ESXi Versions: Build Numbers & End of Support Dates

This is a reference list of every ESXi version — the table our ESXi support team works from when assessing hosts. It covers ESXi 5.0 through ESX 9.1 with release dates, latest build numbers, and support status. Build numbers are taken from Broadcom's official build numbers and versions of VMware ESXi/ESX article (KB 316595), which is the canonical source and is updated with every patch release.

ESXi versions list: releases, builds, and support dates

Two naming notes before the table. First, Broadcom renamed the product from ESXi back to ESX starting with version 9.0 (released June 2025), so the current hypervisor is ESX 9.x while everything from 8.0 back is ESXi. Second, dot-releases map to update names: 8.0.3 is 8.0 Update 3, 7.0.3 is 7.0 Update 3, and so on.

ESXi 8: update releases and current build

ESXi 8.0 is the version most production estates run today. Each update release has its own baseline build, and patches within an update increment from there:

General support for vSphere 8.x runs to October 11, 2027. Hosts should be on the 8.0 Update 3 line; earlier update lines stop receiving patches once the newer update has been out for a period. Broadcom has also committed to providing critical security patches (CVSS 9.0+) for vSphere 8.x to perpetual-license customers with expired support contracts — details in Broadcom KB 314603.

ESXi 7: builds and end-of-support status

The 7.0 line closed at Update 3. Key builds: 7.0 GA was 15843807 (Apr 2, 2020), 7.0 Update 1 was 16850804 (Oct 6, 2020), 7.0 Update 2 was 17630552 (Mar 9, 2021), and 7.0 Update 3c — the build that superseded the withdrawn original U3 — was 19193900 (Jan 27, 2022). The final patch is 7.0.3 EP14, build 24784741 (Jul 15, 2025). With general support ended October 2, 2025, 7.x hosts are now in technical guidance only: no new patches, workaround-level assistance for existing issues. The upgrade target is 8.0 Update 3 or ESX 9.x.

ESX 9: the rename and current releases

Version 9.0 (June 17, 2025) reverted the product name from ESXi to ESX and moved versioning to a four-part scheme (for example 9.0.2.0, build 25148076). ESX 9 ships as part of VMware Cloud Foundation 9 and vSphere Foundation 9 rather than as a standalone SKU; the packaging is described on the vSphere product page. ESX 9.1 followed on May 12, 2026, with its latest build 25557999 (9.1.0.0200, July 13, 2026).

Support lifecycle policy

VMware major releases carry five years of general support from GA, followed by two years of technical guidance. General support includes patches, security fixes, and support cases; technical guidance is self-service and workaround-level only, with no new patches. The 7.0 dates illustrate the pattern: GA April 2020, end of general support October 2, 2025 (extended from the original five-year date of April 2025), technical guidance to October 2, 2027. Authoritative dates per product and version are on the product lifecycle page, which replaced the old VMware lifecycle matrix after the Broadcom acquisition.

How to check your ESXi version and build

From an SSH session or the ESXi shell:

vmware -v

Output looks like "VMware ESXi 8.0.3 build-25595708". For the update level as a number, run vmware -l, or query esxcli system version get for version, build, and patch level in one result. In the vSphere Client, the build number is on each host's Summary tab. Match the build against the table in KB 316595 to identify the exact patch release, since multiple patches share the same 8.0.3 version string and only the build number distinguishes them.

Upgrade paths

Supported in-place upgrade paths follow an N-2 pattern: a host can generally upgrade from the two prior major versions.

Two constraints catch people in practice. First, vCenter must always be upgraded before hosts, and hosts can never run a newer version than the vCenter managing them. Second, each major release drops CPU generations — ESXi 8.0 removed many pre-2011 CPUs and 9.0 removed more — so hardware must be checked against the compatibility guide before planning. Procedures and interoperability matrices are in the vSphere documentation on Broadcom TechDocs. Hosts on 6.x cannot reach 9.x without at least one intermediate upgrade, and hardware of that age usually fails the 8.0 compatibility check anyway — a host replacement is the normal path.

Free ESXi version status

The free ESXi hypervisor license was discontinued in February 2024 as part of Broadcom's move to subscription licensing, then reinstated in March 2025: ESXi 8.0 Update 3e and later can again be used as a free standalone hypervisor with the built-in free license. The free version has no vCenter management and no support entitlement. There is no free tier for 7.0 or earlier anymore since those downloads have been retired, and free usage of ESX 9.x has not been announced. Feature history of the hypervisor itself is covered in our ESXi overview.

Running an out-of-support ESXi version

An unsupported host keeps running; the exposure is operational. No security patches ship for 6.x at all, and ESXi has been a repeated ransomware target — hypervisor-level encryption of all VMs on a host is an established attack pattern. Compliance frameworks treat an unsupported hypervisor the same way they treat an unsupported OS. Hardware vendors also stop certifying new firmware against retired ESXi releases, so a storage or NIC firmware update can silently break a stable old host.

If you are on 6.x or 7.0 and need an assessment, upgrade execution, or ongoing host administration, VMware ESXi server support from Medha Cloud covers version inventory through cutover, including licensing changes under the Broadcom subscription model.

FAQ

What is the latest ESXi version?

ESX 9.1 (renamed from ESXi at 9.0), latest build 25557999 released July 13, 2026. On the 8.0 line, the latest is 8.0 Update 3k, build 25595708, released July 29, 2026.

Is ESXi 7 still supported?

General support ended October 2, 2025. It is in technical guidance until October 2, 2027: no new patches, limited assistance. Upgrade to 8.0 Update 3 or ESX 9.x.

Is ESXi 6.7 still supported?

No. General support for 6.7 and 6.5 ended October 15, 2022. The final 6.7 build is 20497097 from October 2022.

How do I find my ESXi build number?

Run vmware -v in an SSH session, or check the host Summary tab in the vSphere Client. Map the build to a release using Broadcom KB 316595.