containerd 1.6 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
containerd 1.6 reached end of life on 23 Aug 2025. It no longer receives security fixes.
Support timeline
Official dates from the containerd release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 15 Feb 2022 | — |
| End of life | 23 Aug 2025 | 1.0 years ago |
| Active support ended | 10 Sept 2023 | security fixes only after this |
| Latest release | 1.6.39 · 22 Jul 2025 | final |
Where to go from 1.6
Recommended target: containerd 2.3 (supported until 30 Apr 2028).
The newest actively supported branch is containerd 2.3 (latest release 2.3.3).
Frequently asked questions
Is containerd 1.6 still safe to use?
containerd 1.6 reached end of life on 23 Aug 2025, 351 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download containerd 1.6?
Yes — the final release (1.6.39) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade containerd 1.6 to?
Upgrade to containerd 2.3, the newest actively supported branch (supported until 30 Apr 2028).