Retirement: Entity Linking from Azure AI Language

Microsoft is announcing the planned retirement of Entity Linking from Azure AI Language. We recommend considering a replacement solution; Named Entity Recognition from Azure AI Language also supports entity identification. 

Microsoft will provide full support for all existing Entity Linking until September 8, 2028. During this support window, customers are encouraged to begin planning and executing their transition to Named Entity Recognition or another replacement solution, depending on their workload and compliance requirements.  

Required action

• Effective immediately, Microsoft will no longer accept new customer onboardings to Entity Linking.  

• Make a plan to transition plan for Named Entity Recognition or another replacement solution by September 08, 2026  
• Entity Linking will be retired on 8 September 2028, please transition off by that date.   

Help and support  

If you have questions, get answers from community experts in Microsoft Q&A. If you have a support plan and need technical help, open the Azure portal and select the question mark icon at the top of the page.