Ansible Version: Check, Upgrade & Compatibility Guide (2026)

Ansible Version: Check, Upgrade & Compatibility Guide (2026)

Understanding Ansible versioning is essential for compatibility, upgrading, and troubleshooting. This guide covers how to check your version, the dual-versioning system, and how to upgrade.

See also: Ansible 13 Upgrade Guide: Breaking Changes, Removals, and Migration Steps

Check Your Ansible Version

# Full version info
ansible --version
# Output example:
# ansible [core 2.17.0]
#   config file = /etc/ansible/ansible.cfg
#   configured module search path = ['/home/user/.ansible/plugins/modules']
#   ansible python module location = /usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/ansible
#   jinja version = 3.1.4
#   libyaml = True
# Just the version number
ansible --version | head -1
# ansible-core version
ansible-core --version 2>/dev/null || python3 -c "import ansible; print(ansible.__version__)"
# Community package version
ansible-community --version 2>/dev/null

Ansible Versioning: Two Packages

Since Ansible 2.10, there are two separate packages with different version numbers:

| Package | Current Version | Contains | |---------|----------------|----------| | ansible-core | 2.17.x | Core engine, built-in modules, CLI tools | | ansible (community package) | 10.x | ansible-core + 85+ community collections |

Version Mapping

| ansible (community) | ansible-core | Python Required | |---------------------|-------------|-----------------| | 11.x | 2.18.x | 3.11+ | | 10.x | 2.17.x | 3.10+ | | 9.x | 2.16.x | 3.10+ | | 8.x | 2.15.x | 3.9+ | | 7.x | 2.14.x | 3.9+ |

See also: Ansible 14.0.0a3 Pre-Release: What's New in Ansible 14 (Preview)

Upgrade Ansible

pip

# Upgrade to latest
pip install --upgrade ansible
# Upgrade ansible-core only
pip install --upgrade ansible-core
# Upgrade to specific version
pip install ansible==10.5.0
pip install ansible-core==2.17.5

pipx

pipx upgrade ansible

apt (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade ansible

dnf (RHEL/Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade ansible-core

Homebrew (macOS)

brew upgrade ansible

Check Version in Playbooks

- name: Check Ansible version compatibility
  hosts: localhost
  tasks:
    - name: Display Ansible version
      ansible.builtin.debug:
        msg: "Ansible {{ ansible_version.full }} ({{ ansible_version.major }}.{{ ansible_version.minor }}.{{ ansible_version.revision }})"
- name: Fail if Ansible is too old
      ansible.builtin.assert:
        that:
          - ansible_version.full is version('2.15', '>=')
        fail_msg: "This playbook requires Ansible 2.15+. You have {{ ansible_version.full }}"
- name: Warn about deprecated version
      ansible.builtin.debug:
        msg: "WARNING: Ansible {{ ansible_version.full }} is approaching EOL"
      when: ansible_version.full is version('2.16', '<')

See also: Ansible Core 2.21.0b3: What's New in the Latest Beta (Preview Guide)

Ansible Release Cycle

• Major releases: Every ~6 months (ansible-core 2.15 → 2.16 → 2.17) • Maintenance releases: Bug fixes for 2 most recent major versions • Security fixes: For current + 1 previous major version • EOL: ~1 year after release

Current Support Status (2026)

| Version | Status | |---------|--------| | ansible-core 2.18 | Current (active development) | | ansible-core 2.17 | Maintained (bug fixes) | | ansible-core 2.16 | Security fixes only | | ansible-core 2.15 and older | End of Life |

Version-Specific Features

ansible-core 2.17 (2024)

• Python 3.10+ required on controller • Improved ansible-galaxy performance • New ansible.builtin.include_role options

ansible-core 2.16 (2023)

• Python 3.10+ required on controller • Ansible lint integration improvements • Enhanced error messages

Multiple Versions Side by Side

Use virtual environments for version isolation:

# Version A
python3 -m venv ~/ansible-2.16
source ~/ansible-2.16/bin/activate
pip install ansible-core==2.16.0
# Version B
python3 -m venv ~/ansible-2.17
source ~/ansible-2.17/bin/activate
pip install ansible-core==2.17.0
# Switch versions by activating different venvs
source ~/ansible-2.17/bin/activate
ansible --version

FAQ

What is the latest Ansible version?

As of 2026, the latest ansible-core is 2.18.x and the latest ansible community package is 11.x. Check the Ansible releases page for the most current version.

What is the difference between ansible and ansible-core versions?

ansible-core (2.17.x) is the engine with built-in modules. ansible (10.x) is the community package that bundles ansible-core with 85+ collections. They have different version numbers but are released together.

How do I check which ansible-core version I have?

Run ansible --version — it shows ansible [core 2.17.x] on the first line. Or run python3 -c "import ansible; print(ansible.__version__)".

How long is each Ansible version supported?

Each ansible-core major version receives bug fixes for ~12 months and security fixes for ~18 months. Only the 2 most recent major versions are actively maintained.

Can I run multiple Ansible versions on the same machine?

Yes. Use Python virtual environments (python3 -m venv) to install different versions in isolation. Activate the desired environment before running ansible commands.

Conclusion

Check your Ansible version with ansible --version, understand the dual-package system (ansible vs ansible-core), and keep your installation updated for security fixes and new features. Use virtual environments when you need multiple versions.

Related Articles

• Install Ansible: Complete Guide for Every OS • What's New in Ansible • Ansible Release Lifecycle & Support