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<h1>Versioning Policy <i class="fas fa-code-branch"></i></h1>
<p>
The PostgreSQL Global Development Group releases a new major version containing
new features about once a year. Each major version receives bug fixes and, if
need be, <a href="/support/security/">security</a> fixes that are released at
least once every three months in what we call a "minor release." For more
information on the minor release schedule, you can view the
<a href="/developer/roadmap/">minor release roadmap</a>.
</p><p>
</p><p>
If the release team determines that a critical bug or security fix is too
important to wait until the regularly scheduled minor release, it may make
a release available outside of the minor release roadmap.
</p>
<p>
The PostgreSQL Global Development Group supports a major version for 5 years
after its initial release. After this, a final minor version will be released
and the software will then be unsupported (end-of-life).
</p>
<h2>Version Numbering</h2>
<p>
Starting with PostgreSQL 10, a major version is indicated by increasing the
first part of the version, e.g. 10 to 11.  Before PostgreSQL 10, a major version
was indicated by increasing either the first or second part of the version
number, e.g. 9.5 to 9.6.
</p>
<p>
Minor releases are numbered by increasing the last part of the version number.
Beginning with PostgreSQL 10, this is the second part of the version number,
e.g. 10.0 to 10.1; for older versions this is the third part of the version
number, e.g. 9.5.3 to 9.5.4.
</p>
<h2>Upgrading</h2>
<p>
Major versions make complex changes, so the contents of the data directory
cannot be maintained in a backward compatible way.  A dump/reload of the
database or use of the
<a href="/docs/current/pgupgrade.html">pg_upgrade</a> application is required
for major upgrades. We also recommend reading the
<a href="/docs/current/upgrading.html">upgrading</a> section of the major
version you are planning to upgrade to. You can upgrade from one major version
to another without upgrading to intervening versions, but we recommend reading
the <a href="/docs/release/">release notes</a> of all intervening major
versions prior to doing so.
</p>
<p>
  Minor release upgrades do not require a dump and restore;  you simply stop
  the database server, install the updated binaries, and restart the server.
  Such upgrades might require additional steps so always read
  the release notes first.
</p>
<p>
  Minor releases only contain fixes for frequently-encountered bugs,
  low-risk fixes, <a href="/support/security/">security</a> issues, and
  data corruption problems.  <em>The community considers performing minor
  upgrades to be less risky than continuing to run an old minor version.</em>
</p>
<p>
<strong>
    We recommend that users always run the current minor release associated
    with their major version.
  </strong>
</p>
<h2>Releases</h2>
<table class="table table-striped">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Version</th>
<th>Current minor</th>
<th>Supported</th>
<th>First Release</th>
<th>Final Release</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>18.3</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>September 25, 2025</td>
<td>November 14, 2030</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>17.9</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>September 26, 2024</td>
<td>November 8, 2029</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>16.13</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>September 14, 2023</td>
<td>November 9, 2028</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>15.17</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>October 13, 2022</td>
<td>November 11, 2027</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>14.22</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>September 30, 2021</td>
<td>November 12, 2026</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>13.23</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>September 24, 2020</td>
<td>November 13, 2025</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>12.22</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>October 3, 2019</td>
<td>November 21, 2024</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>11.22</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>October 18, 2018</td>
<td>November 9, 2023</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>10.23</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>October 5, 2017</td>
<td>November 10, 2022</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.6</td>
<td>9.6.24</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>September 29, 2016</td>
<td>November 11, 2021</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.5</td>
<td>9.5.25</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>January 7, 2016</td>
<td>February 11, 2021</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.4</td>
<td>9.4.26</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>December 18, 2014</td>
<td>February 13, 2020</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.3</td>
<td>9.3.25</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>September 9, 2013</td>
<td>November 8, 2018</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.2</td>
<td>9.2.24</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>September 10, 2012</td>
<td>November 9, 2017</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.1</td>
<td>9.1.24</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>September 12, 2011</td>
<td>October 27, 2016</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9.0</td>
<td>9.0.23</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>September 20, 2010</td>
<td>October 8, 2015</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.4</td>
<td>8.4.22</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>July 1, 2009</td>
<td>July 24, 2014</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.3</td>
<td>8.3.23</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>February 4, 2008</td>
<td>February 7, 2013</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.2</td>
<td>8.2.23</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>December 5, 2006</td>
<td>December 5, 2011</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.1</td>
<td>8.1.23</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>November 8, 2005</td>
<td>November 8, 2010</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8.0</td>
<td>8.0.26</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>January 19, 2005</td>
<td>October 1, 2010</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.4</td>
<td>7.4.30</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>November 17, 2003</td>
<td>October 1, 2010</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.3</td>
<td>7.3.21</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>November 27, 2002</td>
<td>November 27, 2007</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.2</td>
<td>7.2.8</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>February 4, 2002</td>
<td>February 4, 2007</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.1</td>
<td>7.1.3</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>April 13, 2001</td>
<td>April 13, 2006</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7.0</td>
<td>7.0.3</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>May 8, 2000</td>
<td>May 8, 2005</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.5</td>
<td>6.5.3</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>June 9, 1999</td>
<td>June 9, 2004</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.4</td>
<td>6.4.2</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>October 30, 1998</td>
<td>October 30, 2003</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6.3</td>
<td>6.3.2</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>March 1, 1998</td>
<td>March 1, 2003</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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