IBM i Knowledge Base

IBM i Support Status

IBM publishes IBM i release lifecycle dates, including change-in-service dates and program support extension availability. IBM i 7.6 and 7.5 remain current releases, while IBM i 7.4 enters service extension after September 30, 2026 and IBM i 7.3 is already in service extension.

IBM publishes release lifecycle information for IBM i, including announce date, general availability, change-in-service level, and program support extension availability. As of August 14, 2026, IBM i 7.6 and IBM i 7.5 are current releases with no change-in-service date listed. IBM i 7.4 reaches change-in-service level on September 30, 2026, and IBM i 7.3 is already in service extension.

Current IBM i Release Lifecycle

ReleaseGeneral availabilityCurrent lifecycle status
IBM i 7.6April 18, 2025Current release; change-in-service date not yet announced by IBM
IBM i 7.5May 10, 2022Current release; change-in-service date not yet announced by IBM
IBM i 7.4June 21, 2019Change in service level on September 30, 2026; service extension listed through September 30, 2029
IBM i 7.3April 15, 2016In service extension; extended service extension listed through September 30, 2028
IBM i 7.2May 2, 2014Extended service extension ended April 30, 2026

IBM's release lifecycle page says change-in-service dates for IBM i 7.5 and 7.6 will be announced with at least 12 months notice before the effective termination date. Organizations should still confirm current coverage directly with IBM or an IBM Business Partner before relying on any date for purchasing, audit, or risk decisions.

What Change in Service Level Means

IBM's lifecycle wording is more precise than the phrase end of support. A release can move from standard support into a service extension period. During that period, coverage, defect handling, product exceptions, eligibility, and pricing can differ from standard support. That difference matters for security, audit posture, vendor certification, and upgrade planning.

For AS400 teams, this is the point where support planning becomes lifecycle planning. If the business still calls the environment AS400, the technical support question is still the IBM i release, the Power hardware generation, and the service contract behind it.

Extended Support Options

IBM has offered paid service extension programs for older IBM i releases. IBM's current lifecycle notes list IBM i 7.3 extended service extension from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2028, and IBM i 7.4 service extension from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2029. Service extension should not be treated as equivalent to staying current. It is usually a bridge while an upgrade is planned, funded, tested, and completed.

Planning Around a Support Deadline

An approaching change-in-service date is one of the most common triggers for an IBM i upgrade project, alongside hardware age. Because an OS upgrade is often bundled with a hardware refresh to current Power Systems generations, support planning and hardware sizing should happen together. See AS400 Support, AS400 End of Life, IBM Power Sizing Basics, and IBM i Licensing Explained for the factors that shape that decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IBM i 7.3 still supported?
IBM i 7.3 is no longer in standard support. IBM lists service extension and extended service extension paths for 7.3, but organizations running 7.3 should treat an upgrade as an active planning item.
How long is IBM i 7.4 supported?
IBM lists September 30, 2026 as the IBM i 7.4 change-in-service date, with service extension availability from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2029.
How long is IBM i 7.5 supported?
IBM i 7.5 remains a current release. IBM's lifecycle page does not list a change-in-service date for 7.5 as of August 14, 2026.
Is IBM i 7.6 the current release?
Yes. IBM i 7.6 became generally available on April 18, 2025 and is a current major IBM i release.
What happens if I keep running an unsupported IBM i release?
The system will generally continue to operate, but IBM stops issuing standard PTFs, including security fixes, once a release reaches end of support. This leaves the environment with accumulating, unpatched security exposure and, typically, no certification path onto current Power hardware.