Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 reached end of life on 1 Mar 2022. It no longer receives security fixes.
Support timeline
Official dates from the Amazon RDS for MySQL release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 1 Jul 2013 | — |
| End of life | 1 Mar 2022 | 4.4 years ago |
| Latest release | 5.6 · 1 Jul 2013 | final |
Where to go from 5.6
Recommended target: Amazon RDS for MySQL 8.4.9 (supported until 31 Jul 2029).
The newest actively supported branch is Amazon RDS for MySQL 8.4.9 (latest release 8.4.9).
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 still safe to use?
Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 reached end of life on 1 Mar 2022, 1,622 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6?
Yes — the final release (5.6) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade Amazon RDS for MySQL 5.6 to?
Upgrade to Amazon RDS for MySQL 8.4.9, the newest actively supported branch (supported until 31 Jul 2029).