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The Linux kernel is a free and open-source, monolithic, modular, multitasking, Unix-like operating system kernel. Linux is deployed on a wide variety of computing systems, such as embedded devices, mobile devices (including Android), personal computers, servers, mainframes, and supercomputers.

Release Schedule Image Gantt Chart for Linux Kernel
Release Released Security Support Latest
6.1 2 weeks and 2 days ago
(11 Dec 2022)
Yes 6.1
(11 Dec 2022)
6.0 2 months and 3 weeks ago
(02 Oct 2022)
Yes 6.0.14
(19 Dec 2022)
5.19 4 months and 4 weeks ago
(31 Jul 2022)
Ended 2 months ago
(24 Oct 2022)
5.19.17
5.18 7 months ago
(22 May 2022)
Ended 4 months ago
(21 Aug 2022)
5.18.19
5.17 9 months ago
(20 Mar 2022)
Ended 6 months ago
(14 Jun 2022)
5.17.15
5.16 11 months ago
(09 Jan 2022)
Ended 8 months ago
(13 Apr 2022)
5.16.20
5.15 (LTS) 1 year and 1 month ago
(31 Oct 2021)
Ends in 10 months
(31 Oct 2023)
5.15.84
(19 Dec 2022)
5.10 (LTS) 2 years ago
(13 Dec 2020)
Ends in 3 years and 11 months
(01 Dec 2026)
5.10.160
(19 Dec 2022)
5.4 (LTS) 3 years ago
(24 Nov 2019)
Ends in 2 years and 11 months
(01 Dec 2025)
5.4.228
(19 Dec 2022)
4.19 (LTS) 4 years ago
(22 Oct 2018)
Ends in 1 year and 11 months
(01 Dec 2024)
4.19.269
(14 Dec 2022)
4.14 (LTS) 5 years ago
(12 Nov 2017)
Ends in 1 year
(01 Jan 2024)
4.14.302
(14 Dec 2022)
4.9 (LTS) 6 years ago
(11 Dec 2016)
Ends in 5 days
(01 Jan 2023)
4.9.336
(14 Dec 2022)

There are several main categories into which kernel releases may fall:

  • Prepatch or “RC” kernels are mainline kernel pre-releases that are mostly aimed at other kernel developers and Linux enthusiasts. They must be compiled from source and usually contain new features that must be tested before they can be put into a stable release.

  • Mainline tree It’s the tree where all new features are introduced and where all the exciting new development happens. New mainline kernels are released every 2-3 months.

  • Stable is labeled after each mainline kernel is released. Any bug fixes for a stable kernel are backported from the mainline tree. There are usually only a few bugfix kernel releases until next mainline kernel becomes available – unless it is designated a “longterm maintenance kernel”. Stable kernel updates are released on as-needed basis, usually once a week.

  • Longterm (LTS) are usually several longterm maintenance kernel releases provided for the purposes of backporting bugfixes for older kernel trees. By default, these are only supported for two years (as opposed to the 4 months of a non-LTS release) but are usually extended depending on how long companies pledge to back it. Only important bugfixes are applied to such kernels, and they don’t usually see very frequent releases, especially for older trees.

More information is available on the Linux Kernel website.

You should be running one of the supported release numbers listed above in the rightmost column.

You can check the version that you are currently using by running:
uname -r

You can submit an improvement to this page on GitHub :octocat: . This page has a corresponding Talk Page.

A JSON version of this page is available at /api/linux.json. See the API Documentation for more.

This page was last updated on 20 December 2022. Latest releases are automatically updated.