Cisco Catalyst 3850 end of life: milestone dates + refurbished replacement path

The Cisco Catalyst 3850 reached end of life on two separate tracks: the bulk of copper and multigigabit SKUs under bulletin EOL13188 (last date of support October 31, 2025), and the fiber SFP/SFP+ uplink models under a later bulletin (last date of support April 30, 2027). This page lists the exact milestone dates, explains what each means operationally, and maps every 3850 SKU to its Cisco-recommended Catalyst 9300 replacement.

Catalyst 3850 EOL milestone dates

Last verified: July 16, 2026 against Cisco End-of-Life bulletin EOL13188 (Cisco doc c51-743072).

These milestones apply to the primary WS-C3850 / C1-WS3850 copper and multigigabit part numbers. Once a milestone passes, the corresponding service stops on that calendar date regardless of contract status.

Fiber uplink SKUs run separately. The 10G/SFP+ fiber models (WS-C3850-12S, -24S, -12XS, -24XS) are covered by a later Cisco bulletin (doc c51-2438804): end-of-sale April 30, 2022, end of SW maintenance April 30, 2023, and last date of support April 30, 2027. Check the label on your specific unit before assuming which track applies.

What End of Life actually means for a running 3850

EOL is not a kill switch. A powered 3850 keeps forwarding traffic on the day after its last date of support exactly as it did the day before. What ends is everything around the box:

• No Cisco TAC. After LDoS you cannot open a support case, and SmartNet contracts are ineligible for renewal (copper renewals stopped January 28, 2025).
• No software patches. Copper SKUs stopped getting security fixes on October 30, 2023 and maintenance builds on October 30, 2021. Any CVE disclosed after those dates stays unpatched on that platform.
• No RMA or failure analysis. Past LDoS, Cisco will not replace a dead unit or investigate a hardware fault, so your only source of spares is the secondary market.
• Compliance exposure. Auditors (PCI-DSS, HIPAA, cyber-insurance) increasingly flag EOL gear running on unpatchable firmware, especially anything internet-facing or in a cardholder segment.

Operationally, that makes an unpatched 3850 fine as an isolated lab or closet-edge access switch, but a liability as a core, DMZ, or internet-adjacent device.

Refurbished 3850 vs migrating to the 9300

A used 3850 still has legitimate uses, and the secondary market is deep and cheap now that Cisco has stopped selling them. The decision comes down to role:

• Buy refurbished 3850 for: cold/warm spares to match an existing 3850 fleet, lab and CCNP/CCNP-lab benches, or short-horizon access-layer closets you plan to retire anyway. Matching an existing stack member avoids mixing platforms. See our refurbished network switches buying guide for grading and testing expectations.
• Migrate to Catalyst 9300 for: anything in production you intend to keep past 2025-2027, anything that needs current IOS XE security fixes, or any site moving toward Cisco DNA / SD-Access. The 9300 is the platform Cisco names as the direct successor.

Both new and refurbished 9300 units are widely available if budget is the constraint. Browse current inventory in the networking catalog.

Catalyst 3850 to 9300 migration mapping

Cisco's EOL bulletin publishes a one-to-one replacement for every 3850 SKU. The 9300 model that matches port count, PoE class, and speed is below (Network Advantage / -A licensing shown as the bulletin does).

Note: the 3850 and 9300 cannot share a StackWise stack, and the StackWise-480 stacking cables are not cross-compatible between platforms. Plan cutovers stack-by-stack rather than mixing members.

3850 vs 9300: what actually changes

Both run IOS XE and share StackWise-480 and StackPower, so the operational model feels familiar. The 9300 adds a faster ASIC, modular high-speed uplinks, and full Cisco DNA / SD-Access support that the 3850 largely lacks.

If you are sizing a refresh and weighing where the access layer really needs to land, the Catalyst 9300 vs 9200 comparison covers when the lighter 9200 is enough and when the 9300's ASIC and stacking headroom are worth it.

Last verified 16 July 2026 against Cisco’s End-of-Sale/End-of-Life bulletin (c51-743072).

Related reading: Catalyst 9300 48-port PoE (C9300-48P-A) · Catalyst 9300 vs 9200 · Refurbished network switches guide

Frequently asked questions

Is the Cisco Catalyst 3850 still supported by Cisco TAC?

For the copper and multigigabit SKUs (bulletin EOL13188), no. The last date of support was October 31, 2025, after which Cisco TAC cases, RMAs, and SmartNet renewals all ended. The fiber SFP/SFP+ uplink models (WS-C3850-12S/24S/12XS/24XS) remain supported until April 30, 2027.

Can I still buy a refurbished Catalyst 3850?

Yes. Now that Cisco has stopped selling the 3850, the secondary market is deep and inexpensive. Refurbished units are a sound choice for spares that match an existing 3850 stack or for lab benches, but not for new production you plan to keep past the support dates. See our refurbished network switches guide for grading and testing guidance.

What is the direct replacement for a WS-C3850-48P?

Cisco's EOL bulletin maps the WS-C3850-48P (48-port PoE+) to the C9300-48P-A. It matches port count and PoE+ class, runs current IOS XE, and supports Cisco DNA / SD-Access. The 48-port Full PoE WS-C3850-48F maps to the same 9300 SKU.

Are there unpatched security vulnerabilities on the 3850 now?

Potentially, yes. Cisco stopped releasing security fixes for the copper 3850 SKUs on October 30, 2023, so any CVE disclosed after that date will never be patched on that platform. That makes an internet-facing or DMZ 3850 a real compliance and security risk, even though it keeps forwarding traffic normally.

Can a Catalyst 3850 stack with a Catalyst 9300?

No. They are different platforms, and their StackWise-480 stacking cables and stack protocols are not cross-compatible. You cannot mix 3850 and 9300 members in the same stack, so plan migrations stack-by-stack rather than swapping individual members.

Should I refresh to a 9300 or a 9200?

The 9300 is the direct 3850 successor and the right call for anything needing the UADP 2.0 ASIC, high-speed modular uplinks, StackPower, or full SD-Access. The 9200 is a lighter, lower-cost access switch. Our Catalyst 9300 vs 9200 comparison details where each fits.