FreeBSD 5 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
FreeBSD 5 reached end of life on 31 May 2008. It no longer receives security fixes.
Support timeline
Official dates from the FreeBSD release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 14 Jan 2003 | 23y 9mo ago |
| Security Support ended | 31 May 2008 | 18y 4mo ago |
| Latest release | — | final |
Where to go from 5
Recommended target: FreeBSD 14.5 (supported until 30 Jun 2027).
The newest actively supported branch is FreeBSD 14.5 (latest release ).
Frequently asked questions
Is FreeBSD 5 still safe to use?
FreeBSD 5 reached end of life on 31 May 2008, 6,701 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download FreeBSD 5?
Yes — the final release (5) 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 5 to?
Upgrade to FreeBSD 14.5, the newest actively supported branch (supported until 30 Jun 2027).