04 Oct Moodle 5.0 reaches end of life on 5 October: what it means for your site
On the 5th of October 2026, Moodle LMS 5.0 reaches the end of its security support. Moodle Workplace 5.0 follows a day later, on 6 October. Moodle 5.0.11, released on 5 October, is the final update the 5.0 branch will receive. So what does this mean for your Moodle platform?
If your platform is managed by a Moodle provider, this date should already be in their plans. This post explains what end of life means in practice, how to check whether your site is affected, the risks of staying put, and the upgrade path we recommend.
What end of life means in Moodle's release cycle
Every Moodle version passes through two stages of support. During general support, Moodle fixes bugs and security issues. Once general support ends, a version moves to security-only support, where only security and data-loss fixes are released. When security support ends, updates stop altogether. That final point is what people mean by end of life.
Moodle releases a new major version twice a year, in April and October. Standard releases such as 5.0 receive 12 months of general support and 18 months of security support. Long-term support (LTS) releases, which arrive every fourth version, receive 36 months of security support.
Moodle 5.0 was a standard release, launched on 14 April 2025. Its general support ended on 20 April 2026, and its security support ends on 5 October 2026.
| Moodle Version | Type | Released | General Support Ends | Security Support Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 | LTS | Scheduled 5 October 2026 | 4 October 2027 | 1 October 2029 |
| 5.2 | Standard | 20 April 2026 | 19 April 2027 | 4 October 2027 |
| 5.1 | Standard | 6 October 2025 | 5 October 2026 | 19 April 2027 |
| 5.0 | Standard | 14 April 2025 | 20 April 2026 | 5 October 2026 |
| 4.5 | LTS | 7 October 2024 | 6 October 2025 | 4 October 2027 |
Source: Moodle Developer Resources, Releases. Moodle Workplace follows the same major versions. Its major releases arrive a few weeks after Moodle LMS, and its support dates can differ by a day, as the 5.0 dates show.
Is your site affected?
The quickest way to check is to log in as a site administrator and go to Site administration, then Notifications. Your Moodle version is shown at the bottom of the page. If it begins with 5.0, your site is affected.
Moodle Workplace users. Workplace 5.0 is built on Moodle LMS 5.0, so it reaches the same point. Moodle lists 6 October 2026 as the end of security fixes for Workplace 5.0.x. Workplace sites often carry more integrations and multi-tenancy configuration than a standard LMS, so the upgrade usually needs careful planning.
Moodle 5.1 users. You are not at end of life yet, but 5 October 2026 matters to you too. General bug fixes for 5.1 end on that date, leaving security-only support until 19 April 2027. That gives you roughly six months to plan your next move.
If you are unsure which version you are running, or your provider has not raised this with you, that is worth a conversation in itself.
The risks of staying on Moodle 5.0
Nothing dramatic happens on 6 October. Courses still load and learners can still log in. The risk builds gradually, which is why it is easy to put off.
Security vulnerabilities go unpatched. Moodle regularly publishes security fixes for supported versions. Once 5.0 is out of support, newly discovered issues will be fixed in supported versions only. Details of those fixes become public, which makes unpatched sites easier to target. For a platform holding learner records, assessment data, and sometimes payment information, that exposure matters.
Plugins and themes move on. Plugin developers focus their testing on supported versions. Over time, updates for the plugins your site relies on may stop supporting 5.0, leaving you with a choice between outdated plugins and an urgent upgrade.
Server requirements drift. Each Moodle version supports particular versions of PHP and your database. Staying on 5.0 can hold back your hosting stack, which carries its own security implications.
Compliance becomes harder to demonstrate. Organisations handling personal data under UK GDPR are expected to keep appropriate security measures in place. If you hold or are working towards Cyber Essentials, running unsupported software can put your certification at risk.
The upgrade gets bigger the longer you wait. Moving from one version to the next is usually straightforward. Skipping several versions, with customisations layered on top, turns a routine task into a costly project.
The sensible upgrade path from Moodle 5.0
For most sites on 5.0, we recommend moving to Moodle 5.2 now, then to Moodle 5.3 once it has settled.
Step one: Moodle 5.2. Released in April 2026, 5.2 has been through several point releases and is in general support until 19 April 2027, with security support until 4 October 2027. It gives you a stable, supported platform straight away, and it is the natural stepping stone to 5.3.
Step two: Moodle 5.3. Moodle 5.3 is the next long-term support release, with security support running to 1 October 2029. It is the version most organisations will want to stay on for the next few years. Our practice is to wait for the first point release, 5.3.1, before moving clients onto a new major version. New major releases bring a large amount of new code, and the first point release fixes the issues that only surface once the wider community starts using it. For Workplace sites there is a further reason to wait, as Workplace majors follow Moodle LMS by a few weeks
Whatever version you move to, a good upgrade follows the same pattern: an audit of plugins and customisations, a check of server requirements, a full test on a staging copy of your site, and a scheduled switchover with a rollback plan.
Questions to ask your current Moodle provider
If a partner manages your Moodle platform, 5 October is a useful test of how they work. These are fair questions to put to any provider, including us.
Have they told you that Moodle 5.0 reaches end of life, and when?
Which version will they move you to, and on what date?
Is the upgrade included in your contract, or will it be charged separately?
How do they test your plugins, integrations, and customisations before switching over?
What is their policy on new major releases, and how long do they wait before adopting one?
Have customisations been made in a way that keeps future upgrades straightforward?
If the answers are clear and already in hand, your platform is in good shape. If they are vague, or this is the first you have heard of the deadline, it may be time to look at how your platform is being looked after.
How Accipio keeps Moodle and Workplace sites current
At Accipio, upgrades are part of the service. Every one of our Moodle hosting and support plans includes regularly scheduled upgrades at no extra cost. This ensures that our clients’ platforms continue to stay on supported versions without them having to ask – or pay extra for it!
As a Moodle Premium Certified Partner, we plan each upgrade around your site: auditing plugins and integrations, testing on staging, and agreeing the switchover with you in advance. For the 5.0 deadline, that means moving clients to Moodle 5.2 now and on to 5.3 once 5.3.1 is available.
What this looks like when you switch provider. When the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) came to us, its learning platform was on an unsupported version of Moodle. Customisations made by a former provider had made upgrading very difficult. We moved the CII to Moodle Workplace, replacing those core customisations with an approach that keeps future upgrades straightforward, and integrated the platform with its shop, customer service system, and central CRM. In its first six months, the new site had roughly 25,000 users and 62,000 course enrolments. Read the CII case study.
Switching provider does not have to mean starting again. Our LMS migration service is designed to move an existing Moodle or Workplace platform across with your courses, users, and records intact.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use Moodle 5.0 after 5 October 2026? Yes. Your site will continue to run, but it will receive no further security fixes. Any vulnerability found after that date will remain open on 5.0.
Does Moodle Workplace 5.0 lose support at the same time? Almost. Moodle lists 6 October 2026 as the end of security fixes for Workplace 5.0.x, one day after Moodle LMS 5.0.
Should I upgrade to Moodle 5.2 or wait for 5.3? We recommend moving to 5.2 now. It is supported until October 2027, which gives you time to move to 5.3 once it has matured.
Why wait for a .1 release before adopting a new major version? The first point release fixes issues that only emerge once a new version is in wide use. Waiting for it reduces the risk of disruption to your learners.
How long does a Moodle upgrade take? It depends on the number of plugins, integrations, and customisations on your site. A well-maintained site can often be upgraded with little or no disruption. Sites that have skipped several versions need more testing.
Can I change Moodle provider before my current contract ends? That depends on your contract terms. We are happy to talk through the options, and how a move would work, before you make any decision.
Talk to a Moodle expert about your upgrade
If your site is on Moodle 5.0 or 5.1, or you are not sure where it stands, book a free upgrade conversation with one of our Moodle experts. We will look at your current version, plugins, and integrations, explain what a move to 5.2 would involve, and answer any questions about switching provider. There is no obligation.