MySQL 5.6

This version has reached end of life and no longer receives updates.

End of Life MySQL health badge
Released

February 1, 2013

Active Support

February 28, 2018

End of Life

February 28, 2021

Latest Patch

5.6.51 (January 5, 2021)

About MySQL 5.6

MySQL 5.6 reached end of life over 5 years ago on February 28, 2021. It no longer receives security patches, bug fixes, or any form of official support. Running this version in production exposes your systems to unpatched vulnerabilities and growing incompatibility with modern libraries and tooling.

The recommended upgrade target is MySQL 8.4 LTS. You are 3 major versions behind, so review the changelog for each version in between to catch any breaking changes. A staged upgrade through each major version is often safer than jumping directly.

Official Release Notes Check for vulnerabilities Check your full stack for EOL

Lifecycle Progress

Released: Feb 2013 EOL: Feb 2021

This version reached end of life February 28, 2021.

Previous Version

MySQL 5.5

End of Life Next Version

MySQL 5.7

End of Life

All MySQL Versions

Version Released EOL Latest Status
9.5 October 21, 2025 TBD 9.5.2 Active
9.4 July 9, 2025 October 21, 2025 9.4.2 End of Life
9.3 March 31, 2025 July 22, 2025 9.3.2 End of Life
9.2 December 15, 2024 April 15, 2025 9.2.2 End of Life
9.1 September 24, 2024 January 21, 2025 9.1.2 End of Life
9.0 June 7, 2024 October 15, 2024 9.0.1 End of Life
8.4 April 10, 2024 April 30, 2032 8.4.8 LTS — Active
8.3 December 14, 2023 April 10, 2024 8.3.0 End of Life
8.2 October 12, 2023 December 14, 2023 8.2.0 End of Life
8.1 June 21, 2023 October 25, 2023 8.1.0 End of Life
8.0 April 8, 2018 April 30, 2026 8.0.45 Security Only
5.7 October 9, 2015 October 31, 2023 5.7.44 End of Life
5.6 (current page) February 1, 2013 February 28, 2021 5.6.51 End of Life
5.5 December 3, 2010 December 31, 2018 5.5.63 End of Life

Frequently Asked Questions

When was MySQL 5.6 released?
MySQL 5.6 was released on February 1, 2013.
When does MySQL 5.6 reach end of life?
MySQL 5.6 reached end of life on February 28, 2021. It no longer receives security patches or bug fixes. You should upgrade to a supported version.
What is the latest patch version of MySQL 5.6?
The latest patch release is 5.6.51, released on January 5, 2021.
Should I still use MySQL 5.6?
No. MySQL 5.6 has reached end of life and no longer receives security updates. Running EOL software exposes your applications to unpatched vulnerabilities. You should plan an upgrade to a currently supported version.

Related Resources

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