# Swift 6.3 Release Process **URL:** \ **Category:** Announcements\ **Created:** [October 24, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843 "2025-10-24T18:46:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mishal\_shah](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/swift/user_avatar/forums.swift.org/mishal_shah/32/247_2.png) [@mishal\_shah](https://forums.swift.org/u/mishal_shah)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/1 "2025-10-24T18:46:47Z")
# Swift 6.3 Release Process This post describes the release process, and estimated schedule for Swift 6.3. ## Snapshots of Swift 6.3 Downloadable snapshots of the Swift 6.3 release branch will be posted regularly as part of [continuous integration](https://ci.swift.org/) testing. As support is available, snapshot downloads will be added for newly supported platforms. Once Swift 6.3 is released, the official final builds will also be posted in addition to the snapshots. ## Getting Changes into Swift 6.3 On **November 12th, 2025** the `release/6.3` branch will be cut from `main` in the swift repository and related project repositories. This will contain the changes that will be released in Swift 6.3. After the branch is cut, changes can be landed on the branch via pull request if they meet the criteria for the release. ### Philosophy on Taking Changes into Swift 6.3 - All language and API changes for Swift 6.3 will go through the [Swift Evolution](https://github.com/apple/swift-evolution) process. Evolution proposals should aim to be completed by the branch date in order to increase their chances of impacting the Swift 6.3 release. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis, particularly if they tie in with the core goal of the release. - Other changes (e.g., bug fixes, diagnostic improvements, SourceKit interface improvements) will be accepted based on their risk and impact. - Low-risk test tweaks will also be accepted late into the release branch if it aids in the qualification of the release. - As the release converges, the criteria for accepted changes will become increasingly restrictive. ## Impacted Repositories The following repositories will have a `release/6.3` branch to track sources as part of Swift 6.3 release: - [indexstore-db](https://github.com/swiftlang/indexstore-db) - [sourcekit-lsp](https://github.com/swiftlang/sourcekit-lsp) - [swift-build](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-build) - [swift-cmark](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-cmark) - [swift-corelibs-blocksruntime](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-corelibs-blocksruntime) - [swift-corelibs-foundation](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-corelibs-foundation) - [swift-corelibs-libdispatch](https://github.com/apple/swift-corelibs-libdispatch) - [swift-corelibs-xctest](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-corelibs-xctest) - [swift-docc-render-artifact](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-docc-render-artifact) - [swift-docc-render](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-docc-render "https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-docc-render") - [swift-docc-symbolkit](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-docc-symbolkit) - [swift-docc](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-docc) - [swift-driver](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-driver) - [swift-experimental-string-processing](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-experimental-string-processing) - [swift-format](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-format) - [swift-foundation-icu](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-foundation-icu) - [swift-foundation](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-foundation) - [swift-integration-tests](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-integration-tests) - [swift-llbuild](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-llbuild) - [swift-llvm-bindings](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-llvm-bindings) - [swift-lmdb](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-lmdb) - [swift-markdown](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-markdown) - [swift-package-manager](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-package-manager) - [swift-stress-tester](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-stress-tester) - [swift-syntax](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-syntax) - [swift-testing](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-testing) - [swift-tools-support-core](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-tools-support-core) - [swift-xcode-playground-support](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-xcode-playground-support) - [swift](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift) The [llvm-project](https://github.com/swiftlang/llvm-project) will have a corresponding swift/release/6.3 branch from stable/21.x. ## Release Managers The overall management of the release will be overseen by the following individuals, who will announce when stricter control of change goes into effect for the Swift 6.3 release as the release converges. - Ben Cohen (@ben-cohen, [GitHub: airspeedswift](https://github.com/airspeedswift)) is the overall release manager for Swift 6.3. - Holly Borla (@hborla , [GitHub: hborla](https://github.com/hborla)) is the release manager for the Swift Compiler, [sourcekit-lsp](https://github.com/swiftlang/sourcekit-lsp), [indexstore-db](https://github.com/swiftlang/indexstore-db), [swift-syntax](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-syntax), and [swift-stress-tester](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-stress-tester). - Ravi Kandhadai Madhavan (@ravikandhadai, [GitHub: ravimad](https://github.com/ravimad)) is the release manager for [llvm-project](https://github.com/swiftlang/llvm-project). - Fred Riss (@Frederic_Riss, GitHub: [fredriss](https://github.com/fredriss)) is the release manager for LLDB in [llvm-project](https://github.com/swiftlang/llvm-project). - Steve Canon (@scanon, [GitHub: stephentyrone](https://github.com/stephentyrone)) is the release manager for the Swift Standard Library. - Tony Parker (@Tony_Parker, [GitHub: parkera](https://github.com/parkera)) is the release manager for [swift-corelibs-foundation](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-corelibs-foundation), [swift-foundation](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-foundation), and [swift-foundation-icu](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-foundation-icu). - Aaron Morrison (@akmorrison, [GitHub: akmorrison](https://github.com/akmorrison)) is the release manager for [swift-corelibs-libdispatch](https://github.com/apple/swift-corelibs-libdispatch). - Stuart Montgomery (@smontgomery , [GitHub: stmontgomery](https://github.com/stmontgomery)) is the release manager for [swift-corelibs-xctest](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-corelibs-xctest) and [swift-testing](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-testing). - Robert Connell (@rconnell , [GitHub: rconnell9](https://github.com/rconnell9)) is the release manager for [swift-package-manager](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-package-manager), [swift-build](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-build), [swift-llbuild](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-llbuild) and [swift-tools-support-core](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-tools-support-core). - Franklin Schrans (@franklin, [GitHub: franklinsch](https://github.com/franklinsch)) is the release manager for [swift-docc](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-docc), [swift-lmdb](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-lmdb), [swift-docc-render](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-docc-render "https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-docc-render"), [swift-docc-render-artifact](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-docc-render-artifact), [swift-docc-symbolkit](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-docc-symbolkit). - Vera Mitchell (@QuietMisdreavus , [GitHub: QuietMisdreavus](https://github.com/QuietMisdreavus)) is the release manager for [swift-markdown](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-markdown) and [swift-cmark](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-cmark) - Tony Allevato (@allevato, [GitHub: allevato](https://github.com/allevato)) is the release manager for [swift-format](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift-format). ### Platform Release Managers - Nicole Jacque (@Nicole_Jacque, [GitHub: najacque](https://github.com/najacque)) is the release manager for the Darwin platform. - Mishal Shah (@mishal_shah , [GitHub: shahmishal](https://github.com/shahmishal)) is the release manager for Linux, WASM and FreeBSD platforms. - Saleem Abdulrasool (@compnerd, [GitHub: compnerd](https://github.com/compnerd)) is the release manager for the Windows platform. - Marc Prud'hommeaux (@marcprux , [GitHub: marcprux](https://github.com/marcprux)) is the release manager for Swift SDK for Android. - Mishal Shah (@mishal_shah, [GitHub: shahmishal](https://github.com/shahmishal)) will be the release coordinator responsible for production of nightly and release snapshots and coordinating sign-off on repositories and platforms for the release. Please feel free to post on the [development forum](https://forums.swift.org/c/development/compiler) or contact [Ted Kremenek](https://github.com/tkremenek) directly concerning any questions about the release management process. ## Pull Requests for Release Branch In order for a pull request to be considered for inclusion in the release branch (`release/6.3` ) after it has been cut, the pull request must have: - A title starting with a designation containing the release version number of the target branch. - [This](https://github.com/swiftlang/.github/blob/main/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE/release.md?plain=1) form filled out in its description. An item that is not applicable may be left blank or completed with an indication thereof, but must not be omitted altogether. To switch to this template when drafting a pull request in a [swiftlang](https://github.com/swiftlang) repository in a browser, append the `template=release.md` query parameter to the current URL and refresh. For example: ```swift -https://github.com/swiftlang/swift/compare/main...my-branch?quick_pull=1 +https://github.com/swiftlang/swift/compare/main...my-branch?quick_pull=1&template=release.md ``` **All changes** going on the `release/6.3` branch **must go through pull requests** that are accepted by the corresponding release manager. ---
**Author:** ![MajorTom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@MajorTom](https://forums.swift.org/u/MajorTom)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/2 "2025-11-04T17:21:08Z")
Once again I see FreeBSD listed in the supported platforms list, but I still have not seen a FreeBSD 6.2 release. Did I miss it? If not, what is happening? ---
**Author:** ![mishal\_shah](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/swift/user_avatar/forums.swift.org/mishal_shah/32/247_2.png) [@mishal\_shah](https://forums.swift.org/u/mishal_shah)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/3 "2025-11-04T17:27:22Z")
We are actively working on supporting FreeBSD. The community has made great progress. However, we still have a few more issues to resolve before publishing the toolchains on [swift.org](http://swift.org/) GitHub Project board: [Swift on FreeBSD · GitHub](https://github.com/orgs/swiftlang/projects/16) ---
**Author:** ![MajorTom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@MajorTom](https://forums.swift.org/u/MajorTom)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 12:22pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/4 "2025-11-05T12:22:50Z")
Thanks for the great work. Trying to get some sense as to how much longer we should expect to wait for remaining items? Is this another month’s worth of work? Three months? Longer? I ask as I have a few projects that I want to deploy on FreeBSD and I would like to understand if I can wait or if I will need to look at Linux for deployment. ---
**Author:** ![Finagolfin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/swift/user_avatar/forums.swift.org/finagolfin/32/34388_2.png) [@Finagolfin](https://forums.swift.org/u/Finagolfin)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 12:28pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/5 "2025-11-05T12:28:42Z")
Have you tried [the existing FreeBSD port for Swift 5.10](https://www.freshports.org/lang/swift510/)? ---
**Author:** ![MajorTom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@MajorTom](https://forums.swift.org/u/MajorTom)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/6 "2025-11-05T12:44:52Z")
I have not tried it, as the project has been on Swift 6 for over a year and I have not checked to see if it will compile on 5.10. ---
**Author:** ![mishal\_shah](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/swift/user_avatar/forums.swift.org/mishal_shah/32/247_2.png) [@mishal\_shah](https://forums.swift.org/u/mishal_shah)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/7 "2025-11-06T17:22:28Z")
@MajorTom [Swift on FreeBSD Preview](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-on-freebsd-preview/83064) ---
**Author:** ![CoderStar](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/swift/user_avatar/forums.swift.org/coderstar/32/18434_2.png) [@CoderStar](https://forums.swift.org/u/CoderStar)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 3:48am UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/8 "2025-11-25T03:48:54Z")
May I ask when the expected release date for Swift 6.3 is ---
**Author:** ![Jon\_Shier](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/swift/user_avatar/forums.swift.org/jon_shier/32/921_2.png) [@Jon\_Shier](https://forums.swift.org/u/Jon_Shier)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2025, 3:59am UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/9 "2025-11-25T03:59:45Z")
Apple won't tell you, but based on past years, it should come with the spring OS and Xcode releases, usually sometime in March. ---
**Author:** ![grynspan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/swift/user_avatar/forums.swift.org/grynspan/32/15315_2.png) [@grynspan](https://forums.swift.org/u/grynspan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/11 "2026-02-17T20:06:44Z")
You may want to start a new thread to ask your question. ---
**Author:** ![XDR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/dbc845/32.png) [@XDR](https://forums.swift.org/u/XDR)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 5:55pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/12 "2026-03-26T17:55:10Z")
Is there an ETA for a Swift 6.3 [GitHub Release](https://github.com/swiftlang/swift/releases)? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![mishal\_shah](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/swift/user_avatar/forums.swift.org/mishal_shah/32/247_2.png) [@mishal\_shah](https://forums.swift.org/u/mishal_shah)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/13 "2026-03-30T17:07:00Z")
It was updated a few days ago. Please let me know if you still see any issues. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![XDR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/dbc845/32.png) [@XDR](https://forums.swift.org/u/XDR)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/14 "2026-03-30T17:16:15Z")
@mishal_shah Thanks for the info. Homebrew Core tried to auto bump the [swift formula to 6.3](https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-core/pull/274651). The build for the PR is failing on macOS 14. Is it possible for macOS 14 to build Swift 6.3? If so, do you know how to fix the build errors? I've never tried to build the Swift compiler itself, so I don't want to go down a rabbit hole if you or someone else can fix it quickly. Thanks. My original post about the Homebrew Core swift 6.3 formula bump is: > [@Can someone fix the Homebrew Core swift 6.3 formula build?](https://forums.swift.org/t/can-someone-fix-the-homebrew-core-swift-6-3-formula-build/85686): > > Homebrew Core tried to auto bump the [swift formula to 6.3](https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-core/pull/274651). The build for the PR is failing. Can someone fix it so that Homebrew Core users can get the latest version of Swift? I've never tried to build the Swift compiler itself, so I don't want to go down a rabbit hole if someone who has experience building the Swift compiler can fix it quickly. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Jon\_Shier](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/swift/user_avatar/forums.swift.org/jon_shier/32/921_2.png) [@Jon\_Shier](https://forums.swift.org/u/Jon_Shier)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/15 "2026-03-30T17:37:16Z")
The homebrew version isn't part of the official release process. Really the only support installation method is through `swiftly`, though I don't recommend that for macOS. Just use Xcode. ---
**Author:** ![XDR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/dbc845/32.png) [@XDR](https://forums.swift.org/u/XDR)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/16 "2026-03-30T18:54:30Z")
@Jon_Shier Thanks for the recommendation of swiftly. It looks like swiftly can be installed on macOS 14 & 15 via Homebrew Core, then install Swift 6.3.0. I haven't yet attempted to use the Swift 6.3.0 that was installed by swiftly on those macOS versions yet, but I assume that it will work. If possible, it would still be nicer to just install Swift 6.3.0 directly via a Homebrew Core bottle instead of needing to install swiftly to install Swift 6.3.0, so, if anyone can fix the formula build, it would still be useful. I personally use Swift 6.3 from Xcode 26.4, but a tool that I work on is primarily distributed via Homebrew Core, which requires that a formula build on the macOS version to which it will be deployed (it's a Homebrew requirement that I cannot change). A formula cannot be built on a newer macOS and then deployed on an older macOS. I am able to use Swift 6.2.4 by building with Xcode swift on macOS 15+ & with the Homebrew Core swift formula swift on macOS 14. I was similarly trying to upgrade my code to Swift 6.3, which will require building with the Homebrew Core swift formula swift on both macOS 14 & 15. ---
**Author:** ![marcprux](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/swift/user_avatar/forums.swift.org/marcprux/32/12098_2.png) [@marcprux](https://forums.swift.org/u/marcprux)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-6-3-release-process/82843/17 "2026-03-30T19:42:11Z")
I'll also add that the [Swift Homebrew formula](https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/swift) is depended on by dozens of other Homebrew packages on _both_ macOS and Linux (like [vapor](https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-core/blob/main/Formula/v/vapor.rb), [swift-protobuf](https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-core/blob/main/Formula/s/swift-protobuf.rb), [swift-format](https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-core/blob/main/Formula/s/swift-format.rb), and others). So until Swift 6.3 can be built for both platforms, I think all those projects are going to remain stuck on an older version, at least when installed via Homebrew/Linuxbrew. Even if Homebrew isn't an officially "supported" channel, I do think that assistance ought to be offered toward facilitating the distribution of the latest version, the same as we might for Debian or any other package manager or distribution that has a policy of building their packages from source. > though I don't recommend that for macOS. Just use Xcode. The various cross-compilation SDKs like the Swift SDK for Android do not work with Xcode's Swift — they require the OSS host toolchain.