Linux 7.0 is now the latest stable kernel, and Ubuntu users can install it on their computers via the official Ubuntu Mainline Kernel PPA. Let's see how you can do this graphically or via the command line.
Linux kernel 7.0 was released on Sunday, with new features, and Ubuntu users who have new hardware or just want a taste of these new features can install it. Packages are available for 64-bit (x86_64), AArch64 (ARM64), ARMhf, PowerPC 64-bit Little Endian (ppc64el) and IBM System z (s390x) architectures.
We will use the official kernel packages created by the Ubuntu Kernel Team. However, please be aware that these kernels are released without warranty. The Ubuntu Kernel Team does NOT offer support for these kernels in case you encounter problems and will NOT be held responsible for any damage they may cause due to improper installation or use.
Method 1: Install Linux Kernel 7.0 on Ubuntu with the “Mainline Kernels” tool
The easiest way to install Linux kernel 6.14 on Ubuntu is by using a graphical tool called Mainline Kernels, which you can install via PPA by running the following commands in the Terminal app:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cappelikan/ppasudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade sudo apt install -y mainline
Once the Mainline Kernels tool is installed, you can open it from your system's applications menu. The tool will check for the availability of all kernel versions from Canonical's Mainline Kernel PPA and display the latest kernel at the top.
Click on the latest kernel entry to select it, then click the large “Install” button on the right to install it on your computer. Wait for the installation to complete, then restart your computer.
The advantage of using this method is that the Mainline Kernels tool will notify you of any newer kernel versions if you enable the notification feature in the tool's settings.
Method 2: Install Linux 7.0 kernel on Ubuntu via CLI
The second method is recommended for experienced users who know what they are doing and do not want to use the Mainline Kernels tool from the first method above. .
You will need to manually download and install the Linux 6.15 kernel packages for your specific architecture (64-bit (amd64), AArch64 (ARM64), ARMhf, PowerPC 64-bit Little Endian (ppc64el), or IBM System z (s390x)) from the Ubuntu command line.
For example, to install Linux kernel 7.0 on a 64-bit Ubuntu system (amd64), you would need to download the following packages into a folder. After downloading all the kernel packages into the folder, open a terminal inside that folder and run the command sudo dpkg -i * .deb to install them all at once.
linux-image-unsigned-7.0.0-070000-generic_7.0.0-070000.202604122140_amd64.deb
linux-modules-7.0.0-070000-generic_7.0.0-070000.202604122140_amd64.deb
linux-headers-7.0.0-070000-generic_7.0.0-070000.202604122140_amd64.deb
linux-headers-7.0.0-070000_7.0.0-070000.202604122140_all.deb
Revert to the default Ubuntu kernel or another installed kernel
If you are having problems with Linux kernel 7.0 and want to revert to the default Ubuntu kernel or another kernel installed on your system, press the Esc key while booting your computer to see the boot menu, and then select the “Advanced Options” boot entry.
From there select a different kernel version from the list of available kernels.
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