• [x] GitHub Actions - Standard Runners
• [ ] GitHub Actions - Larger Runners

Runner images affected

• [ ] Ubuntu 22.04
• [ ] Ubuntu 24.04
• [ ] macOS 13
• [ ] macOS 13 Arm64
• [ ] macOS 14
• [ ] macOS 14 Arm64
• [ ] macOS 15
• [ ] macOS 15 Arm64
• [ ] Windows Server 2019
• [x] Windows Server 2022
• [ ] Windows Server 2025

Image version and build link

Image Version: 20250427.1.0

Is it regression?

no

Expected behavior

windows-latest should use a supported version of Node.js as a default - currently Node.js 20

This means either

• windows-2022 should be updated to Node.js 20 or
• windows-2025 (default Node.js 22.15.0 LTS) should be declared windows-latest

Actual behavior

windows-latest = windows-2022 Node.js default 18.20.8

Repro steps

1. Read Node.js end-of-life versions
2. Read https://github.com/actions/runner-images/blob/main/README.md
3. Read https://github.com/actions/runner-images/blob/main/images/windows/Windows2022-Readme.md#language-and-runtime

[vidyasagarnimmagaddi]

Hi @MikeMcC399 , Thanks for raising the issue, we will investigate and update .

[MikeMcC399]

The workaround is to use actions/setup-node to install a supported version of Node.js

[MikeMcC399]

• This issue is resolved by PR https://github.com/actions/runner-images/pull/12311

[hemanthmanga]

The changes are complete. Closing now. Thank you.