Last checked and updated on 27 May 2026
How Long Does the Ansible Community Support a Release?
The Ansible community package maintains support for only one major version at a time. When a new major version releases, the previous major version immediately becomes unmaintained and reaches end of life.
Minor releases continue every four weeks for the current stable major version, delivering bug fixes, security updates, and backwards-compatible improvements until the next major version arrives.
In practice, most teams upgrade to the latest major release shortly after it becomes available to stay within the supported window.
| Support Status | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Stable | Only one major version receives ongoing maintenance including bug fixes and security updates |
| Previous Major | Becomes End of Life as soon as the next major version is released |
| Older Versions | Unmaintained with no further updates |
What Risks Appear When Running an Older Ansible Version?
Older Ansible releases stop receiving any updates once a newer major version ships, leaving playbooks exposed to unfixed issues in core modules and included collections.
Many collections drop compatibility testing for previous major versions, which can cause module failures or unexpected behavior during playbook execution across different environments.
Teams often encounter broken automation pipelines when new collection versions or operating system changes are no longer tested against the outdated Ansible core.
What Changes Once an Ansible Release Reaches End of Life?
When a new major version of the Ansible community package is released, the previous major version stops receiving any further minor releases or patches.
No bug fixes, security updates, or compatibility improvements are backported. Collections may also stop supporting that version in their newer releases.
You can continue running the older version, but you take full responsibility for any problems that arise from missing fixes or breaking changes in the broader ecosystem.
How Do You Check Your Current Ansible Version?
Run this command on the control node to display the installed Ansible version:
ansible --version
For more detailed output including Python interpreter and configuration file locations, add the verbose flag:
ansible --version -v
Include this check early in your CI/CD pipelines or automation scripts to confirm you are using the supported release.
FAQ
Q1: Does Ansible maintain multiple major versions simultaneously?
No. The Ansible community package supports only the latest major version. All previous major versions become end of life when a new one is released.
Q2: How often does the Ansible community release a new major version?
Major versions typically appear twice per year on a flexible schedule, with minor releases every four weeks for the current stable major version.
Q3: What happens to playbooks when using an end-of-life Ansible version?
Playbooks may still run, but you will miss all future bug fixes, security updates, and collection compatibility improvements.
Q4: Do collections continue supporting older Ansible major versions?
Many collections drop support for previous major Ansible versions once a new one is available, leading to potential module incompatibilities over time.
Q5: Where can I find the official Ansible community support policy?
See the Releases and Maintenance section in the Ansible Community Documentation for full details on the single-version support model.