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GitHub Actions ubuntu-22.04 runners retire April 17, 2027

Readers can stay on GitHub Actions: they change a setting or plan. Help the ones who would rather leave.

181 days left · April 17, 2027 · Public page

Low switching pressure28/100

An estimate from the deadline, cost, discussion and need to move. It is not a product rating.

What goes into it

Confidence: medium.

deadline8/30
money14/25
attention0/25
audience0/12
force6/8
  • Hard deadline in 181 days.
  • The change is forced: it reaches users even if they wait.

  1. 1 Related discussions

    Only threads tied to this event that talk about leaving, moving or prices. Saved, not live. Check the date and read the thread before replying.

    No live threads yet.

  2. 2 What people ask

    No common questions yet.

  3. 3 Reply templates

    Answer the question first. Link only if it helps. Always keep the disclosure line. Never post the same text twice.

    Helpful first
    Sorry you have to deal with this. You can stay on GitHub Actions. Here is what to change before April 17, 2027:

1. Search your workflows. Look for ubuntu-22.04 in runs-on and in matrix lists in .github/workflows.
2. Check Azure Pipelines. Look for vmImage: ubuntu-22.04 in your azure-pipelines.yml files.
3. Change the label. Use ubuntu-24.04, ubuntu-26.04 or ubuntu-latest. For Arm, use ubuntu-24.04-arm or ubuntu-26.04-arm.

If they would rather leave, describe a verified way <your product> can help: <your link>
[Disclosure: I build <your product>.]
    Short answer
    You have until April 17, 2027. You can stay on GitHub Actions. First: search your workflows. Then check Azure Pipelines.
Happy to help if you get stuck.
[Disclosure: I build <your product>.]
    If you do nothing
    > What happens if I do nothing?

GitHub says:
- If you do nothing: Workflows using these labels will be terminated with an error.

You can stay on GitHub Actions. To choose when it happens, make the change yourself before April 17, 2027.
Details: https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/14254

I build a tool for people who would rather leave: <your link>
[Disclosure: I build <your product>.]

  4. 4 Switch-page builder

    Create a draft “Switch from GitHub Actions” page. Add your product, review every claim, then copy HTML or Markdown. Your product claims need your own evidence.

    • Add your product name to replace “Your product”.
    Preview

    Switch from GitHub Actions to Your product

    GitHub Actions jobs on ubuntu-22.04: a change is due by April 17. You can stay on GitHub Actions. If you would rather leave, here is how to move to Your product.

    What changes at GitHub Actions

    GitHub retires the ubuntu-22.04 and ubuntu-22.04-arm runner images on April 17, 2027. Jobs that still use them end with an error. Short planned outages make these jobs fail on some days before that. Azure Pipelines hosted agents lose the image on the same day.

    • Fully unsupported: April 17, 2027 (GitHub)
    • Deprecation began: September 17, 2026 (GitHub)
    • Labels: ubuntu-22.04 and ubuntu-22.04-arm (GitHub)
    • If you do nothing: Workflows using these labels will be terminated with an error (GitHub)
    • Planned outages (brownouts): March 23, March 30, April 6 and April 13, 14:00 to 00:00 UTC; jobs fail then (GitHub)
    • Replace with: ubuntu-24.04, ubuntu-26.04 or ubuntu-latest; for Arm, ubuntu-24.04-arm or ubuntu-26.04-arm (GitHub)
    • Azure Pipelines hosted agents: The Ubuntu 22.04 image is deprecated and scheduled for removal on April 17, 2027 (Microsoft)
    • Announced: June 16, 2026 (GitHub)
    • Jobs on ubuntu-22.04: Fail after April 17, 2027 (GitHub)

    You can stay on GitHub Actions if you make the change. This page is for people who would rather leave.

    What Your product gives you

    Write two or three short lines here. Say what Your product does, who it is for, and what it costs. Use only facts you can show.

    How to move from GitHub Actions to Your product

    1. Save what you need from GitHub Actions. Keep a copy before you cancel anything.
    2. Import into Your product. Say which files you accept and how long an import takes.

    Tell readers the key date: April 17, 2027.

    Questions people ask

    If Your product has a direct answer to one of these, add it here. Keep it short and true.

    How to help new users settle in

    Send one short email. Say what changed, where to find you now, and what they need to do. Put the most important line first.

    If there is a date, send a short reminder a few days before it. Keep a copy of the list you sent it to.

    Sources

    • [[Ubuntu] The Ubuntu 22 based runner images will begin deprecation on September 17th and will be fully unsupported by April 17th for GitHub Actions and Azure DevOps](https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/14254) — GitHub (primary), checked 2026-10-17
    • Microsoft-hosted agents for Azure Pipelines — Microsoft (primary), checked 2026-10-17

  5. 5 Search ideas to validate

    suggested, not measured Phrases people may search when a tool changes like this. We have no search volume data for them.

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