MySQL 9.7 LTS Now Available in AWS RDS Preview Environment
Amazon RDS for MySQL adds MySQL 9.7 to its Database Preview Environment, letting developers test the latest Long-Term Support release before it reaches general availability.
Can I test MySQL 9.7 on Amazon RDS right now?
Yes, but only through the RDS Database Preview Environment. As of July 23, 2026, Amazon RDS for MySQL supports MySQL 9.7 in that sandbox, giving developers a way to evaluate the new Long-Term Support release on managed infrastructure before it becomes generally available.
What is MySQL 9.7?
MySQL 9.7 is the latest Long-Term Support release of community MySQL. LTS releases carry bug fixes and security patches alongside new features, making them the preferred target for teams that want a stable, supported baseline for production workloads. AWS has not yet announced a GA date for MySQL 9.7 on RDS proper.
What is the RDS Database Preview Environment?
The Preview Environment is a separate AWS sandbox specifically designed for evaluating upcoming RDS database versions. It is not intended for production use, and there are meaningful constraints to keep in mind.
| Constraint | Detail |
|---|---|
| Instance retention | Maximum 60 days; automatically deleted after that |
| Snapshot portability | Snapshots stay within the Preview Environment only |
| Pricing region baseline | Priced the same as US East (Ohio) production RDS instances |
The 60-day retention limit means any instance you spin up will be destroyed automatically at the end of that window. Snapshots created inside the Preview Environment cannot be exported to a standard RDS environment, so any data or schema work you do there stays isolated.
How do you get started?
You need an AWS account. From there, AWS documentation under "Working with the Database Preview Environment" covers how to create instances in the preview sandbox. MySQL 9.7 release notes (maintained by the MySQL community) contain the specifics on what changed in this version; AWS's announcement points to those notes but does not summarize the new capabilities itself.
Why does this matter for teams evaluating MySQL 9.7?
Running a new database version in a managed cloud environment before it hits GA lets teams validate application compatibility and explore new SQL or operational features without standing up their own test infrastructure. Because the Preview Environment mirrors US East (Ohio) production pricing, cost estimation for eventual production use is straightforward.
The tradeoff is the isolation: any migration path you test in the preview sandbox cannot directly carry artifacts into your production RDS setup. Teams planning an upgrade from an earlier MySQL version should treat this as a functionality and compatibility check, not a migration rehearsal that produces reusable snapshots.