BarTender 2021 & Earlier: End of Support Notice
Full access to support, including licensing and activation assistance, ends on 31 December 2027. Is your labelling environment ready?
Seagull Software has announced an important support change affecting customers running BarTender 2021 and earlier versions.
After 31 December 2027, all remaining support for these versions will end, including licensing, activation and deactivation assistance.
At Datamark Distribution, we encourage customers and resellers to begin reviewing their installations and planning a transition to BarTender 12.1 or a newer supported release.
End of support does not necessarily mean your existing installation will stop printing labels. However, licensing problems, hardware migrations or activation issues could become difficult to resolve once the remaining support services end.
What Is Changing?
Support for older BarTender versions is being phased out. There are two important dates for organisations running BarTender 2021.
BarTender 2021
Full technical support ends, with limited licensing and activation assistance remaining available under the applicable support terms.
BarTender 2021 & Earlier
All remaining support ends, including assistance with licensing, activation and deactivation.
Support Availability After the Deadline
| Support Service | Before Deadline* | After Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing Assistance | Limited access | Unavailable |
| Activation / Deactivation | Limited access | Unavailable |
| MSA Renewals | Subject to eligibility | Unavailable |
| Full Technical Troubleshooting | Depends on version and lifecycle | Unavailable |
*Current support eligibility depends on the installed version and applicable maintenance or subscription agreement.
Why Updating Matters
Your existing BarTender installation may be running reliably today, but the technology surrounding your labelling environment continues to evolve.
Seagull has identified security vulnerabilities affecting BarTender 2021 and earlier versions, and recommends updating to a current release to reduce exposure.
Updating helps keep your labelling environment secure, compatible with modern infrastructure and eligible for ongoing software support.
What’s New in BarTender 12.1?
BarTender 12.1 introduces improvements to security, infrastructure compatibility, automation and Hybrid Labeling.
Modern Infrastructure
Support for Microsoft SQL Server 2025 helps organisations modernise their labelling infrastructure.
Improved Security
Security updates help address known vulnerabilities affecting older versions.
Hybrid Labeling
Combine cloud and on-premises labelling capabilities to support distributed operations.
Document Synchronisation
Synchronise labelling documents between supported cloud and on-premises environments.
Expanded Automation
Enhanced Actions API capabilities provide additional options for dynamic label generation and printing workflows.
How to Prepare for Your Upgrade
Upgrading a business-critical labelling system should be planned carefully, especially if you operate multiple printers, databases or automated workflows.
- Check your BarTender version. Open BarTender Designer and select Help > About.
- Review your licence. Confirm your edition, printer count and maintenance or subscription status.
- Check compatibility. Review operating systems, databases, printer drivers and connected applications.
- Back up your environment. Preserve label templates, databases and integration configurations.
- Plan and test the upgrade. Validate printing and automation workflows before deploying to production.
Customers with an active Maintenance and Support Agreement (MSA) or eligible subscription may already have access to newer software versions. Datamark can help review the available options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will BarTender 2021 stop working in 2027?
Not necessarily. Existing installations may continue operating, but the remaining support services will no longer be available after 31 December 2027.
How do I find my current BarTender version?
Open BarTender Designer and navigate to Help > About.
Do I need to purchase a new licence?
This depends on your current licence type and maintenance status. Eligible subscriptions and active maintenance agreements may provide access to newer versions.
Will my existing label templates still work?
Many templates can be migrated, but all templates, data connections and integrations should be tested before upgrading.
Can Datamark assist with upgrading?
Yes. Datamark can assist with licensing enquiries, subscription conversions, upgrade planning and technical services.
Don’t Leave Your BarTender Upgrade Until the Last Minute
Whether you’re managing a single label printer or a multi-site automated labelling environment, Datamark can help you review your software and licensing requirements.
Enquire About Your Upgrade → Email DatamarkAdditional Resources
Learn more about the BarTender support lifecycle and product updates:
BarTender 2021 Official End of Support Notice