Cisco IOS XE End of Life Dates: Full Version EOL & EoS Guide

By Scott Bissett  ·  Last updated: August 9, 2026  ·  Covers IOS XE 16.x and 17.x release trains

Knowing when your Cisco IOS XE version reaches end of software maintenance — and end of support — is essential for network compliance and vulnerability management. This guide covers the Cisco IOS XE lifecycle model, the full list of 17.x release train dates, and how to identify whether your current version is still receiving security fixes. Cisco publishes official End-of-Life (EoL) and End-of-Sale (EoS) product bulletins for each release — always verify against the official bulletin for binding support dates.

Key Dates at a Glance

• Cisco IOS XE 17.18: end of software maintenance 2028-02-08; end of support 2029-08-08
• Cisco IOS XE 17.17: end of support 2026-03-31
• Cisco IOS XE 17.16: end of support 2025-12-11
• Cisco IOS XE 17.15: end of software maintenance 2027-02-09; end of support 2028-08-09
• Cisco IOS XE 17.14: end of support 2025-04-13
• Cisco IOS XE 17.13: end of support 2024-11-30
• Cisco IOS XE 17.12: end of software maintenance 2026-01-28; end of support 2027-07-28
• Cisco IOS XE 17.11: end of support 2024-03-28

Understanding the Cisco IOS XE Release Model

Cisco IOS XE uses a two-track release model designed to balance access to new features against stability for production networks:

Standard Maintenance (SM) Releases

Standard Maintenance releases ship approximately every 6 months and receive roughly 12 months of software maintenance (bug fixes and security patches) after their first release. These are ideal for environments that want access to the latest features but are comfortable with more frequent update cycles. Examples: 17.10, 17.11, 17.13, 17.14.

Long-Lived (LL) Releases

Long-Lived releases are designated for stable, production deployments. They receive approximately 36 months of software maintenance — three times the Standard Maintenance window. Cisco recommends Long-Lived releases for enterprise production networks. Examples: 17.3.x LL, 17.6.x LL, 17.9.x LL, 17.12.x LL, 17.15.x LL, 17.18.x LL.

Cisco IOS XE 17.x Release Train — EOL Overview

Dates marked ~ are approximate based on Cisco's standard release cadence. Verify against official Cisco EoL bulletins at cisco.com/go/eos for binding dates.

Cisco IOS XE 16.x — Legacy Releases

The 16.x release train was the predecessor to 17.x and ran from approximately 2016 to 2020. All 16.x releases are now end of life or in their final support windows. The most widely deployed 16.x releases were:

Key IOS XE 17.x Release Notes

IOS XE 17.18 — Current Long-Lived

IOS XE 17.18.x, released August 2025, is the current recommended Long-Lived release. Software maintenance runs until February 2028, with support until August 2029. This is the target version for networks being upgraded or maintained in the 2026 window.

IOS XE 17.15 — Active Long-Lived

IOS XE 17.15.x is a Long-Lived release, released August 2024, receiving software maintenance until February 2027 and support until August 2028. It remains a solid target for networks that cannot yet move to 17.18. It includes full support for Catalyst 9000 series, ISR 4000 series, and ASR 1000 series platforms.

IOS XE 17.12 — Maintenance Ended, Security Fixes Only

IOS XE 17.12.x is a Long-Lived release widely deployed in enterprise production environments. First released in July 2023, its software maintenance ended January 28, 2026. Vulnerability/security support continues until July 28, 2027, but networks on 17.12 should be planning a move to 17.15 or 17.18.

IOS XE 17.9 — End of Life (July 2026)

IOS XE 17.9 was a Long-Lived release and was one of the most widely deployed versions in enterprise networks. Software maintenance for 17.9 ended January 2025, and end of support followed on July 29, 2026 — 17.9 is now fully end of life. Networks still running 17.9 should upgrade to 17.15 or 17.18. Note that 17.9 was widely deployed on Catalyst 9300/9400/9500 series.

IOS XE 17.6 — End of Life (July 2024)

IOS XE 17.6.x, a Long-Lived release, reached end of software maintenance in January 2023 and full end of support in July 2024. It is no longer receiving security patches. Systems still running 17.6 are exposed to vulnerabilities discovered after those dates.

Specific Version Queries from the Field

Based on common search queries, here are the specific EOL statuses for point releases frequently asked about:

Platforms Running Cisco IOS XE

IOS XE runs across Cisco's modern router and switch platforms. These are the main product families where IOS XE version management applies:

• Catalyst 9000 Series Switches — 9200, 9300, 9400, 9500, 9600, 9800 (wireless)
• ISR 4000 Series Routers — ISR 4221, 4321, 4331, 4351, 4431, 4451, 4461
• ASR 1000 Series Routers — ASR 1001-X, 1001-HX, 1002-X, 1002-HX, 1004, 1006-X
• CSR 1000V / Catalyst 8000V — virtual router platforms
• Catalyst 8000 Edge Platforms — 8200, 8300, 8500

How to Check Your IOS XE Version

Router# show version
Cisco IOS XE Software, Version 17.12.04
...
Router# show version | include IOS XE

How to Upgrade IOS XE

For Catalyst 9000 switches, IOS XE can be upgraded using the install method (recommended over bundle mode):

# Download new image to flash
copy tftp://server/cat9k_iosxe.17.12.04.SPA.bin flash:

# Install
install add file flash:cat9k_iosxe.17.12.04.SPA.bin
install activate
install commit

For ISR/ASR routers, Cisco recommends using Cisco Software Manager (CSM) or the Software Download portal on cisco.com for image management.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Resources

• Cisco IOS XE version data on endoflife.ai
• RHEL End of Life Guide
• Hardware EOL & EOSL Guide