AWS sending out emails that RDS MySQL 8.0 will be deprecated.

I've received email below. I'm also confused. I'm running a MySQL 8.0 fixed size DB through Vapor. But I can't figure out anywhere how to upgrade. It is also not clear on what version to upgrade. In Vapor, when I want to create a new DB, MySQL 5.7 and 8.0 is the only option. So there is also no newer version available. What should I do?

Email: Hello,

[AWS Health may periodically trigger reminder notifications about this communication if resources remain unresolved.]

You are receiving this message because you have one or more Amazon RDS for MySQL database instances running major version 8.0 that require your attention. MySQL 8.0 will be deprecated by the community in April 2026 [1], and will not receive any bug fixes or security patches after that. Following the community end of life timeline, RDS for MySQL 8.0 will reach RDS end of standard support on July 31, 2026. However, if you need to continue using RDS for MySQL 8.0 beyond that date, it will be available on RDS under Amazon RDS Extended Support [2]. With Extended Support, your monthly charges will increase, but you will have time up to three years, to upgrade to a new major version. A list of your impacted Amazon RDS MySQL database instances can be found in the 'Affected resources' tab of your AWS Health Dashboard.

Starting on or after August 1, 2026, if you do not upgrade your database running RDS for MySQL 8.0 to a newer major version, we will upgrade your RDS for MySQL 8.0 databases to the appropriate Extended Support minor version during a scheduled maintenance window. Extended Support charges will start on August 1, 2026 regardless of the RDS for MySQL 8.0 version your database is running. Extended Support charges will continue until you upgrade to a newer major version. For customers who have opted out of Extended Support [3] you will need to complete a major version upgrade before July 31, 2026. Starting on or after August 1, 2026, we will perform a major version upgrade during a scheduled maintenance window.

How to Upgrade to a New Major Version You can initiate an upgrade of your database instance either immediately or during your next maintenance window to a newer major version of RDS for MySQL using the AWS Management Console or the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI). The upgrade process will shut down the database instance, perform the upgrade, and restart the database instance. The database instance may be restarted multiple times during the upgrade process. While major version upgrades typically complete within the standard maintenance window, the duration of the upgrade depends on the number of objects within the database. To avoid any unplanned unavailability outside your maintenance window, we recommend that you first take a snapshot [4] and test the upgrade to get an estimate of the duration. To minimize the downtime during the upgrade, you can use the fully managed Amazon RDS Blue/Green Deployments Service [5]. To learn more about upgrading RDS for MySQL, review the Upgrading Database Versions page [6].

Availability of Extended Support Amazon RDS Extended Support allows you to continue to use RDS for MySQL major versions after the community end-of-life. During this time, AWS provides fixes for critical security issues and bugs through patch releases, giving you more time, up to three years, to upgrade to a new major version to help you meet your business requirements. For provisioned instances on RDS for MySQL, Amazon RDS Extended Support is priced per vCPU per hour [7].

Please be aware of the following timeline:

Now through July 31, 2026, you can initiate upgrades of RDS for MySQL 8.0 instances at any time.
Starting on or after July 31, 2026, if you do not upgrade your database running RDS for MySQL 8.0 to a newer major version, if you are enrolled in Extended Support we will upgrade your RDS for MySQL 8.0 databases to the appropriate Extended Support minor version during a scheduled maintenance window. Extended Support charges will start on August 1, 2026. You can continue to run on Extended Support for up to three years. Extended Support charges will continue until you upgrade to a newer major version. If you are not enrolled in Extended Support we will perform a major version upgrade during a scheduled maintenance window.
Restoration of RDS for MySQL 8.0 database snapshots after July 31, 2026 will result in an automatic upgrade of the restored database to an Extended Support version of RDS for MySQL 8.0 at the time. Customers will incur Amazon RDS Extended Support charges starting August 1, 2026.

LaryAI

8 months ago

Level 58

Here's a breakdown of your situation and what you can do:

1. What's Happening?

AWS is notifying you that MySQL 8.0 will reach end of standard support in July 2026.
After that, you'll either need to pay for Extended Support or upgrade to a newer major version (like MySQL 8.1 or above, when available).

2. Why Can't I See Newer Versions in Vapor?

As of now, AWS RDS and Laravel Vapor only offer MySQL 5.7 and 8.0. MySQL 8.1+ is not yet available as an RDS engine option.
This is a limitation on AWS's side, not Vapor's.

3. What Should You Do Now?

No immediate action is required. You have until July 2026 before support ends.
Monitor AWS RDS and Vapor: Keep an eye on the AWS RDS MySQL documentation and the Vapor changelog for announcements about support for MySQL 8.1 or newer.
Plan for the upgrade: Once AWS adds support for MySQL 8.1+ in RDS, Vapor will likely add it as an option soon after.

4. How Will You Upgrade (When Available)?

When AWS and Vapor support a newer MySQL version, you can upgrade your database in AWS Console or via the AWS CLI. The typical process is:

A. Take a Snapshot

Always backup before upgrading!

aws rds create-db-snapshot --db-instance-identifier your-db-instance --db-snapshot-identifier your-snapshot-name

B. Upgrade the DB Instance

Once a newer version is available, you can upgrade:

aws rds modify-db-instance \
  --db-instance-identifier your-db-instance \
  --engine-version NEW_VERSION_NUMBER \
  --allow-major-version-upgrade \
  --apply-immediately

Or, use the AWS Console to select the new version and schedule the upgrade.

C. Test the Upgrade

If possible, restore your snapshot to a test instance and perform the upgrade there first to check for compatibility issues.

5. Summary

You don't need to do anything right now.
Wait for AWS RDS and Vapor to support MySQL 8.1+.
Plan to upgrade before July 2026 to avoid extra charges and ensure security.
Monitor AWS and Vapor documentation for updates.

References:

If you have further questions about the upgrade process once new versions are available, feel free to ask!

Please or to participate in this conversation.