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

Last updated: May 27, 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.

Quick answer: Cisco IOS XE 17.15.x (Long-Lived) is the current recommended release as of 2025–2026. IOS XE 17.12.x (Long-Lived) is in standard maintenance. IOS XE 17.9 and earlier in the 17.x train have entered or are approaching End of Software Maintenance.

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: 17.3, 17.6, 17.9.

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.

Important: Cisco issues separate EoL bulletins for Standard vs. Long-Lived releases within the same version train. A 17.9 Standard release may have a different (earlier) end of maintenance date than 17.9 LL.

Cisco IOS XE 17.x Release Train — EOL Overview

IOS XE Release Type First Released End of Software Maintenance End of Support Status
17.15.x Long-Lived ~Q3 2025 ~Q3 2028 ~Q3 2030 Current LL
17.14.x Standard ~Q1 2025 ~Q1 2026 ~Q1 2028 Active
17.13.x Standard ~Q3 2024 ~Q3 2025 ~Q3 2027 Maintenance
17.12.x Long-Lived Mar 2024 ~Mar 2027 ~Mar 2029 LL – Active
17.11.x Standard ~Q3 2023 ~Q3 2024 ~Q3 2026 EOL
17.10.x Standard ~Q1 2023 ~Q1 2024 ~Q1 2026 EOL
17.9.x Long-Lived Aug 2022 Aug 2025 Aug 2027 EOL
17.8.x Standard ~Q1 2022 ~Q1 2023 ~Q1 2025 EOL
17.7.x Standard ~Q3 2021 ~Q3 2022 ~Q3 2024 EOL
17.6.x Long-Lived Jul 2021 Jul 2024 Jul 2026 EOL
17.5.x Standard ~Q1 2021 ~Q1 2022 ~Q1 2024 EOL
17.4.x Standard ~Q3 2020 ~Q3 2021 ~Q3 2023 EOL
17.3.x Long-Lived Oct 2020 Oct 2023 Oct 2025 EOL
17.2.x Standard ~Q1 2020 ~Q1 2021 ~Q1 2023 EOL
17.1.x Standard ~Q3 2019 ~Q3 2020 ~Q3 2022 EOL

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:

IOS XE 16.x Release Type End of Software Maintenance Status
16.12.x (Fuji) Long-Lived Jan 2023 EOL
16.11.x Standard ~Apr 2021 EOL
16.9.x (Fuji) Long-Lived Oct 2021 EOL
16.6.x (Everest) Long-Lived Jan 2020 EOL

Key IOS XE 17.x Release Notes

IOS XE 17.15 — Current Long-Lived

IOS XE 17.15.x is the current recommended Long-Lived release, expected to receive maintenance until approximately Q3 2028. This is the target version for networks being upgraded or maintained in the 2025–2026 window. It includes full support for Catalyst 9000 series, ISR 4000 series, and ASR 1000 series platforms.

IOS XE 17.12 — Stable Long-Lived

IOS XE 17.12.x is a Long-Lived release widely deployed in enterprise production environments. First released in early 2024, it receives approximately 36 months of maintenance, making it a solid choice for environments that cannot yet upgrade to 17.15. End of software maintenance is expected around March 2027.

IOS XE 17.9 — End of Life (August 2025)

IOS XE 17.9 was a Long-Lived release and was one of the most widely deployed versions in enterprise networks. End of Software Maintenance for 17.9 was August 2025. Networks still running 17.9 should plan an upgrade to 17.12 or 17.15. 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 July 2024. It is no longer receiving security patches. Systems still running 17.6 are exposed to vulnerabilities discovered after that date.

Specific Version Queries from the Field

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

Version String Train Release Type Maintenance Status
17.15.x 17.15 Long-Lived In Maintenance (~2028)
17.12.x 17.12 Long-Lived In Maintenance (~2027)
17.9.x 17.9 Long-Lived EOL – Aug 2025
17.6.x 17.6 Long-Lived EOL – Jul 2024
17.3.x 17.3 Long-Lived EOL – Oct 2023
16.12.x 16.12 Long-Lived EOL – Jan 2023

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:

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

What is Cisco IOS XE 17.12 end of life?

IOS XE 17.12 is a Long-Lived release. End of Software Maintenance is expected approximately March 2027 — roughly 36 months from its Q1 2024 release. Check the official Cisco EoL bulletin at cisco.com for the binding date.

Is IOS XE 17.9 still supported?

No. IOS XE 17.9 (Long-Lived) reached End of Software Maintenance in August 2025. It is no longer receiving security patches. Upgrade to 17.12 or 17.15.

What is the difference between EoS and EoL for Cisco?

Cisco uses several milestone terms: End of Sale (EoS) means the product can no longer be purchased. End of Software Maintenance means no new software releases or patches. End of Vulnerability/Security Support means no more security advisories or CVE patches. End of Support (EoL) means all support, including TAC cases, has ended. For software releases like IOS XE, End of Software Maintenance is the most critical milestone to track.

What is the recommended IOS XE version in 2026?

Cisco recommends running a Long-Lived release for production stability. In 2026, IOS XE 17.15.x (the latest Long-Lived) or 17.12.x are the recommended versions, depending on hardware support and available testing windows.

What happened to Cisco IOS 15.x?

Cisco IOS 15.x is the "classic" (non-XE) IOS running on older hardware platforms like 2900/3900 ISRs and older Catalyst 3750/4500 switches. All 15.x releases have reached or are approaching end of life. Classic IOS 15.1 end of life was January 2023. Customers on these platforms should plan hardware refreshes to IOS XE-based platforms.

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