What minor version of MySQL 8.0 will Extended Support require?

1. Required Minor Version:

Extended Support requires a specific AWS build based on the final community release. Since 8.0.46 is the current latest, the required version will most likely be an AWS-specific build named 8.0.46-RDS.YYYYMMDD. You should not expect another standard community release before the end of July.

2. Manual Updates & Downtime Planning:

Yes, you can update manually. As soon as AWS makes the specific -RDS minor version available, you can initiate the upgrade yourself via the AWS Console, CLI, or API. You do not need to wait for AWS to force the update during your maintenance window.

This gives you full control over the schedule, allowing you to trigger the update at a time of your choosing and notify your customers of the downtime well in advance.

Based on the available information, I cannot provide specific details about which MySQL 8.0 minor version will be required for Extended Support or whether there will be new releases before the end of July.

However, I can share how Amazon RDS Extended Support minor versions are structured and released. When Extended Support begins for a major version, Amazon RDS creates specific minor versions with a naming format like major.minor-RDS.YYYYMMDD (for example, 5.7.44-RDS.20240208 for MySQL). These versions include critical security and bug fixes that Amazon RDS provides after the community ends support for that major version.

Amazon RDS periodically releases new Extended Support minor versions with fixes and security patches. Based on the pattern shown with MySQL 5.7, these updates are released several times per year to address known security vulnerabilities and bugs.

Regarding your questions about manual upgrades and maintenance windows: Yes, you can manually upgrade your database instances rather than waiting for automatic updates during maintenance windows. This would allow you to control the timing and provide advance notice to your customers. You can initiate upgrades through the Amazon RDS Management Console or using the AWS CLI/API.

For the most current information about MySQL 8.0 Extended Support versions and upgrade timelines, I recommend checking the Amazon RDS User Guide or the AWS What's New announcements, as these will have the latest details about available versions and recommended upgrade paths.
Sources
Versions with Amazon RDS Extended Support - Amazon Relational Database Service
Amazon RDS for MySQL announces Extended Support minor version 5.7.44-RDS.20260521 - AWS

Hi,

Thank you so much for your question.

For the required minor version, we have marked RDS MySQL 8.0.46 as an Extended Support eligible minor engine version. Please check Supported MySQL minor versions on Amazon RDS for details.

We recommend upgrading manually at your convenience before the automatic major version upgrade (EOL date) to control downtime.

I hope this might help.