FreeBSD 4.9 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
FreeBSD 4.9 reached end of life on 31 Aug 2004. It no longer receives security fixes.
Support timeline
Official dates from the FreeBSD release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 28 Oct 2003 | — |
| End of life | 31 Aug 2004 | 22.0 years ago |
| Latest release | — | final |
Where to go from 4.9
Recommended target: FreeBSD 15.1 (supported until 31 Mar 2027).
The newest actively supported branch is FreeBSD 15.1 (latest release ).
Frequently asked questions
Is FreeBSD 4.9 still safe to use?
FreeBSD 4.9 reached end of life on 31 Aug 2004, 8,013 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download FreeBSD 4.9?
Yes — the final release (4.9) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade FreeBSD 4.9 to?
Upgrade to FreeBSD 15.1, the newest actively supported branch (supported until 31 Mar 2027).