Linux Kernel 5.18 was released on this Sunday. Ubuntu 22.04 user can install this new kernel via the mainline PPA repository.

The new Kernel release comes with many new features, and here are some of them:

• Intel Hardware Feedback Interface “HFI” Driver
• Intel Software Defined Silicon (SDSi) driver
• AMD HSMP driver
• Intel Indirect Branch Tracking (IBT)
• New Razer Driver & Tablet improvements.
• Intel’s Platform Environment Control Interface (PECI)
• Intel Alder Lake N graphics and Alder Lake “PS” audio support.
• SiGma Micro keyboard control ICs support

How to Install Kernel 5.18 in Ubuntu 22.04:

Ubuntu has build the kernel package in its Kernel Mainline PPA, available to install in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.

NOTE: The Mainline Kernel package does not include any Ubuntu-provided drivers or patches, which are NOT appropriate for production use. ONLY install when you do require it and use at your own risk!

The Kernel 5.18 .deb packages are available to download at the link below:

For Ubuntu 22.04 desktop PC/laptop, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run the commands below one by one to download the packages:

cd /tmp

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.18/amd64/linux-headers-5.18.0-051800_5.18.0-051800.202205222030_all.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.18/amd64/linux-headers-5.18.0-051800-generic_5.18.0-051800.202205222030_amd64.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.18/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-5.18.0-051800-generic_5.18.0-051800.202205222030_amd64.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.18/amd64/linux-modules-5.18.0-051800-generic_5.18.0-051800.202205222030_amd64.deb

Then install them via command:

cd /tmp && sudo apt install ./*.deb

In addition, there’s a third-party graphical tool can do the job with a few clicks.

Install Kernel via third-party tool

After installation, restart your computer and verify by running command:

uname -a

How to Remove Kernel 5.18:

To remove this kernel from your system, firstly boot (re-boot) with the previous Kernel from ‘Grub menu -> Advanced options’.

When you’re in, run the command below in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) to remove the Kernel 5.18:

sudo apt remove --autoremove linux-headers-5.18.0-051800 linux-image-unsigned-5.18.0-051800-generic

For those sticking to the old Ubuntu 18.04, but need higher Linux kernel version for specific hardware support, here’s how to install the Linux Kernel 5.13 from Ubuntu 20.04 repository.

NOTE: Ubuntu 20.04’s kernel package does install and seems running good in Ubuntu 18.04. But I’m not sure if it will cause compatibility issues. Install it ONLY that you do require it, and use it at your own risk!!

Linux Kernel 5.13 features include:

• Initial and early support for Apple M1.
• New “Landlock” Linux security module.
• Initial graphics support for Alder Lake S.
• AMD FreeSync HDMI support.
• New Intel cooling driver
• Realtek RTL8156 and RTL8153D support
• New drivers support for Amazon’s Luna game controller.
• Apple Magic Mouse 2 support .
• Realtek RT1019, RT1316, RT711 and RT715 support.

Install Linux Kernel 5.13 in Ubuntu 18.04:

You know, the Mainline Kernel PPA maintains the latest kernel package. However, it’s now built against the most recent Ubuntu libc6 library.

The Kernel package from Ubuntu 20.04 repository could be the only way to get recent Kernels for Ubuntu 18.04, except for building by yourself.

1. Add Ubuntu 20.04 Updates repository:

Firstly, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, paste the command below and hit enter:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list'

The command adds focal-updates repository to your system software sources.

2. Set lower priority for the repository:

Also in terminal window, run command to create and open a config file via Gedit text editor:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/preferences.d/99focal-updates

When the file opens, add following lines and save it:

Package: *
Pin: release a=focal-updates
Pin-Priority: 1

After that, your system will not automatically install updates from this repository, unless you do it manually.

3. Update package cache:

Before being able to install packages from that repository, refresh system cache via command:

sudo apt update

If you’re following this tutorial on 18.04 based system that missing GPG key, run the commands below one by one to get them:

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 3B4FE6ACC0B21F32

sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 871920D1991BC93C

4. Install Kernel 5.13:

Finally install the 20.04’s kernel package via the command below. So far, it’s Kernel 5.13.

sudo apt install linux-generic-hwe-20.04

After installation, restart your PC and verify via command:

uname -a

How to Remove Kernel 5.13 from Ubuntu 18.04:

To remove the focal-updates repository, run command to edit software sources file:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

When the file opens, remove or comment (add # at the beginning) the line of:

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main

After saved it, run sudo apt update to refresh the cache.

To remove Linux Kernel 5.13, you need to firstly restart and select boot with an old kernel (v5.4.x) from boot menu -> Advanced options.

Once you get into Ubuntu 18.04 with the previous Kernel, run the command below to remove Kernel 5.13:

sudo apt remove linux-image-5.13.0-37-generic linux-headers-5.13.0-37-generic linux-hwe-5.13-headers-5.13.0-37

NOTE: Ubuntu updates the kernel packages regularly, the package version may be different!! Change it to the one that you installed.

Linux Kernel 5.17 was finally released last night after 8 release candidates. Linus Torvalds announced that:

So we had an extra week of at the end of this release cycle, and I’m happy to report that it was very calm indeed. We could probably have skipped it with not a lot of downside, but we did get a few last-minute reverts and fixes in and avoid some brown-paper bugs that would otherwise have been stable fodder, so it’s all good.

The new kernel comes with

• New AMD P-State driver for Zen 2 and newer systems with ACPI CPPC.
• RISC-V sv48 Support to be able to handle more memory.
• Sensor monitoring support for more ASUS motherboards.
• CXL memory hotplug support.
• Initial support for next-generation Raptor Lake S graphics.
• Initial support for a Sierra XM1210 receiver.
• Intel Alder Lake N audio support.
• Real-Time clock driver for Nintendo GameCube / Wii / Wii U.

How to Install Kernel 5.17 in Ubuntu 22.04:

IMPORTANT: The Mainline Kernel packages do not include any Ubuntu-provided drivers or patches! You must know what you’re going to do!

The Mainline Kernel PPA has built the new kernel packages. It however requires libc >= 2.34 and libssl3. Which means only Ubuntu 22.04 user can try out the new Kernel packages. Though, Ubuntu 21.10 may try to meet the requirement via this tutorial.

Firstly, download the .deb packages from the link page below:

For modern 64-bit PC/laptop, download & install the packages below in turns:

• linux-headers-5.17.0-051700_5.17.0-051700.202203202130_all.deb
• linux-headers-5.17.0-051700-generic_5.17.0-051700.202203202130_amd64.deb
• linux-modules-5.17.0-051700-generic_5.17.0-051700.202203202130_amd64.deb
• linux-image-unsigned-5.17.0-051700-generic_5.17.0-051700.202203202130_amd64.deb

To make things easier, there’s a graphical tool called Mainline that allows to download & install mainline Kernels with few clicks.

And for Ubuntu 20.04 user insist on installing the new Kernel, keep an eye on this Ubuntu PPA (use it at your own risk)!

How to Remove Kernel 5.17:

Firstly, start or restart your PC and select an old kernel to boot from Grub boot-loader. After login with old Kernel, remove Kernel 5.17 via command:

sudo apt remove linux-headers-5.17.0* linux-modules-5.17.0* linux-image-unsigned-5.17.0*

Linux Kernel 5.16 was released a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 21.10, and/or Linux Mint 20.x.

Kernel 5.16 comes with many new features. Here are some of them:

• Initial DisplayPort 2.0 Support For AMD Radeon Driver.
• Intel Protected Xe Path for Gen12 graphics.
• Intel AMX support for Sapphire Rapids.
• Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 support.
• Snapdragon 690 and other new Arm hardware support such as Rockchip RK3566 and RK3688.
• Better support for the Sony PlayStation 5 controller.
• Better support for HP Omen laptops.
• Realtek RT89 WiFi driver
• Support for 2021 Apple Magic Keyboard.
• Apple M1 PCIe driver

How to Install Kernel 5.16 in Ubuntu 21.10:

NOTE: The Mainline Kernel PPA provides packages for Ubuntu 21.10. However, it does not include any Ubuntu-provided drivers or patches, which are NOT appropriate for production use.

The .deb packages for amd64, arm64, ppc64el and s390x are available to download at the link below:

For personal computers, select generic for common system, or lowlatency for a low latency system (e.g. for recording audio):

• linux-headers-5.16.0-xxxxxx_all.deb
• linux-headers-5.16.0-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64.deb
• linux-modules-5.16.0-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64.deb
• linux-image-xxx-5.16.0-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64.deb

Keep an eye on the date in package names. 64-bit build has two versions of same package with different package date.

For those familiar with Linux command, open terminal and run commands one by one to download & install the packages:

cd /tmp/

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.16/amd64/linux-headers-5.16.0-051600_5.16.0-051600.202201092355_all.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.16/amd64/linux-headers-5.16.0-051600-generic_5.16.0-051600.202201092355_amd64.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.16/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-5.16.0-051600-generic_5.16.0-051600.202201092355_amd64.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.16/amd64/linux-modules-5.16.0-051600-generic_5.16.0-051600.202201092355_amd64.deb

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Once installed, restart your computer and enjoy!

Uninstall Linux Kernel 5.16:

Restart your machine and select boot with the previous kernel in boot menu ‘Grub2 -> Advanced Option for Ubuntu’. Then run command to remove Linux Kernel 5.16:

sudo dpkg --purge linux-image-unsigned-5.16.0-051600-generic

Install Kernel 5.16 for Ubuntu 20.04:

The mainline kernel was build against Ubuntu 21.10, so it won’t install in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. However, for those insist on installing the new kernel, this project is available along with an Ubuntu PPA. Use it at your own risk!

You may run command in terminal to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tuxinvader/lts-mainline

Once the Kernel 5.16 package is updated, use command to install it:

sudo apt install linux-generic-5.16

NOTE: Linux Kernel keeps rolling new releases regularly. The PPA package name varies according to the version number. It’s better to check the PPA page before running the apt command.