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Python 3.11.14 Release Date, Size & Changelog

Krishnamohan Yagneswaran
Tech Blog

📌 Quick Summary

Python 3.11.14 was officially released on October 9, 2025 as a security-only maintenance update in the Python 3.11 series. This release focuses strictly on security fixes and stability improvements — no new features were added. As with other security-only releases in this phase of the lifecycle, binary installers (like the Windows 64-bit .exe) are not published; only source distributions are provided. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}


🗓️ Python 3.11.14 Release Date

Python 3.11.14 was officially released on October 9, 2025. This version is part of the Python 3.11 branch’s “security-fixes-only” phase, meaning it includes important security corrections but no new features or performance enhancements. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

This release aligns with Python’s extended maintenance schedule, which keeps Python 3.11 receiving security updates through October 2027. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}


📦 Download Size & Packaging

Unlike earlier full bugfix releases (such as Python 3.11.9), Python 3.11.14 does not include compiled installer binaries for platforms like Windows or macOS. Only source code archives are available directly from the official release page.

Typical source archive sizes (approximate):

  • Source tarball (.tar.xz) – around ~11 MB (varies slightly based on compression)
  • Source gzipped tarball (.tar.gz) – similar size range

These source files must be manually built/compiled for your platform if you choose to use them. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}


📜 Full Changelog (Security Fixes)

Below are the documented fixes and updates included in Python 3.11.14:

🔒 Security and Core Fixes

  • Zipfile handling improvement: Enhanced consistency checking of the “ZIP64 end of central directory” metadata. The fix adds support for ZIP files containing “zip64 extensible data” even if extra prepended bytes are present.
  • XML parser fix: xml.parsers.expat was corrected to ensure that parent Expat parsers are not prematurely garbage-collected when subparsers created by ExternalEntityParserCreate() still reference them. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

These changes focus on tightening security around common library modules and preventing edge-case vulnerabilities — exactly the purpose of a security-only release.


🧠 What “Security-Only” Means

Python’s lifecycle for older branches (like 3.11) enters a security-only maintenance phase once full bug-fix support ends. In this stage:

  • No new features are introduced
  • Only critical security issues are addressed
  • Release frequency is irregular
  • Binary installers are not provided from the official build system :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

For day-to-day development, many users continue to use earlier full installer releases (e.g., Python 3.11.9) or upgrade to newer major Python releases such as Python 3.14.x.


⚙️ Comparing to Earlier 3.11 Fixes

To put 3.11.14 in context:

  • Python 3.11.13 (June 2025) was also a security patch with source-only builds. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
  • Python 3.11.9 (April 2024) was the last release in the 3.11 series with official installers. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

💡 Should You Use Python 3.11.14?

If you specifically require the very latest security fixes in the Python 3.11 line and are comfortable building from source, then yes — Python 3.11.14 is the right release.

If you want a ready-to-install, prebuilt release for Windows or macOS, consider:

  • Python 3.11.9 for stability with full installer support
  • Python 3.14.x series for the latest features and improvements

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