Source-backed version compatibility
Kubernetes Version Skew Kubectl version compatibility. kubectl is supported within one minor version older or newer than kube-apiserver.
Quick answer
Supported and tested versions have compatibility evidence. Recommended and bundled versions describe upstream choices without establishing compatibility. Versions outside the documented coverage are unknown, not necessarily incompatible.
Supported Kubectl versions
kubectl is supported within one minor version older or newer than kube-apiserver.
In HA clusters, this component must satisfy the skew policy for every API server it communicates with; mixed API server versions narrow the allowed range.
The policy permits a client one minor version newer, but Kubernetes 1.38 is not yet a released compatibility target.
high confidence · verified 2026-10-08 · client
Supported Kubectl versions
kubectl is supported within one minor version older or newer than kube-apiserver.
In HA clusters, this component must satisfy the skew policy for every API server it communicates with; mixed API server versions narrow the allowed range.
high confidence · verified 2026-10-08 · client
Supported Kubectl versions
kubectl is supported within one minor version older or newer than kube-apiserver.
In HA clusters, this component must satisfy the skew policy for every API server it communicates with; mixed API server versions narrow the allowed range.
high confidence · verified 2026-10-08 · client
Supported Kubectl versions
kubectl is supported within one minor version older or newer than kube-apiserver.
In HA clusters, this component must satisfy the skew policy for every API server it communicates with; mixed API server versions narrow the allowed range.
high confidence · verified 2026-10-08 · client
Primary evidence
Every constraint above is backed by upstream documentation, tagged source, release notes, or another project-owned primary source.
compatibility.fyi