{
  "slug": "azure-aks-ubuntu-22-04-retirement",
  "title": "Azure Kubernetes Service: Ubuntu 22.04 retirement",
  "summary": "AKS retires Ubuntu 22.04 on 30 Jun 2027. After that date, new Ubuntu 22.04 node pools cannot be created, AKS produces no new Ubuntu 22.04 node images, and existing Ubuntu 22.04 node pools receive no security patches.",
  "cloud": "azure",
  "service": "Azure Kubernetes Service",
  "service_slug": "aks",
  "category": "os_image",
  "type": "retirement",
  "announced_date": "2026-04-16",
  "effective_date": "2027-06-30",
  "effective_precision": "day",
  "impact": "After the retirement date, new Ubuntu 22.04 node pools cannot be created, AKS produces no new node images, and existing node pools receive no security patches. On April 30, 2028, AKS removes Ubuntu 22.04 node images and existing code, which causes scaling and remediation operations to fail. Enabling long-term support with Kubernetes version 1.33 or later requires updating node pools to Ubuntu 24.04 first.",
  "migration_path": "1. Follow the [OS version upgrade guide](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/aks/upgrade-os-version) to transition to Ubuntu 24.04 or later by the retirement date.\n2. If the OS SKU is 'Ubuntu', upgrade the Kubernetes version to 1.35 or later. The migration to Ubuntu 24.04 is then automatic.\n3. If the OS SKU is 'Ubuntu2204', update it to 'Ubuntu' for Kubernetes 1.35 or later, or to 'Ubuntu2404' for Kubernetes 1.32 or later.",
  "replacement": "Ubuntu 24.04 or later",
  "affected_versions": [
    "22.04"
  ],
  "source_url": "https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=557928",
  "extra_source_urls": [
    "https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/aks/upgrade-os-version",
    "https://aka.ms/aks/supported-ubuntu-versions",
    "https://aka.ms/aks/ubuntu2204-retirement-github",
    "https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-portal/supportability/how-to-create-azure-support-request#open-a-support-request-from-the-global-header",
    "https://aka.ms/ServicesRetirementWorkbook"
  ],
  "vendor_ref": "557928",
  "last_checked_at": "2026-11-12T09:55:19.345Z",
  "created_at": "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z",
  "url": "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-aks-ubuntu-22-04-retirement",
  "short_url": "https://eolwatch.dev/i/6u",
  "markdown_url": "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-aks-ubuntu-22-04-retirement.md",
  "json_url": "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-aks-ubuntu-22-04-retirement.json",
  "estate_check": {
    "resource_types": [
      "microsoft.containerservice/managedclusters/agentpools",
      "azurerm_kubernetes_cluster_node_pool",
      "azurerm_kubernetes_cluster"
    ],
    "fields": [
      "properties.ossku",
      "os_sku",
      "default_node_pool.os_sku"
    ],
    "inputs": [
      "Terraform state or plan (JSON)",
      "ARM template"
    ]
  },
  "source_note": null
}