PostgreSQL 12 reached its End of Life (EOL) on November 14, 2024. For more information, see the official PostgreSQL versioning policy page.
This milestone marks the end of regular updates, bug fixes, and critical security patches for version 12. If you are still running PostgreSQL 12 in your production environment, it’s time to start planning your upgrade. Almost 10% of the active and productive instances are still running on PostgreSQL 12, as our telemetry data shows. This highlights the importance of this topic.
Why does PostgreSQL EOL matter?
When a PostgreSQL version reaches its EOL, it no longer receives community support, including updates for performance improvements, bug fixes, and, most importantly, security patches. Running an outdated PostgreSQL version puts your data and business operations at risk, as vulnerabilities will not be addressed.
What does this mean for you?
If you are currently using PostgreSQL 12, you need to take action to ensure your environment remains secure, stable, and performant. Upgrading to a supported version, at least PostgreSQL 13 or better, to PostgreSQL 16 (or even PostgreSQL 17 as it and its ecosystem mature) is essential to avoid potential security risks and compliance issues. Remember that PostgreSQL 13 also reaches EOL in less than a year, on November 13, 2025. So, planning your upgrade thoroughly and moving directly to a newer version is the better long-term solution.
The challenges of upgrading PostgreSQL
Upgrading PostgreSQL isn’t always straightforward. It can involve schema changes, application testing, and downtime planning. Without a strategic approach, unexpected issues may impact your production workload.
Using pg_upgrade is a relatively simple way to upgrade your PostgreSQL instances. However, it heavily depends on your overall setup, including used extensions, so we highly recommend a staging and sandbox environment to test the upgrade from a server perspective and check your applications’ compatibility.
Don’t wait until it’s too late
The EOL date for PostgreSQL 12 is already there. While the latest update was just released, delaying your upgrade can expose your systems to security vulnerabilities and hinder performance improvements. By starting the upgrade process early, you can ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to your operations.
Ready to upgrade? Contact us today
At Percona, we understand the complexities involved in upgrading PostgreSQL. Our team of experienced PostgreSQL experts can help you plan and execute a smooth upgrade process, minimizing downtime and ensuring a successful transition.
Don’t face the PostgreSQL upgrade process alone. With Percona’s Upgrade Your Database With Ease support and services, you can confidently move to a newer version of PostgreSQL and unlock the latest features and enhancements.
Percona Distribution for PostgreSQL is an enhanced version of upstream PostgreSQL that includes security, high availability, and performance extensions, all certified and tested to work together. It’s everything you need to run PostgreSQL in the most demanding business environments, right out of the box.
Download Percona Distribution for PostgreSQL Today!
About the Author
Kai WagnerI'm Kai and I work as a Sr. Engineering Manager for PostgreSQL at Percona. I'm passionate about open source and free speech. Actively engaged and a public speaker for many open source projects such as ceph, openATTIC, Linux Kernel and now PostgreSQL. Whenever I'm not sitting in front of my computer, I either spent time with the family or work on our house.
