AEM 6.5 On-premise support timelines and service pack policy
If you’re on AEM 6.5 On-premise SP23 and unsure how long it’s supported, check the timelines below. Core support runs until February 28, 2027, and moving to SP25, SP26, or the LTS (Long-Term Support) branch keeps you within Adobe’s supported window.
Description description
Environment
Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) 6.5 On-premise (SP23, SP25, SP26, LTS)
Symptoms
You’re running AEM 6.5 On-premise with Service Pack 23 (SP23) and want clarity on:
- SP23’s support status, including its end-of-support date.
- The duration of support if you upgrade to SP25 or SP26.
- The support policy for migrating to the AEM 6.5 LTS branch.
No technical errors or failures are reported.
Cause
These timelines are determined by Adobe’s published support lifecycle and product lifecycle policy for AEM 6.5 On-premise and its service packs.
Resolution resolution
Follow the guidance below to understand support timelines and plan upgrades:
- AEM 6.5 SP23 On-premise is currently fully supported by Adobe.
- Core support for AEM 6.5 On-premise runs until February 28, 2027.
- Extended support (critical fixes only) is available until February 28, 2028.
- Each service pack, including SP23, is supported for approximately 18 months from its release date, but not beyond the product-level support end dates.
- Upgrading to SP25 or SP26 keeps your deployment on the latest code line. SP26 is the last planned service pack for classic AEM 6.5.
- For long-term maintenance, SP26 is the recommended choice.
- AEM 6.5 LTS is the recommended branch for extended stability and runs on Java 17/21 with refreshed platform libraries. LTS service packs each have a support window of approximately 18 months.
- The underlying AEM 6.5 LTS product follows the same core/extended support timeline as AEM 6.5 overall (core to February 28, 2027; extended to February 28, 2028).
- SP23 meets the supported baseline (SP19+) for moving to LTS.
Verify your current service pack version and plan upgrades according to the timelines.