---
slug: "gcp-gke-kubernetes-1-37-end-of-support"
title: "Google Kubernetes Engine: Kubernetes 1.37 end of standard support"
summary: "End of standard support date for GKE Kubernetes 1.37: 22 Dec 2027. After that date the minor version is unsupported for clusters not enrolled in the Extended channel, and GKE automatically upgrades them to the next supported minor version."
cloud: "gcp"
service: "Google Kubernetes Engine"
service_slug: "gke"
category: "kubernetes"
type: "end_of_support"
announced_date: null
effective_date: "2027-12-22"
effective_precision: "day"
replacement: null
affected_versions: ["1.37"]
source_url: "https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/docs/release-schedule"
extra_source_urls: ["https://endoflife.date/google-kubernetes-engine"]
vendor_ref: "gke@1.37"
last_checked_at: "2026-11-12T09:55:57.551Z"
created_at: "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z"
updated_at: "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z"
url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/gcp-gke-kubernetes-1-37-end-of-support"
short_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/i/8z"
markdown_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/gcp-gke-kubernetes-1-37-end-of-support.md"
json_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/gcp-gke-kubernetes-1-37-end-of-support.json"
---

# Google Kubernetes Engine: Kubernetes 1.37 end of standard support

End of standard support date for GKE Kubernetes 1.37: 22 Dec 2027. After that date the minor version is unsupported for clusters not enrolled in the Extended channel, and GKE automatically upgrades them to the next supported minor version.

- Effective date: 22 Dec 2027
- Cloud: [GCP](https://eolwatch.dev/cloud/gcp.md)
- Service: [Google Kubernetes Engine](https://eolwatch.dev/services/gcp/gke.md)
- Type: End of support
- Category: [Kubernetes](https://eolwatch.dev/categories/kubernetes.md)
- Affected versions: 1.37
- Replacement: Not stated by vendor
- Announced: Not stated by vendor
- Official source: [cloud.google.com](https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/docs/release-schedule)
- Last checked: 12 Nov 2026

## What breaks

After the standard support period, the minor version becomes unsupported and unavailable for all clusters not enrolled in the Extended channel. GKE automatically upgrades those clusters to the next supported minor version.

- Those clusters receive no security patches or bug fixes for the minor version after the end of standard support.
- The automatic upgrade also applies to clusters not enrolled in any release channel. Nodes are typically scheduled for an automated upgrade within one month of the end of support date, and actual timing can vary.
- As a temporary, emergency measure that Google does not recommend, a "No upgrades" maintenance exclusion can delay the upgrade for up to 90 days after the end of support date.
- Extended channel clusters receive security patches until the end of extended support, for an additional fee per cluster.
- Release schedule dates are subject to change.

## Who is affected

### Affected versions

- `1.37`

### Matching resource types

- `google_container_cluster`

### Fields the check reads

- `master_version`
- `release_channel.channel`

### Detected by the estate check from

- Terraform state or plan (JSON)

## What to do

1. Upgrade the cluster and nodes to a supported version. Google requires this before you engage Cloud Customer Care about a cluster or nodes on an unsupported version.
2. Without action, GKE schedules an automatic upgrade to the next supported minor version before the end of support. The timing depends on the schedule for the cluster's release channel.
3. During the standard support period, a maintenance exclusion at the cluster level can prevent this minor version upgrade. GKE also does not upgrade clusters that use deprecated features or APIs during that period.
4. To keep using the minor version until the end of extended support, change the cluster to the Extended channel. Extended support adds approximately 10 months after the standard support period, for up to 24 months of support in total.
5. Review the [pricing for extended support](https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/pricing#extended-support-period) first, because pay-per-use costs apply in the extended support period.
6. Review the limitations of the Extended channel: clusters that use certain features cannot be enrolled, the extended support period does not extend the cluster's credential expiry date, and GKE pauses patch node auto-upgrades when it updates the Container-Optimized OS milestone that the minor version uses.

## Replacement

Not stated by vendor.

## Sources

- [Official source](https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/docs/release-schedule) (cloud.google.com, Official)
- [Additional source](https://endoflife.date/google-kubernetes-engine) (endoflife.date, Via endoflife.date)

Last checked against the first source in this list on 12 Nov 2026.

Page: https://eolwatch.dev/items/gcp-gke-kubernetes-1-37-end-of-support | JSON: https://eolwatch.dev/items/gcp-gke-kubernetes-1-37-end-of-support.json

The text on this page is drafted with AI assistance from the vendor's text, checked against the official source and approved by a person before it is published.