Oracle Java SE End of Support Dates by Version
Oracle Java SE end of support dates: 28 versions are listed below. 25 are already past Oracle OS's end of support, most recently Oracle JDK 17 (LTS) on Sep 30, 2026; the next to end is Oracle JDK 27 on Mar 31, 2027. Oracle OS sells Oracle Java SE Subscription (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.
Oracle Java SE versions and end of support dates
"Vendor end of support" is the date Oracle OS stops free fixes and security updates. "Extended end" is the end of the paid extension where Oracle OS offers one. Each version links to its own page and quote form.
Why Oracle Java SE versions stay in production
Java runtimes are everywhere in an enterprise estate, frequently inside applications nobody remembers installing. Oracle's move to subscription licensing for commercial use of Java SE, and later to per-employee pricing, turned old JDK versions into a cost and compliance question.
LTS releases get extended support windows; non-LTS releases end within months. Most organisations are running several of both.
How Oracle OS's support lifecycle works for Oracle Java SE
Oracle provides Premier Support for each Java SE LTS release for a number of years, then Extended Support for a further period under a Java SE Subscription, then Sustaining Support without new fixes. Non-LTS feature releases are superseded by the next release and receive no further updates.
Oracle JDK public updates for commercial use require a subscription; OpenJDK builds from other vendors follow their own lifecycles.
What changes on the end of support date
- Oracle stops shipping Critical Patch Updates for the release outside Extended Support.
- Commercial use of the Oracle JDK outside a subscription becomes a licensing question as well as a security one.
- Applications keep running; auditors and scanners flag the runtime.
Your options after Oracle Java SE 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 Oracle Java SE Subscription (Extended Support)
Oracle OS'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 Oracle Java SE that covers:
- Runtime and application server incidents on the JDK version you run, 24x7
- Vulnerability assessment and mitigation for Java CVEs after Oracle updates stop
- Inventory of Java installations and a licensing position review
- Planning a move to a supported LTS or an OpenJDK distribution
Not included: new vendor patches or licences. Those stay with Oracle OS; everything operational moves to us.
Oracle Java SE end of support: frequently asked questions
Which Oracle Java SE versions are out of support?
Oracle JDK 11 (LTS) (Sep 30, 2023), Oracle JDK 8 (LTS) (Mar 31, 2022), Oracle JDK 17 (LTS) (Sep 30, 2026), Oracle JDK 26 (Sep 18, 2026), Oracle JDK 24 (Sep 16, 2025), Oracle JDK 23 (Mar 18, 2025), Oracle JDK 22 (Sep 17, 2024), Oracle JDK 20 (Sep 19, 2023) and 17 earlier versions. All of them can be covered by third-party support.
Can we keep applications on an old Oracle JDK without a Java SE Subscription?
The runtime keeps working. Whether commercial use is licensed depends on the version and Oracle's licence terms for it, which we review as part of onboarding. Third-party support covers the operational and security side.
Is OpenJDK a way out of Oracle Java support costs?
Often yes. Part of our service is planning the move from Oracle JDK to a supported OpenJDK distribution where your applications allow it.
What does third-party support for Oracle Java SE 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 Oracle Java SE 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
- Oracle JDK 17 (LTS) EOL: September 30, 2026 (Sep 30, 2026)
- Oracle JDK 26 Reached End of Life in September 2026 (Sep 18, 2026)
- Oracle JDK 17 LTS EOL Sept 2026: Week-by-Week Plan (Jun 30, 2026)
- Oracle JDK 26 End of Life: 3-Month Plan Before Sept 18, 2026 (Jun 18, 2026)
- Oracle JDK 17 (LTS) End of Life: September 30, 2026 (Mar 30, 2026)
- Oracle JDK 26 EOL: Sept 18, 2026 — Migrate or Save 40-70% (Mar 18, 2026)
- Oracle JDK 17 LTS EOL September 2026 – 3 Support Paths (Dec 30, 2025)
- Oracle JDK 26 End of Life: 3 Options Before September 2026 (Dec 18, 2025)