devspaces operator version 4.18 is incorrectly installed on OpenShift 4.17 or older clusters

Solution Verified - Updated

Environment

  • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform (RHOCP)
    • < 4.18
  • devspaces operator 4.18

Issue

devspaces operator version 4.18 is incorrectly installed on OpenShift 4.17 or older clusters.
Refer to Red Hat Operator has version higher than the cluster version for details.

Resolution

IMPORTANT: Do NOT remove CheCluster CR during the procedure

  1. Uninstall the problematic version of the operator via CLI oc/kubectl or OperatorHub UI in the OpenShift Console -> Installed Operators -> Red Hat OpenShift Dev Spaces  -> Uninstall Operator

  2. Once the operator is uninstalled, install the desired version of the Red Hat OpenShift Dev Spaces operator by creating the Subscription object:

apiVersion: operators.coreos.com/v1alpha1
kind: Subscription
metadata:
  namespace: <installation namespace>
  name: devspaces-operator
spec:
  channel: stable
  installPlanApproval: Manual
  name: devspaces
  source: redhat-operators  
  sourceNamespace: openshift-marketplace
  startingCSV: <specify if non-latest version is expected to be installed in the following format `devspacesoperator.vX.Y.Z` e.g. `devspacesoperator.v3.26.1`> 
  1. If the operator downgraded to version 3.24 or below, you must remove the che-user-settings ConfigMap from all users' namespaces/projects:

TIP: users' projects can be identified by the app.kubernetes.io/component=workspaces-namespace label:

kubectl get projects -l app.kubernetes.io/component=workspaces-namespace

che-user-settings ConfigMap must be removed from every user's project if the operator is downgraded to version 3.24 or below.

N.B. See the product pages for the supported versions https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/openshift_operators 

As of today Feb 19, 2026 the following versions of the operator are supported

3.24 (for 4.14, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19, 4.20) supported till 15 Mar 2026
3.25 (4.16 - 4.21) supported till May 10 2026
3.26 (4.16 - 4.21) supported till Release of 3.27 + 3 months (~ end of Q2 2026)

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