SAP Final Transition Period for S/4HANA Compatibility Packs Ends May 2026

This news will change everything if you believed that you still had ample time to handle legacy ERP functionality within your S/4HANA system. SAP has officially declared a last transition window of S/4HANA Compatibility Packs and this time the message is clear: this is your final cushion before the ground disappears.

SAP has given the majority of these Compatibility Packs an extended period of use until May 25, 2026, which gives you a short but critical five-month lifeline. It’s not a rollback. It’s not a policy shift. It is a hard deadline reset, this time with pressure attached.

What the SAP S/4HANA Compatibility Packs Extension Means

Compatibility Packs were introduced to help you migrate from classic SAP ERP (ECC) to S/4HANA without breaking essential business processes. They acted like temporary scaffolding, useful, but never designed to stay forever.

The company now confirms that all the lacking functionalities have been introduced with the 2023 S/4HANA release and the implication is that these packs have actually served their purpose. The May 2026 deadline will assist only those already in motion complete their journey safely.

If you have already started migrating:
You get five extra months to finish strong.

If you have not started yet:
Nothing changes. The deadline still hits hard.

Why SAP S/4HANA Compatibility Packs Are Ending 

This end date has been communicated by SAP over the years and even formal documentation of this end date in SAP Note 2269324. Nevertheless, a lot of enterprises underestimated how deeply legacy pack functionality remained embedded in daily activities.

Here’s why SAP is holding firm now:

• Compatibility Packs were always temporary
• Continued use creates licensing and compliance risks
• SAP’s roadmap is now cloud-first
• Long-term support is shifting to SAP Cloud ERP solutions

This extension is not forgiveness and it is a final courtesy.

Who Gets the SAP S/4HANA Compatibility Packs Extension

This extension is selective. SAP is offering it only if you’ve already shown intent and progress.

You qualify if you:

• Are actively migrating away from legacy ERP add-ons
• Have dependencies identified and remediation planned
• Are engaging with SAP on cloud transition paths

You don’t qualify if you:

• Haven’t assessed Compatibility Pack usage
• Haven’t initiated remediation
• Are waiting for “more time”

SAP S/4HANA Compatibility Packs and Cloud Strategy

Alongside the extension, SAP is rolling out tailored transition programs to move you toward cloud alternatives. These include the following:

• Transformation incentives
• Cloud extension policies
• Hands-on support from enterprise architects
• AI-powered assessment tools
• Services to detect hidden Compatibility Pack usage

In short, SAP would like you to be out of Compatibility Packs and in its cloud ecosystem within a very short time.

SAP S/4HANA Compatibility Packs Risks Explained

Many CIOs believe they’ve completed their S/4HANA migration, only to discover Compatibility Pack elements still quietly running in the background.

This exposes you to:

• Compliance violations after May 2026
• Financial penalties during audits
• Operational disruption if functionality is disabled
• Reputational risk with stakeholders

The company has even hinted it could technically disable Compatibility Pack functions in future S/4HANA releases. At that point, this stops being an IT issue and becomes a business crisis.

SAP S/4HANA Compatibility Packs Timeline 

What You Should Do Next

If you are smart, you will not treat this as a delay, you will treat it as a countdown.

You should:

• Audit your system for Compatibility Pack usage
• Assign ownership and budget immediately
• Lock a remediation timeline before Q2 2026
• Engage SAP or partners for cloud migration support

The difference between control and chaos is what you do now.

Final Verdict on SAP S/4HANA Compatibility Packs

SAP has not reduced expectations, it has sharpened them. This five-month window is your last structured opportunity to land safely. Those who act decisively will exit cleanly. Those who do not may find themselves exposed, non-compliant and scrambling.

May 2026 isn’t far. And SAP isn’t blinking.

FAQs

Q1. Is this the final extension announced by SAP for Compatibility Packs?
Yes. SAP has clearly stated this is the final transition period.

Q2. Can SAP disable Compatibility Pack functionality?
SAP has indicated it may technically disable these functions in future releases.

Q3. Do all customers get the extension automatically?
No. Only customers who have already started their transition are eligible.

Q4. What replaces Compatibility Pack functionality?
SAP Cloud ERP solutions and native S/4HANA capabilities.

Q5. What happens after May 2026?
Usage becomes non-compliant, unsupported, and risky for business operations.

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