containerd 2.1 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
containerd 2.1 reached end of life on 3 Jul 2026. It no longer receives security fixes.
Support timeline
Official dates from the containerd release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 7 May 2025 | — |
| End of life | 3 Jul 2026 | 0.1 years ago |
| Active support ended | 5 May 2026 | security fixes only after this |
| Latest release | 2.1.9 · 18 Jun 2026 | final |
Where to go from 2.1
Recommended target: containerd 2.3 (supported until 30 Apr 2028).
The newest actively supported branch is containerd 2.3 (latest release 2.3.3).
Frequently asked questions
Is containerd 2.1 still safe to use?
containerd 2.1 reached end of life on 3 Jul 2026, 37 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download containerd 2.1?
Yes — the final release (2.1.9) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade containerd 2.1 to?
Upgrade to containerd 2.3, the newest actively supported branch (supported until 30 Apr 2028).