Python 3.6 End of Life
Support dates, vulnerabilities published since end of life, and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
Python 3.6 reached end of life on 23 Dec 2021. It no longer receives security fixes.
Support timeline
Official dates from the Python release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 23 Dec 2016 | — |
| End of life | 23 Dec 2021 | 4.6 years ago |
| Active support ended | 24 Dec 2018 | security fixes only after this |
| Latest release | 3.6.15 · 3 Sept 2021 | final |
The cost of staying: CVEs since end of life
42 Python vulnerabilities have been published since 23 Dec 2021. All were fixed in supported branches — 3.6 received none of them. Source: NVD.
Python CVEs published since 3.6's EOL, by year
2 of the 42 are rated critical · data refreshed 2026-08-09
Published 21 Oct 2022 · rated critical — fixed in supported branches only, never in 3.6. Details
Published 22 Aug 2023 · rated critical — fixed in supported branches only, never in 3.6. Details
Published 7 Nov 2022 · rated high — fixed in supported branches only, never in 3.6. Details
Where to go from 3.6
Recommended target: Python 3.14 (supported until 31 Oct 2030).
The newest actively supported branch is Python 3.14 (latest release 3.14.7). Review docs.python.org before upgrading.
Frequently asked questions
Is Python 3.6 still safe to use?
No. Python 3.6 stopped receiving security fixes on 23 Dec 2021. Since then, 42 Python vulnerabilities have been published and fixed in supported branches — Python 3.6 received none of those fixes.
Can I still download Python 3.6?
Yes — the final release (3.6.15) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade Python 3.6 to?
Upgrade to Python 3.14, the newest actively supported branch (supported until 31 Oct 2030).