Debian End of Life Dates: Debian 10, 11, 12, and 13 Support Timelines
Debian uses a layered support model — regular security support, Long Term Support (LTS), and Extended Long Term Support (ELTS) — giving each release up to 7+ years of coverage if you use all layers. This guide explains each Debian release's codename, release date, end of regular support, LTS end date, and ELTS end date, and tells you which version you should be running right now.
Key Dates at a Glance
- Debian 10 (Buster): LTS ended 2024-06-30
- Debian 11 (Bullseye): regular support ended 2024-08-14; LTS ends 2026-08-31
- Debian 12 (Bookworm): regular support ended 2026-07-12; LTS ends 2028-06-30
- Debian 13 (Trixie): released 2025-08-09; regular support ends 2028-08-09; LTS ends 2030-06-30
Debian Release EOL Dates — Full Table
| Debian Version | Codename | Release Date | End of Regular Support | LTS End | ELTS End | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 13 | Trixie | Aug 9, 2025 | August 9, 2028 | June 30, 2030 | Not yet announced | Stable |
| Debian 12 | Bookworm | Jun 10, 2023 | July 12, 2026 | June 30, 2028 | Jun 30, 2033 | EOL |
| Debian 11 | Bullseye | Aug 14, 2021 | August 14, 2024 | August 31, 2026 | Jun 30, 2031 | ELTS only |
| Debian 10 | Buster | Jul 6, 2019 | September 10, 2022 | June 30, 2024 | Jun 30, 2029 | EOL |
| Debian 9 | Stretch | Jun 17, 2017 | July 18, 2020 | July 1, 2022 | Jun 30, 2027 | EOL |
| Debian 8 | Jessie | Apr 25, 2015 | June 17, 2018 | June 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2025 | EOL |
Sources: release dates, end of regular support and LTS end dates are checked against our lifecycle data at every site build. The ELTS column is not part of that data — those dates come from Debian's own LTS/Extended wiki table, verified 2026-09-01. ELTS is a paid Freexian service and its end dates can be extended; re-check the wiki before budgeting on one.
Understanding Debian's Three Support Tiers
Tier 1: Regular Security Support (~3 years)
This is the standard Debian security support provided by the Debian Security Team. Covers the full main archive with timely security patches. This is the primary support window and what most users and production systems rely on. It runs from the release date until the next stable release ships and the current release transitions to "oldstable" — typically about 2 years — plus a brief overlap. Effective total coverage is approximately 3 years.
Tier 2: Long Term Support / LTS (~2 additional years)
After the Security Team ends support, Debian LTS takes over for approximately 2 more years. LTS is maintained by a separate team of volunteers and corporate sponsors (Freexian and others). LTS covers a subset of packages — typically all packages in the main archive that are actively used — but may not cover every package the Security Team handled. Free to use, no subscription required.
Tier 3: Extended LTS / ELTS (~2 additional years)
ELTS is a commercial offering managed by Freexian that extends support for an additional ~2 years beyond LTS. ELTS covers only the most popular packages (a defined subset) and requires a paid subscription for access to the patches. It is designed for organizations with strict compliance requirements that cannot complete migrations quickly.
Debian 13 (Trixie) — Current Stable, Regular Support to August 9, 2028
Debian 13, codenamed Trixie, was released on August 9, 2025, becoming the new stable release. Upon Trixie's release, Debian 12 (Bookworm) transitioned to "oldstable" but continues to receive security support for approximately 1 more year, and then LTS support. Trixie's full regular security support window runs approximately through August 2028.
Notable in Debian 13: updated GCC, LLVM, Python, and Rust toolchains; improved ARM64 and RISC-V support; updated kernel based on Linux 6.x; improved installer; and a fully updated package set.
Debian 12 (Bookworm) — Regular Security Support Ended July 12, 2026; LTS Until June 30, 2028
Debian 12, codenamed Bookworm, was released June 10, 2023. It became "oldstable" when Trixie was released (August 9, 2025), and the Debian Security Team's regular support ended on July 12, 2026. It is now maintained by the Debian LTS team. Bookworm shipped with Linux kernel 6.1, GNOME 43, KDE Plasma 5.27, Python 3.11, PHP 8.2, PostgreSQL 15, and MariaDB 10.11. LTS support runs to June 30, 2028.
How long is Debian 12 supported?
Debian 12 (Bookworm) receives approximately:
- Regular support: ~3 years — from June 10, 2023 to July 12, 2026
- LTS support: +2 years — July 12, 2026 to June 30, 2028
- ELTS support: +5 more years — June 30, 2028 to June 30, 2033 (commercial)
- Total: up to ~10 years of coverage, if you pay for the full ELTS window
Debian 11 (Bullseye) — LTS Ended August 31, 2026
Debian 11, codenamed Bullseye, was released August 14, 2021. Regular security support ended August 14, 2024. LTS ended August 31, 2026, so Bullseye no longer receives free security updates from the Debian project. Paid ELTS coverage runs to June 30, 2031. Bullseye shipped with Linux 5.10 LTS, Python 3.9, PHP 7.4, MariaDB 10.5, and PostgreSQL 13.
Debian 10 (Buster) — Free Support Over, Paid ELTS Only
Debian 10, codenamed Buster, was released July 6, 2019. Regular support ended September 10, 2022 and LTS ended June 30, 2024. Free support is finished; the only remaining patch source is paid ELTS, which Debian lists through June 30, 2029. A Buster system without an ELTS subscription is completely unpatched — migrate to Debian 12 or 13.
Debian 9 (Stretch) and Debian 8 (Jessie)
Debian 9 (Stretch) left LTS on June 30, 2022; paid ELTS coverage is listed through June 30, 2027. Debian 8 (Jessie) is finished through every tier — its ELTS window closed June 30, 2025, so no patches are available for Jessie through any channel.
Debian Release Naming Convention
Debian codenames are all characters from the Toy Story film series. They are assigned in alphabetical order. Recent and upcoming releases:
| Number | Codename | Toy Story Character | Release Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Trixie | Trixie the triceratops | Stable (2025) |
| 12 | Bookworm | Bookworm the caterpillar | Oldstable |
| 11 | Bullseye | Bullseye the horse | Oldoldstable / LTS |
| 10 | Buster | Buster the dog | EOL |
| 14 | Forky | Forky (TS4) | Testing |
How to Check Your Debian Version
cat /etc/debian_version
# Output: 12.x (Bookworm) or 11.x (Bullseye)
lsb_release -a
# Shows distributor, codename, and releaseUpgrading Debian
Upgrading Debian 11 (Bullseye) to Debian 12 (Bookworm)
# Update all current packages first
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo apt full-upgrade -y
# Update sources.list to Bookworm
sudo sed -i 's/bullseye/bookworm/g' /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo sed -i 's/bullseye/bookworm/g' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/*.list
# Run the upgrade
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade -y
# Reboot
sudo rebootUpgrading Debian 12 (Bookworm) to Debian 13 (Trixie)
Follow the same process, replacing bookworm with trixie in your sources. Always read the official Debian release notes for the specific version pair before upgrading — they document known issues and required manual steps.
Debian currently carries an EOL Risk Score™ of 75/100 — Grade D, high risk, recalculated at every site build from EOL recency, attack surface, CISA KEV exposure, and extended-support availability. Per-version scores and dates are on the Debian lifecycle page.
The right response comes down to one question: how many more years does this system need to run? Under a year, extended support (where it exists) is usually cheaper than an emergency migration. One to three years, migrate — support fees paid repeatedly cost more than doing the project once. Indefinitely, migrate now and plan the next one before it surprises you. Extended support is often the more expensive choice over a multi-year horizon — a bridge, not a destination. And if this deadline feels like vendor caprice, it isn’t — why end of life is inevitable for every version, with the receipts.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Debian 12 (Bookworm) end of life?
Debian 12 regular security support ended July 12, 2026. LTS runs to June 30, 2028. Paid ELTS coverage is listed through June 30, 2033.
When is Debian 11 (Bullseye) end of life?
Debian 11 regular support ended August 14, 2024. LTS ended August 31, 2026, so Bullseye is now on paid ELTS only, which Debian lists through June 30, 2031.
When is Debian 13 (Trixie) end of life?
Debian 13 (Trixie) is the current stable release (released August 9, 2025). Regular support runs until August 9, 2028. LTS extends to June 30, 2030.
What is the difference between Debian LTS and ELTS?
LTS (Long Term Support) is a free community effort that adds 2 years of security support after regular support ends. ELTS (Extended LTS) is a commercial offering from Freexian that adds several more years on top of LTS — currently about five for recent releases — but covers a narrower set of packages, scoped to what subscribers actually use. LTS requires no payment; ELTS requires a subscription.
Is Debian 10 (Buster) still supported?
Not for free. Debian 10 (Buster) left regular support on September 10, 2022 and LTS on June 30, 2024. Paid ELTS coverage is listed through June 30, 2029; without an ELTS subscription, a Buster system receives no patches at all.
How often does Debian release new stable versions?
Debian releases a new stable version approximately every 2 years, with the goal of releasing "when it's ready" rather than on a fixed schedule. In practice, releases have occurred in 2019 (Buster), 2021 (Bullseye), 2023 (Bookworm), and August 2025 (Trixie).
What is Debian "bookworm" in English?
"Bookworm" refers to an insect larva that bores through books (historically), but in modern English it's a colloquial term for someone who reads extensively. It's also the name of a caterpillar character from Toy Story, following Debian's naming convention.
What codename does Debian 12 use?
Debian 12 uses the codename Bookworm. You may see it referred to interchangeably as "Debian 12" or "Debian Bookworm."
Related Resources
- Debian version data on endoflife.ai
- RHEL End of Life Guide
- Ubuntu version data on endoflife.ai
- Node.js End of Life Guide
The Monthly EOL Digest™
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