How to Install Linux Kernel 4.7 in Ubuntu 16.04/14.04

Last updated: July 25, 2016

Linux Kernel

Linus Torvalds finally announced the release of the Linux Kernel 4.7. He wrote on lkml.org:

So, after a slight delay due to my travels, I’m back, and 4.7 is out.

Despite it being two weeks since rc7, the final patch wasn’t all that big, and much of it is trivial one- and few-liners. There’s a couple of network drivers that got a bit more loving. Appended is the shortlog since rc7 for people who care: it’s fairly spread out, with networking and some intel Kabylake GPU fixes being the most noticeable ones. But there’s random small noise spread all over.

Kernel 4.7 release highlights:

  • open source support for Radeon RX 480 GPUs
  • async discard support by the core block code
  • support for upgrading firmware using the EFI Capsule
  • New Linux Security Module (LSM) “LoadPin”
  • support for generating virtual USB Device Controllers in USB/IP
  • numerous drivers updates and lots of bug-fixes.

How to Install / Upgrade Kernel 4.7 in Ubuntu:

Ubuntu Kernel Team has made the binary packages for the new kernel release, available for download at the link below:

Depends on your OS type, grab and install the packages below one by one:

  1. linux-headers-4.7.0-xxxxxx_all.deb
  2. linux-headers-4.7.0-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64(/i386).deb
  3. linux-image-4.7.0-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64(/i386).deb

Select generic for common system, and lowlatency for a low latency system (e.g. for recording audio), amd64 for 64bit system and i386 for 32bit system.

You may also download these .deb packages in terminal / command console by running following commands one by one:

For 64-bit system:

cd /tmp/

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.7/linux-headers-4.7.0-040700_4.7.0-040700.201607241632_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.7/linux-headers-4.7.0-040700-generic_4.7.0-040700.201607241632_amd64.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.7/linux-image-4.7.0-040700-generic_4.7.0-040700.201607241632_amd64.deb

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

For 32bit system:

cd /tmp/

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.7/linux-headers-4.7.0-040700_4.7.0-040700.201607241632_all.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.7/linux-headers-4.7.0-040700-generic_4.7.0-040700.201607241632_i386.deb

wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.7/linux-image-4.7.0-040700-generic_4.7.0-040700.201607241632_i386.deb

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Finally restart your computer.

Uninstall Kernel 4.7:

For any reason you want to remove this Kernel, start/restart your machine and select boot with the previous kernel in Grub2 -> Advanced menu. Then remove the 4.7 kernel via Ubuntu Tweak, or just follow this tutorial.

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10 responses to How to Install Linux Kernel 4.7 in Ubuntu 16.04/14.04

  1. Hi, many thanks, it is pretty straightforward to follow even for a Linux newbie like me. Keep on this nice track. Regards.

  2. Hi,
    My Ubuntu 16.04 has a bug which makes it restart instead of shutdown, which did not occur under 14.04. Do you think upgrading the kernel could help?

  3. This is the second website im following to upgrade to 4.7 via the command line and both links say that 404 not found.
    Can you enlighten me on how to upgrade it using the tar xz file?

  4. Uddalak Bhaduri August 14, 2016 at 5:18 pm

    For Ubuntu 64 bit system, follow these steps:

    wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.7/linux-headers-4.7.0-040700_4.7.0-040700.201608021801_all.deb

    wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.7/linux-headers-4.7.0-040700-generic_4.7.0-040700.201608021801_amd64.deb

    wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.7/linux-image-4.7.0-040700-generic_4.7.0-040700.201608021801_amd64.deb

    Then install kernel 4.7 using command:

    sudo dpkg -i *.deb

    Finally update GRUB:

    sudo update-grub

    Then, reboot your system:

    sudo reboot

    To check the installed kernel which you’re using:

    uname -r

    Done!

    For Ubuntu 32 bit system, follow these steps:

    wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.7/linux-headers-4.7.0-040700_4.7.0-040700.201608021801_all.deb

    wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.7/linux-headers-4.7.0-040700-generic_4.7.0-040700.201608021801_i386.deb

    wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.7/linux-image-4.7.0-040700-generic_4.7.0-040700.201608021801_i386.deb

    Then install kernel 4.7 using command:

    sudo dpkg -i *.deb

    Finally update GRUB:

    sudo update-grub

    Then, reboot your system:

    sudo reboot

    To check the installed kernel which you’re using:

    uname -r

    Done!

  5. Hi,

    I have a new MSI GL62 6QF laptop with Ubuntu 16.04 and because of the problems with the 4.4 kernel I’ve installed de 4.7 debs kernel (must wait, but good so far)

    The question is: How can I update for next updated patches? Ubuntu update will give me the option, or I need to do it manually?

    Thanks!

  6. Hi there,

    thx for the instruction.

    I’d add that one should do a

    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get upgrade

    after installing the new kernel, maybe some kernel modules has to be update or recompiled too (e.g. virtualbox)

    best, mmx

  7. Hey, how do you install the sources?

    I´m currently facing this issue: ¨Module build for the currently running kernel was skipped since the kernel source for this kernel does not seem to be installed.¨

    thanks.