Updating the Kernel in Linux

The Linux kernel is the core component of any Linux operating system, responsible for managing hardware, processes, memory, and system calls. Updating the kernel can bring performance improvements, new hardware support, bug fixes, and enhanced security — but the process varies depending on your Linux distribution.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to update the kernel on some of the most widely used Linux distributions: Ubuntu/Debian, CentOS/RHEL, Fedora, and Arch Linux.

 Before You Begin

  • Backup your system – Kernel updates can cause issues, especially with custom drivers or modules.

  • Check current kernel version with:

    uname -r

  • Ensure your system is fully updated before proceeding.

 Ubuntu / Debian

Update via Package Manager (Recommended)

Ubuntu and Debian usually update the kernel through official repositories.

  1. Update package list:

    sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

  2. Reboot if a kernel upgrade was applied:

    sudo reboot

Install Specific Kernel Version (Optional)

You can manually install a newer kernel from Ubuntu Mainline Kernel PPA.

Example for Ubuntu:

wget https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v6.6.5/amd64/linux-image-6.6.5-060605-generic_6.6.5-060605.202312011237_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i linux-image-6.6.5-*.deb
sudo reboot

CentOS / RHEL

Enable ELRepo Repository

To get newer kernels:

sudo yum install https://www.elrepo.org/elrepo-release-7.el7.elrepo.noarch.rpm
sudo yum --enablerepo=elrepo-kernel install kernel-ml

Then update GRUB:

sudo grub2-set-default 0
sudo reboot

Check with:

uname -r

Note: kernel-ml is the “mainline” kernel provided by ELRepo.

 Fedora

Fedora ships with relatively up-to-date kernels.

Standard Update:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
sudo reboot

To Install a Specific Kernel:

Use the dnf command to install a particular kernel version if it’s available:

sudo dnf install kernel-core-6.x.x.fcXX

Arch Linux

Arch always runs near the latest kernel version.

Update Everything:

sudo pacman -Syu
sudo reboot

To Use a Specific Kernel (e.g., LTS):

sudo pacman -S linux-lts

Edit GRUB if needed:

sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Updating the Linux kernel can greatly improve your system’s performance, compatibility, and security — especially for servers, developers, or users needing the latest features. Always test kernel upgrades in staging environments for production systems, especially when using VPS, dedicated servers, or complex cloud deployments.