HCL Domino Version History from an Admin Perspective
I am going to explain to you the full HCL Domino version history. View which version was released when, and also see what changed with each new release.
HCL Domino (you may know it as its former name, IBM Domino, or even Lotus Domino) is an on-premises email management server that operates with a philosophy of “Continuous Delivery.”
So every few months, you will see a new ”Fix Pack.”
These frequent releases make it difficult for admins to keep up with the latest version. If they fail to do so, they risk falling victim to security vulnerabilities by running systems that are way past their “End of Support” (EOS).
So to help out my fellow IT heads, I have curated this definitive “HCL Domino Release Date Cheat Sheet.” Use it and audit your environment to see if you are secure or need to update.
Recent HCL Domino Version History Upgrades and Depreciations
To start things off I present you with a detailed overview of the technology shifts that took place after HCL acquired the Domino Server.
From v9/10 to Domino v12 (Modernization Leap)
New Tech Introduced:
- HCL Nomad: A web-only version of the HCL Notes Client so people can access mail without installing any apps.
- CertMgr: Native integration of the “Let’s Encrypt” toolkit to improve security via auto SSL management.
- TOTP: Built in 2FA for the web and desktop client.
Scrapped Tech:
- Adobe Flash: All dependencies were removed
- Internet Explorer 11: Dropped official support (you could not use HCL Nomad on IE 11)
From v12 to Domino v14 (Security Leap)
New Tech in v14
- AutoUpdate: With v14 admin workload got reduced as there was a new server task that downloads and applies patches on its own.
- Passkeys (FIDO2): Got support for password less entries via biometric/YubiKeys login.
- Java 17/21: Users got an updated JVM through which they could perform modern REST API development.
Deprecated:
- iNotes: Replaced with HCL Verse.
- CentOS 7/RHEL 7: These were legacy, no longer supported in v14.
Complete HCL Domino Release History (till 2026)
Status Key:
- Gold: Initial release base of a new version
- LTS: Long-Term Support (Safe to use this version for the time being)
- EOS: End of Support (These versions are out of date and vulnerable to external attacks)
| Version | Release Date | Status |
| HCL Domino 14.5 FP1 | Dec 2025 | ✅ Latest Stable |
| HCL Domino 14.5 (Gold) | Jun 2025 | ✅ Active |
| Domino 14.0 FP5 | Dec 2025 | ✅ LTS |
| Domino 14.0 FP4 | Apr 2025 | ✅ LTS |
| Domino 14.0 FP3 | Dec 2024 | ✅ LTS |
| Domino 14.0 FP2 | Aug 2024 | ✅ LTS |
| Domino 14.0 FP1 | Apr 2024 | ✅ LTS |
| HCL Domino 14.0 (Gold) | Dec 2023 | ✅ Active |
| Domino 12.0.2 FP7 | Dec 2025 | ✅ LTS |
| Domino 12.0.2 FP6 | Jul 2025 | ✅ LTS |
| Domino 12.0.2 FP5 | Mar 2025 | ✅ LTS |
| Domino 12.0.2 FP4 | Aug 2024 | ✅ LTS |
| Domino 12.0.2 FP3 | Jan 2024 | ✅ LTS |
| Domino 12.0.2 FP2 | Aug 2023 | ✅ LTS |
| Domino 12.0.2 FP1 | Apr 2023 | ✅ LTS |
| HCL Domino 12.0 (Gold) | Jun 2021 | ✅ Active |
Critical Warning: If you still run Domino 9.0. x or 10.0.x update ASAP as the support officially ended on June 1, 2024, and your server is vulnerable to zero-day exploits.
| Version | Release Date | Status |
| Domino 11.0.1 FP9 | Jul 2024 | ⚠️ Extended Only |
| Domino 11.0.1 FP8 | Aug 2023 | ⚠️ Extended Only |
| Domino 11.0.1 FP1 | Aug 2020 | ⚠️ Extended Only |
| HCL Domino 11.0 (Gold) | Dec 2019 | ⚠️ Extended Only |
| Domino 10.0.1 FP8 | Jun 2022 | 🔴 EOS (Expired) |
| HCL Domino 10.0 (Gold) | Oct 2018 | 🔴 EOS (Expired) |
| Domino 9.0.1 FP10 | Feb 2018 | 🔴 EOS (Expired) |
| IBM Domino 9.0.1 (Gold) | Apr 2013 | 🔴 EOS (Expired) |
Move to the Latest HCL Domino Version Professionally
The new Domino versions give a lot of the legacy systems a run for their money. That is Domino is touted as the next best Exchange Server alternative.
Moreover, as the Exchange on-premises 2016 and 2019 are in EOL, moving becomes even more important. The problem is that no direct migration pathway existed until now.
With SysTools Exchange to HCL Domino Migration, shifting has become super easy. Get your free copy today and move with zero effort and zero data loss.
Still not convinced, here are 3 key features of the software that help you change the platforms super fast:
- Wide Compatibility: You can choose any of the expired Exchange versions from 2010 to 2019 and move them to Domino v12 or v14.
- 100% Accuracy: The solution maps not just emails, but contacts and calendars as well, while preserving all the metadata.
- Fully Secure: No file format translation happens; data travels directly from source to destination.
Conclusion
Here, I explained the HCL Domino version history in great detail. The name may have changed a lot from Lotus to IBM to HCL, but the core of the platform remained true, i.e., “Security.”
We see that this particular component of HCL Domino has been fully materialized in the latest iteration of Domino 14.5. Moreover, if your organization currently operates an expired Exchange Server system, move it to Domino with the utility prescribed in the text.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why are the Fix Packs of older HCL Domino versions, like v12 get released after v14 is already out?
A: HCL offers two simultaneous versions together, the latest and the penultimate edition. Currently, the pair is v14 and v12, and you can expect more v12 patches in 2026.
Q: What does “Gold” release mean?
A: It is a custom terminology that I use to distinguish the pristine, unpatched release from the rest of the versions.
Q: Is HCL Domino Version 11 still safe?
A: Barely. I would suggest that you switch to the latest version. You can skip the version and jump directly from v11 to v14, no issues.