IBM MQ End of Support Dates by Version
IBM MQ end of support dates: 12 versions are listed below. 10 are already past IBM's end of support, most recently MQ 9.2 LTS on Sep 30, 2025; the next to end is MQ 9.3 LTS on Sep 30, 2027. IBM sells IBM Extended Support for a limited period after that date. Third-party support keeps any of these versions in production after the vendor date, with 24x7 incident response, vulnerability mitigation and compliance documentation, typically at 40-70% below the vendor's renewal.
IBM MQ versions and end of support dates
"Vendor end of support" is the date IBM stops free fixes and security updates. "Extended end" is the end of the paid extension where IBM offers one. Each version links to its own page and quote form.
| Version | Vendor end of support | |
|---|---|---|
| 5900ALJ | Sep 30, 2031 | Get support |
| MQ 9.3 LTS | Sep 30, 2027 | Get support |
| MQ 9.2 LTS | Sep 30, 2025 | Get support |
| MQ 9.1 LTS | Sep 30, 2023 | Get support |
| MQ 9.0 LTS | Sep 30, 2021 | Get support |
| MQ 8.0 | Apr 30, 2020 | Get support |
| MQ WebSphere MQ 7.5 | Apr 30, 2018 | Get support |
| MQ WebSphere MQ 7.1 | Apr 30, 2017 | Get support |
| MQ WebSphere MQ 7.0 | Sep 30, 2015 | Get support |
| MQ WebSphere MQ 6.X | Sep 30, 2012 | Get support |
| MQ WebSphere MQ 5.3 | Sep 28, 2007 | Get support |
| MQ MQ Series 5.2 | Dec 31, 2003 | Get support |
4 further IBM MQ entries in the catalog have no published date: 5900BZG, MQ 10.0 LTS, MQ 9.4 LTS, MQ Appliance M2002.
Why IBM MQ versions stay in production
IBM MQ is the messaging backbone under core banking, payments, retail and logistics systems, and the queue managers that carry that traffic are among the most conservatively upgraded software in any estate. Long Term Support releases and the MQ Appliance exist precisely because customers want to stay on a version for years.
That stability is why the end-of-support date for an MQ release matters less than IBM's renewal pricing: the version you run today will run the same way next year, with or without IBM.
How IBM's support lifecycle works for IBM MQ
IBM announces end of support per version in a withdrawal letter, typically with at least twelve months' notice, and then offers paid Extended Support for a limited period and sometimes Sustained Support after that. Your perpetual licence does not expire: without Subscription and Support you keep the right to run every version released before your S&S lapsed, provided you downloaded the media and fixes before the expiry date.
The IBM-specific risk is reinstatement. If you drop S&S and later want it back, IBM charges for the lapsed period plus a reinstatement fee, so the decision should be made per product with the exit checklist on the IBM support page.
What changes on the end of support date
- IBM stops shipping fix packs and security APARs for the release; the queue managers keep running on the fix level you are on.
- IBM support cases are refused for the version unless you buy Extended Support.
- Client libraries and bridges to newer MQ or other products continue to work at their current levels.
Your options after IBM MQ end of support
1. Upgrade to a supported version
Right when the application above it is ready and the budget exists. Wrong as a forced move: an upgrade driven by a support date rather than a business need is where regression bugs and surprise licence costs come from.
2. Buy IBM Extended Support
IBM's paid extension buys more time at a price that rises each year and typically covers security fixes only. It keeps the deadline in place and is often the most expensive line in the renewal.
3. Third-party support
Replaces the vendor contract with ours for the versions you run, with no deadline. For IBM MQ that covers:
- Queue manager, channel, cluster and MQI/JMS client incidents on the version you run, 24x7
- Workarounds and configuration fixes for known APARs after IBM stops issuing them
- Security advisory monitoring and mitigation guidance for new CVEs affecting your release
- Upgrade planning to a current LTS release when you choose to move
Not included: new vendor patches or licences. Those stay with IBM; everything operational moves to us.
IBM MQ end of support: frequently asked questions
Which IBM MQ versions are out of support?
MQ 9.2 LTS (Sep 30, 2025), MQ 9.1 LTS (Sep 30, 2023), MQ 9.0 LTS (Sep 30, 2021), MQ 8.0 (Apr 30, 2020), MQ WebSphere MQ 7.5 (Apr 30, 2018), MQ WebSphere MQ 7.1 (Apr 30, 2017), MQ WebSphere MQ 7.0 (Sep 30, 2015), MQ WebSphere MQ 6.X (Sep 30, 2012) and 2 earlier versions. All of them can be covered by third-party support.
Can we keep running an MQ version IBM no longer supports?
Yes. Perpetual MQ licences do not expire with S&S. Third-party support covers operational incidents, workarounds and vulnerability mitigation on that version for as long as you run it.
Does third-party support provide MQ fix packs?
No. Fix packs and APARs are IBM intellectual property and only IBM ships them. Third-party support provides configuration-level fixes, workarounds and mitigation steps, plus any fix packs you downloaded before S&S lapsed.
What does third-party support for IBM MQ cost?
Typically 40 to 70% below the vendor renewal or extended-support price for the same versions, priced per instance, server or core depending on the product. We return an indicative price within 24 hours and a firm quote within 48.
How do we move IBM MQ to third-party support without a gap?
Start before the vendor renewal date: inventory versions and instances, download all media and fixes you are entitled to, confirm no bundled contract depends on the renewal, then let the vendor support lapse as ours starts. We handle the hand-over checklist with you.
Version-by-version guides
- IBM MQ 9.3 LTS EOL September 2027 (Aug 30, 2026)
- IBM MQ 9.2 LTS End of Life: Cut Costs & Keep Support Running (Sep 30, 2025)
- IBM MQ 9.2 LTS End-of-Life: Action Plan (September 30, 2025) (Jun 30, 2025)
- IBM MQ 9.2 LTS EOL: Sept 30, 2025 – Six Months to Migrate (Mar 30, 2025)
- IBM MQ 9.2 LTS End of Life: 3 Options with 9 Months Left (Dec 30, 2024)
- IBM MQ 9.2 LTS EOL Sept 2025: Budget Guide (Aug 30, 2024)
- IBM MQ 9.1 LTS End of Life: Sept 30, 2023 & Messaging Risks (Sep 30, 2023)
- IBM MQ 9.1 LTS EOL September 30, 2023: Next Steps (Jun 30, 2023)