Ubuntu 20.04 on Azure Kubernetes Service will be retired on 17 March 2027. Please transition to a supported Ubuntu version by that date.
Ubuntu 20.04 has been replaced by newer supported versions, including Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 24.04. We encourage you to transition to Ubuntu 22.04+ before the retirement date to experience the capabilities of newer Ubuntu versions including kernel updates and security improvements.
From now to 17 March 2027, you can continue to use Ubuntu 20.04 on Azure Kubernetes Service without disruption. Starting on 18 March 2027, Azure Kubernetes Service will no longer support Ubuntu 20.04.
- You will not be able to create new node pools.
- AKS will not produce new node images or provide security patches for existing node pools.
AKS will remove Ubuntu 20.04 node images and existing code on 17 March 2028, meaning that scaling and remediation (reimage and redeploy) operations will fail.
Required action
To avoid service disruptions such as security vulnerabilities, failed node image upgrades, scaling failures, please follow our instructions to migrate to Ubuntu 22.04+ by 17 March 2027.
For more information on OS migration strategies, see Recommendations for Major OS Version Upgrades with Azure Kubernetes Service.
If you are using Ubuntu 20.04 with a Confidential VM (CVM) on AKS, you can migrate to Ubuntu 24.04 by using the following options:
- Default OS Sku: If you’re using ‘Ubuntu’, you’ll automatically migrate to Ubuntu 24.04 when you upgrade your Kubernetes version to 1.34+.
- Versioned OS Sku: You can migrate directly to Ubuntu 24.04 by updating your OS SKU to ‘Ubuntu2404” in Kubernetes version 1.32+.
Note: AKS does not support Ubuntu 22.04 with a Confidential VM (CVM).
If you are using Ubuntu 20.04 with Federal Information Process Standard (FIPS) on AKS, you can migrate to Ubuntu 22.04 by using the following options:
- Default OsSku: If you’re using ‘Ubuntu’, you’ll automatically migrate to Ubuntu 22.04 FIPS when you upgrade your Kubernetes version to 1.35+.
- Versioned OsSku: You can migrate directly to Ubuntu 22.04 by updating your OsSku to ‘Ubuntu2204’ in Kubernetes version 1.25+.
Help and support
If you have questions, get answers from community experts in Microsoft Q&A. If you have a support plan and you need technical help, create a support request.
- For Issue type, select “Technical”.
- For Subscription, select your subscription.
- Under Service, select “Kubernetes Service (AKS)”.
- Select, your Kubernetes resource then select, Problem type to be "Deprecation and Retirement".
- Under Problem subtype select “Guidance on the Retirement of Linux or Windows Server”.
Ubuntu 20.04 on Azure Kubernetes Service will be retired on 17 March 2027. Please transition to a supported Ubuntu version by that date.
Ubuntu 20.04 has been replaced by newer supported versions, including Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu 24.04. We encourage you to transition to Ubuntu 22.04+ before the retirement date to experience the capabilities of newer Ubuntu versions including kernel updates and security improvements.
From now to 17 March 2027, you can continue to use Ubuntu 20.04 on Azure Kubernetes Service without disruption. Starting on 18 March 2027, Azure Kubernetes Service will no longer support Ubuntu 20.04.
AKS will remove Ubuntu 20.04 node images and existing code on 17 March 2028, meaning that scaling and remediation (reimage and redeploy) operations will fail.
Required action
To avoid service disruptions such as security vulnerabilities, failed node image upgrades, scaling failures, please follow our instructions to migrate to Ubuntu 22.04+ by 17 March 2027.
For more information on OS migration strategies, see Recommendations for Major OS Version Upgrades with Azure Kubernetes Service.
If you are using Ubuntu 20.04 with a Confidential VM (CVM) on AKS, you can migrate to Ubuntu 24.04 by using the following options:
Note: AKS does not support Ubuntu 22.04 with a Confidential VM (CVM).
If you are using Ubuntu 20.04 with Federal Information Process Standard (FIPS) on AKS, you can migrate to Ubuntu 22.04 by using the following options:
Help and support
If you have questions, get answers from community experts in Microsoft Q&A. If you have a support plan and you need technical help, create a support request.