Summary
Table of Contents
- Microsoft is retiring support for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Amazon Linux 2 (ARM64); devices running AL2 on AMD64/x86_64 are not affected.
- The last supported MDE agent for AL2 (ARM64) is version 101.25122.0004; later Defender releases will not install on that architecture.
- Admins must identify devices running Amazon Linux 2 (ARM64), prevent upgrades beyond the last supported agent, and plan migration to a supported Linux distribution.
- Devices left on this platform after support ends will receive no security updates, bug fixes, or technical support and may face increased security and stability risk.
Primary Service: Defender XDR
Admin Impact: High
User Impact: Low
Release Start: 31 Oct 2026
Release End: 31 Oct 2026
Services: Defender, Defender XDR, Security
Category: Plan for change
Tags: Admin Action, Retirement, User Adoption
History
6/15/2026 Item Added to Message Center
Microsoft Message
What and Why
We are retiring support for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) on Amazon Linux 2 (AL2) running on ARM64 architecture, effective October 31, 2026.
Schedule
- Retirement effective: October 31, 2026
- After this date, support and updates will no longer be available.
Impact on Your Organization
Who is affected
- Organizations using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Amazon Linux 2 (ARM64)
- Organizations using AL2 on AMD64/x86_64 are not affected
Platforms/Services
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Amazon Linux 2 (ARM64)
What will happen
- Defender versions released after this build will not install on AL2 (ARM64) due to platform incompatibility.
- Version 101.25122.0004 is the last supported version for this platform.
- After October 31, 2026:
- No security updates
- No bug fixes
- No technical support
- Devices remaining on this platform may:
- Miss new features, detection improvements, and protection enhancements
- Be exposed to increased security and stability risks over time
Action Required / Recommendations
Action required by October 31, 2026.
Admins should:
- Identify devices running Amazon Linux 2 (ARM64) with Defender for Endpoint.
- Prevent upgrades beyond version 101.25122.0004 on those devices.
- Plan migration to a supported Linux distribution for MDE.
- Complete migration before October 31, 2026.
No action is required for devices running Amazon Linux 2 on AMD64/x86_64 architectures.
Learn more: Prerequisites for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on Linux | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Microsoft Defender | Microsoft Learn
Compliance Considerations
No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.