RHEL End of Life Dates: Complete Red Hat Enterprise Linux Lifecycle Guide
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) follows a strict 10-year support lifecycle. Knowing exactly when your version reaches end of life (EOL) — and which minor release you need to be on — is critical for maintaining security compliance and support eligibility. This guide covers every active and recently retired RHEL major and minor release, end of life dates, lifecycle phases, and what your team should do before support ends.
RHEL Major Version Lifecycle Summary
| RHEL Version | GA Release Date | Full Support Ends | Maintenance Support Ends | Extended Life (ELS) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 10 | May 20, 2025 | ~May 2030 | ~May 2035 | ~2036+ | Active |
| RHEL 9 | May 2022 | May 31, 2027 | May 31, 2032 | ~2033 | Active |
| RHEL 8 | May 2019 | May 31, 2024 | May 31, 2029 | ~2031 | Maintenance |
| RHEL 7 | Jun 2014 | Aug 6, 2019 | Jun 30, 2024 | Jun 30, 2026 | EOL |
| RHEL 6 | Nov 2010 | May 10, 2016 | Nov 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2024 | EOL |
| RHEL 5 | Mar 2007 | Jan 31, 2013 | Mar 31, 2017 | Nov 30, 2020 | EOL |
Understanding the RHEL Lifecycle Phases
Red Hat defines three main support phases for each major RHEL release:
Phase 1 – Full Support (Years 1–5)
During full support, Red Hat actively develops the platform: new hardware enablement, new functionality, and full bug and security fix coverage. Minor releases (e.g., RHEL 9.1, 9.2) are published roughly every 6 months during this phase. This is when RHEL is at its most capable and fully supported state.
Phase 2 – Maintenance Support (Years 5–10)
Once full support ends, the major version enters Maintenance Support. Only the final minor release (e.g., RHEL 8.10, RHEL 9.x) receives updates during this phase — those updates are limited to critical and important security advisories (CVEs) and select urgent bug fixes. No new hardware support or feature development occurs.
Phase 3 – Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS, Optional)
After the 10-year lifecycle ends, Red Hat offers an optional Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) add-on for an additional 1–3 years for qualifying subscriptions. ELS provides limited critical security patches only and is intended purely as a migration bridge, not a long-term solution.
RHEL 9 Minor Version EOL Dates
RHEL 9 is the current recommended major release. Red Hat publishes minor releases approximately every 6 months. Each minor release is supported for 6 months after its successor ships — meaning you should always be on the latest minor version.
| RHEL 9 Minor Version | Release Date | End of Support | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9.0 | May 18, 2022 | May 31, 2023 | EOL |
| RHEL 9.1 | Nov 2022 | May 31, 2023 | EOL |
| RHEL 9.2 | May 2023 | Nov 2023 | EOL |
| RHEL 9.3 | Nov 2023 | May 2024 | EOL |
| RHEL 9.4 | Apr 2024 | Nov 2024 | EOL |
| RHEL 9.5 | Nov 2024 | May 2025 | EOL |
| RHEL 9.6 | May 2025 | Nov 2025 | Current |
| RHEL 9.7 (expected) | ~Nov 2025 | ~May 2026 | Upcoming |
RHEL 8 Minor Version EOL Dates
RHEL 8 entered Maintenance Support on May 31, 2024. RHEL 8.10 is the final minor release of the RHEL 8 series and will receive security and bug fix updates until May 31, 2029. All earlier RHEL 8 minor versions are end of life.
| RHEL 8 Minor Version | Release Date | End of Support | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8.0 | May 2019 | Nov 2019 | EOL |
| RHEL 8.1 | Nov 2019 | Nov 2021 | EOL |
| RHEL 8.2 | Apr 2020 | Apr 2022 | EOL |
| RHEL 8.3 | Nov 2020 | May 2021 | EOL |
| RHEL 8.4 | May 2021 | May 2023 | EOL |
| RHEL 8.5 | Nov 2021 | May 2022 | EOL |
| RHEL 8.6 | May 2022 | May 2024 | EOL |
| RHEL 8.7 | Nov 2022 | May 2023 | EOL |
| RHEL 8.8 | May 2023 | May 2024 | EOL |
| RHEL 8.9 | Nov 2023 | May 2024 | EOL |
| RHEL 8.10 | May 2024 | May 31, 2029 | Maintenance |
RHEL 10 — Current Recommended Release
RHEL 10 is Red Hat's latest major release, published on May 20, 2025. It introduces significant platform updates including improved security defaults, support for newer hardware, updated toolchains, and a major shift to image-based system management. RHEL 10 is the recommended target for new deployments and for teams planning migrations from RHEL 8.
| RHEL 10 Minor Version | Release Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| RHEL 10.0 | May 20, 2025 | Active |
RHEL 7 — End of Life
RHEL 7 reached the end of its Maintenance Support phase on June 30, 2024. Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) for RHEL 7 ran until June 30, 2026. Any system still running RHEL 7 is now completely unsupported and no longer receives security updates. Immediate migration to RHEL 9 or RHEL 10 is strongly recommended.
RHEL vs. Downstream Distributions
Several distributions are based on RHEL source code and follow similar (but not identical) lifecycles:
- AlmaLinux — matches RHEL lifecycle dates
- Rocky Linux — matches RHEL lifecycle dates
- Oracle Linux — follows RHEL major lifecycle with Oracle Lifetime Support option
- CentOS Stream — now a rolling preview of future RHEL versions, not a downstream clone
How to Check Your Current RHEL Version
Run the following command on any RHEL system to check your exact version:
cat /etc/redhat-release
# Example output: Red Hat Enterprise Linux release 9.6 (Plow)Or for more detail:
cat /etc/os-releaseWhat to Do When Your RHEL Version Is Approaching EOL
When your RHEL version is nearing the end of its support window, you have three options:
- Upgrade to the latest minor release (within the same major version) — the easiest path, usually in-place via
dnf update. - Migrate to the next major version (e.g., RHEL 8 → RHEL 9 or RHEL 10) — Red Hat provides the Leapp in-place upgrade tool for major version migrations.
- Purchase Extended Life Cycle Support (ELS) — for short-term coverage while you complete a migration, not a long-term strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is RHEL 8 end of life?
RHEL 8 full support ended May 31, 2024. RHEL 8.10 (the final minor release) is in Maintenance Support until May 31, 2029. After that, only ELS (purchased add-on) provides limited coverage.
When is RHEL 9 end of life?
RHEL 9 full support ends May 31, 2027. Maintenance Support extends to May 31, 2032. RHEL 9.6 is the current latest minor release (as of mid-2025).
Is RHEL 8.10 the last RHEL 8 release?
Yes. RHEL 8.10, released May 2024, is the final minor release of RHEL 8. It remains in Maintenance Support until May 31, 2029.
What is the RHEL 9.7 end of life date?
RHEL 9.7 is expected around November 2025 and will be supported until approximately May 2026, when RHEL 9.8 is expected to ship. Always upgrade to the latest minor release to stay supported.
What is the RHEL 10 lifecycle?
RHEL 10, released May 20, 2025, follows the standard 10-year lifecycle: full support until approximately May 2030, maintenance support until approximately May 2035, with optional ELS thereafter.
Does RHEL have a free version?
Yes. Red Hat offers a no-cost RHEL subscription for individual developers via the Red Hat Developer Program — up to 16 systems. This includes full access to the software but not production support.
What is RHEL ELS (Extended Life Cycle Support)?
ELS is a paid add-on that extends security patch coverage beyond the standard 10-year lifecycle, typically for 1–3 additional years. It is intended as a bridge for teams unable to complete migrations on time, not as a permanent support solution.
What is the difference between RHEL and CentOS?
RHEL is Red Hat's commercial enterprise Linux distribution with full support. CentOS was a free, community-maintained downstream rebuild of RHEL. CentOS Linux (as a stable downstream) was discontinued — CentOS Stream is now a rolling preview of upcoming RHEL releases, not a production RHEL clone.