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Angular versions use a major.minor.patch pattern: major releases can require migration work, minor releases add backward-compatible features, and patches focus on low-risk bug fixes. Angular’s current policy targets a major release about every 12 months and typically supports each major for 24 months. For an upgrade, check the target version’s compatibility requirements and use Angular’s Update Guide and ng update rather than applying a generic recipe.
How Angular version numbers work
Angular uses semantic versioning in the form major.minor.patch. The position of a number indicates the expected scale of change, but you should still review the release notes and migration guidance before updating.
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- Major: May include significant changes and require migration work such as scripts, refactoring, testing, or learning new APIs.
- Minor: Adds features and is described by Angular as fully backward-compatible.
- Patch: Delivers low-risk bug fixes.
Angular’s policy aims to minimize breaking changes and provide migration tools where possible. It also says a critical security fix may exceptionally require an incompatible change, with explicit notice. See Angular’s versioning and releases policy.
What pre-release labels mean
-nextmarks a release under active development and testing.-rcmarks a feature-complete release undergoing final testing.
These labels distinguish pre-release builds from regular releases; check their status before choosing a version for a production project.
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Angular’s release cadence and support
Angular’s current guidance targets one major release about every 12 months, with four to six minor releases per major and patch or pre-release builds almost every week. This is a planned cadence, not a guaranteed calendar: published dates are approximate and may change. Angular says the cadence changed at v22 from its previous six-month major cycle. The policy details are on the release page.
Each major typically receives 12 months of active support followed by 12 months of long-term support (LTS), for about 24 months total. Active support includes regularly scheduled updates and patches. LTS is narrower, covering critical fixes and security patches.
As listed on Angular’s release page on 2026-10-05, v22 is Active, while v21 and v20 are in LTS; v2 through v19 are marked unsupported. That page lists release dates of 2026-06-03 for v22, 2025-11-19 for v21, and 2025-05-28 for v20, with approximate support-end months. Release status and support dates can change, so consult the live table before making a decision.
How deprecations affect upgrades
A deprecation is a transition period, not immediate removal. Angular’s policy says deprecated APIs remain available for at least the next major release—approximately a year—and removal happens only in a major release. If your application relies on a deprecated API, use that window to plan and complete a migration rather than assuming the API will disappear in the next patch or minor update.
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How to choose an upgrade target
Compare candidates using their support stage, migration distance, dependency compatibility, and the changes your application must make. A newer release may offer current features, while a supported maintenance line can mean a smaller change scope.
- Support: Confirm the target is supported and consider how much of its support window remains.
- Upgrade distance: Identify your current and target major versions. Angular’s
ng updatesupports updates when the source is within one major version of the target; for a larger jump, upgrade one major at a time and ensure each intermediate target is supported. - Dependencies: Check the required Node.js, TypeScript, and RxJS ranges for the target release.
- Project impact: Review breaking changes, deprecations, and available migration tooling for the target.
Angular’s version compatibility table lists requirements by Angular release. For example, its entry for Angular 22.0.x lists Node.js ^22.22.3 || ^24.15.0 || ^26.0.0, TypeScript >=6.0.0 <6.1.0, and RxJS ^6.5.3 || ^7.4.0. Those ranges apply to that release entry; they are not universal requirements for Angular.
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How to plan an Angular upgrade
- Identify your starting point and target. Record the current Angular major version and select a supported target. For a jump of more than one major, plan an update through each supported intermediate major.
- Check compatibility. Compare the target’s Node.js, TypeScript, and RxJS requirements with your project using the compatibility table.
- Review tailored migration steps. Use the Angular Update Guide for instructions based on your source and target versions, including manual migration steps and troubleshooting.
- Check available updates and recommended steps. Run
ng updateas described in Angular’s keeping up-to-date guidance. - Address migration risks. Review target-version breaking changes and deprecated APIs, then follow the migration guidance and test the application after making changes.
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