Debian uses a layered support model — regular security support, Long Term Support (LTS), and Extended Long Term Support (ELTS) — giving each release up to 7+ years of coverage. This guide covers every Debian release codename, release date, end of regular support, LTS end date, and ELTS end date.
Quick answer: Debian 13 (Trixie, released August 9, 2025) is the current stable release. Debian 12 (Bookworm) is oldstable with regular security support until ~August 2026 and LTS to ~June 2028. Debian 11 (Bullseye) is in LTS until August 2026. Debian 10 (Buster) is fully end of life.
Debian Release EOL Dates — Full Table
| Version | Codename | Release Date | End of Regular Support | LTS End | ELTS End | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 13 | Trixie | Aug 9, 2025 | ~Aug 2028 | Jun 30, 2030 | ~Jun 2032 | ✅ Stable |
| Debian 12 | Bookworm | Jun 10, 2023 | ~Aug 2026 | ~Jun 2028 | ~Jun 2030 | ✅ Oldstable — Supported |
| Debian 11 | Bullseye | Aug 14, 2021 | Aug 31, 2024 | Aug 31, 2026 | Jun 30, 2028 | 🟡 LTS |
| Debian 10 | Buster | Jul 6, 2019 | Aug 10, 2022 | Jun 30, 2024 | Jun 30, 2026 | ❌ EOL |
| Debian 9 | Stretch | Jun 17, 2017 | Jun 6, 2020 | Jun 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2025 | ❌ EOL |
| Debian 8 | Jessie | Apr 25, 2015 | Jun 17, 2018 | Jun 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2025 | ❌ EOL |
Understanding Debian's Three Support Tiers
Tier 1: Regular Security Support (~3 years)
Provided by the Debian Security Team. Covers the full main archive with timely security patches. Runs from release until approximately 1 year after the next stable release ships. Most users and production systems rely on this tier.
Tier 2: Long Term Support / LTS (~2 additional years)
After the Security Team ends support, the Debian LTS team (volunteers + corporate sponsors like Freexian) maintains security patches for ~2 more years. Covers most packages in main, but not every package. Free to use — no subscription required.
Tier 3: Extended LTS / ELTS (~2 additional years)
A commercial offering from Freexian extending support ~2 years beyond LTS. Covers only the most critical/popular packages. Requires a paid subscription.
⚠️ Coverage narrows with each tier: Regular covers the full archive → LTS covers most packages → ELTS covers only the most popular subset. Check your specific packages before relying on LTS/ELTS.
Debian 13 (Trixie) — Current Stable
Released approximately June 2025. Notable upgrades: GCC and LLVM toolchain updates, Python and Rust updates, Linux 6.x kernel, improved ARM64 and RISC-V support, updated installer.
- Regular support: ~June 2028
- LTS: ~June 2030
- ELTS: ~June 2032
Debian 12 (Bookworm) — Oldstable, Active
Released June 10, 2023. Transitioned to "oldstable" when Trixie shipped, but remains actively supported by the Debian Security Team until approximately June 2026.
Ships with: Linux kernel 6.1, GNOME 43, KDE Plasma 5.27, Python 3.11, PHP 8.2, PostgreSQL 15, MariaDB 10.11.
How long is Debian 12 (Bookworm) supported?
| Support Tier | Window |
|---|---|
| Regular security support | Jun 2023 → ~Jun 2026 (~3 years) |
| LTS | ~Jun 2026 → ~Jun 2028 (+2 years) |
| ELTS (commercial) | ~Jun 2028 → ~Jun 2030 (+2 more years) |
| Total coverage | Up to ~7 years |
Debian 11 (Bullseye) — In LTS
Released August 14, 2021. Regular support ended August 31, 2024. Currently in LTS — LTS ends August 31, 2026. ELTS (commercial) continues until June 30, 2028.
Ships with: Linux 5.10 LTS, Python 3.9, PHP 7.4, MariaDB 10.5, PostgreSQL 13.
If you're running Debian 11 (Bullseye) in 2026, you're in the LTS window — still receiving security patches from the LTS team. LTS ends August 31, 2026. Plan your upgrade to Debian 12 or 13.
Debian 10 (Buster) — Fully End of Life
Released July 6, 2019. Regular support ended August 2022. LTS ended June 30, 2024. ELTS ended June 30, 2026. Debian 10 is now fully end of life through all support tiers. Migrate immediately to Debian 12 or 13.
Debian Codename Reference
All Debian codenames are characters from the Toy Story films, assigned alphabetically:
| Number | Codename | Character | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Forky | Forky (TS4) | Testing |
| 13 | Trixie | Trixie the triceratops | Stable |
| 12 | Bookworm | Bookworm the caterpillar | Oldstable |
| 11 | Bullseye | Bullseye the horse | LTS |
| 10 | Buster | Buster the dog | EOL |
| 9 | Stretch | Stretch the octopus | EOL |
How to Check Your Debian Version
cat /etc/debian_version
# 12.x
lsb_release -a
# Distributor ID: Debian
# Codename: bookworm
Upgrading Debian 11 (Bullseye) → Debian 12 (Bookworm)
# Update all current packages
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo apt full-upgrade -y
# Switch sources to Bookworm
sudo sed -i 's/bullseye/bookworm/g' /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo sed -i 's/bullseye/bookworm/g' /etc/apt/sources.list.d/*.list
# Run upgrade
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade -y
sudo reboot
For Bookworm → Trixie, repeat with bookworm/trixie. Always read the official Debian release notes for the specific version pair before upgrading.
FAQ
When is Debian 12 (Bookworm) end of life?
Regular support ends ~August 2026. LTS extends to ~June 2028. ELTS (commercial) to ~June 2030.
When is Debian 11 (Bullseye) end of life?
Regular support ended August 31, 2024. LTS runs until August 31, 2026. ELTS until June 30, 2028.
When is Debian 13 (Trixie) end of life?
Released August 9, 2025. Regular support runs until approximately August 2028. LTS to June 30, 2030.
What is the difference between Debian LTS and ELTS?
LTS is a free community effort — 2 extra years of security support after regular EOL. ELTS is a commercial Freexian service — 2 more years on top of LTS, but covering only the most popular packages.
Is Debian 10 (Buster) still supported?
No. ELTS ended June 30, 2026. Buster is fully end of life through all tiers.
How often does Debian release new stable versions?
Approximately every 2 years, released "when ready." Recent cadence: Buster (2019), Bullseye (2021), Bookworm (2023), Trixie (~2025).
What codename does Debian 12 use?
Debian 12 uses the codename Bookworm. Debian 13 is Trixie. Debian 14 (in testing) is Forky.
Live version data: endoflife.ai/debian
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