PyTorch 2.6 changes secure checkpoint loading and binary distribution
PyTorch 2.6 changed torch.load to default to weights-only deserialization, a security improvement that can break older checkpoints. The project also stopped publishing official Conda packages and introduced binary and ABI changes for selected Linux builds.
Why it matters: The release changed both a sensitive model-loading boundary and supported installation paths. Silent assumptions about pickle-compatible checkpoints, Conda provenance, native extensions, or Linux ABI compatibility could break training and serving workflows.