BarTender End of Support & Upgrade Guide

BarTender 2016, 2019 and 2021 all reach end of support on December 31, 2027, and BarTender 2021 moves to limited support after November 30, 2026. This guide shows the support dates for each version, how to check whether your update is covered, what to plan for before you update to BarTender 12, and how to get an upgrade quote from us.

BarTender support dates by version

*BarTender 2019 and earlier already have limited support, which covers licensing and activation help only. BarTender 2021 joins them after November 30, 2026. Dates as of Nov 1, 2026, from the BarTender Life Cycle Schedule. Seagull can change these dates, so check that page for the latest.

What end of support means

Your installed BarTender keeps running after its end-of-support date. What stops is Seagull's support for that version: technical support, bug fixes and security patches. After that, versions on limited support get help with licensing and activation only. If your labels run a production line, warehouse or compliance process, plan the update before your version's date rather than after a problem appears.

Check two things first

1. Your version and edition. In BarTender 2019 and later, the Licensing page of Administration Console lists each activated license with its edition, its printer count, and the last BarTender version your maintenance agreement covers (see "How to find your Product Key Code" below). For BarTender 2016 and earlier, check your purchase email or certificate.
2. Whether your Maintenance and Support Agreement (MSA) is active. This decides your path. If you're not sure, Seagull can check it for you: contact Seagull about your MSA, or send us the details in the quote form below and we'll help you find out.

Path A: your MSA is active

With an active MSA, updating to the latest BarTender costs nothing extra. Download BarTender 12 from the BarTender Customer Portal and activate it with your existing Product Key Code (PKC); you don't need a new key. Read the "Before you update" checklist below first, especially if you run a License Server or more than one PC.

Path B: your MSA has expired, or you have an older perpetual license

Seagull warns that installing the latest BarTender while you're not on an active MSA may overwrite your existing label template data, so don't install the new version until your license is sorted out. For BarTender 2016 and earlier, renewing Maintenance and Support is no longer offered; at renewal the license is converted to a subscription. Seagull offers conversion options for older licenses through its resellers. As an authorized BarTender reseller, we can quote the right option for your license, edition and printer count. Use the quote form below.

How to find your Product Key Code (PKC)

Your Product Key Code is the code you used to activate BarTender. Depending on your situation, here is where to look:

1. Check your purchase email or key card. Seagull says the PKC is usually in the email you received after buying BarTender, which has the license and installation instructions. Older boxed copies came with a separate product key code card.
2. Check the BarTender Customer Portal. Newer purchases come with a Redemption Code. Log in to the BarTender Customer Portal, go to Order Redemption and enter your Redemption Code. The last screen shows your Product Key Code and license details, and you can download your BarTender Certificate as a PDF. Seagull's steps: How to Obtain Your Product Key Code.
3. Check the installed copy (BarTender 2019 and later). Open Administration Console and select Licensing. The license list shows each activated license with its edition, its printer count, and the last BarTender version your maintenance agreement covers. That last item tells you whether BarTender 12 is covered.
4. Still can't find it? Contact Seagull and they can look it up, or send us your company name and the approximate purchase date in the form below and we'll help.

Request your upgrade quote

Send us your version, edition and printer count, and we'll email you an upgrade quote within 1 business day. Including your PKC helps us confirm your license and maintenance status faster. It's optional.

Before you update: checklist

• License Server. The BarTender 11.4 and later License Server doesn't work with BarTender 2019, 2021 or 2022 License Servers. To use BarTender 12 anywhere in your setup, update the License Server first. BarTender 2019–2022 clients can still connect to the newer License Server.
• 64-bit Windows only. BarTender 11.4 and later are 64-bit only. If you use 32-bit ODBC or OLE DB database connections, plan to move them to 64-bit.
• Coming from BarTender 2016? All editions are now licensed by printer. With your 2016 PKC, 2016 Basic becomes Professional with a 1-printer license, and 2016 Professional becomes Professional with a 2-printer license. 2016 Automation becomes Automation, and 2016 Enterprise Automation becomes Enterprise, with the same printer count. The new Licensing Service replaces the Seagull License Server and doesn't work with older BarTender versions.
• Back up first. Back up your label templates. If you use Librarian, back up the BarTender System Database before the update, because older clients only get read-only access to Librarian data once the database moves to the new schema.
• Test before you switch. With an active maintenance contract, Provisional Activation lets you run the new version on one test computer while your current license stays in production: 30 days for Professional and Automation, 180 days for Enterprise. The test computer can't be on the same system or subnet as your current activation. A 30-day trial is the alternative.
• Want help with the migration? Seagull's Professional Services team offers update assistance. Seagull's full step-by-step guide is Updating to the Current Version of BarTender.

To see what's new in the current release, read Seagull's What's New in BarTender 12.

Update your printer drivers too

A software update is a good time to update your printer drivers. Seagull publishes Drivers by Seagull for its supported printers; for Zebra models, start at Drivers by Seagull for Zebra printers.

Replacing older printers at the same time?

If your printers are as old as your BarTender version, you can update both in one project. Shop desktop label printers or industrial label printers, then match supplies: thermal transfer ribbons for Zebra printers, labels for desktop printers and labels for industrial printers.

Buying BarTender new instead?

If you're starting over rather than updating, shop BarTender subscriptions: Starter, Professional, Automation and Enterprise, on 1, 3 or 5-year terms.

Need a quick one-off barcode without opening BarTender? Try our free barcode generator.

BarTender is a trademark of Seagull Software, LLC.