How To Install Kernel 6.12.22 On Ubuntu, Debian And Derivative Systems

The Linux kernel is the core component of any Linux operating system, managing hardware resources and system processes.

The latest Kernel from the 6.12 series is Kernel 6.12.22, which has been recently released, coming with a few changes only:

bcachefs:
- Fixed potential deadlocks in bch2_ioctl_subvolume_destroy() by ensuring proper directory cache handling.
- Added missing permission checks to avoid unauthorized subvolume deletion.
- Corrected locking behavior when iterating over subvolumes.

Drivers

8250 DMA Serial Driver:
- Fixed a bug in tx_dma_flush() that was mistakenly terminating the RX (receive) channel instead of the TX (transmit) channel.
Intel CPUIdle (intel_idle):
- Added support for new C-state entries on specific CPUs.
Bluetooth:
- Fixed a potential memory leak when initializing L2CAP connections.
- Improved handling of encryption requests for LE connections.
Networking (netfilter, bonding, etc.):
- Resolved several race conditions and memory leaks in Netfilter (particularly around nf_tables).
- Improved bond driver by ensuring slave_arr isn’t accessed after being freed.

Memory Management

Fixed improper page accounting in certain situations that could cause memory leaks or inaccurate tracking.

Security & Stability

Multiple fixes for race conditions and use-after-free scenarios across various subsystems including:
- io_uring
- hugetlb
- f2fs

Miscellaneous Fixes

Corrected several spelling errors in documentation and code comments.
Minor performance optimizations and improved error handling in various drivers.

In this guide we will be installing Kernel 6.12.22, which has been released a while go, bringing some fixes and enhancements only.

Check your current kernel version:

Before proceeding with the installation, verify your current kernel version by running:

uname -r

How to install Kernel 6.12.22 on Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian, and derivative systems (amd64/x86_64):

Step 1: Update Your System

Run the following commands to ensure your system is up to date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This will update your package list and upgrade all installed packages to their latest versions.

What Does apt update Do?
This command updates the package list to reflect the latest versions available from your repositories.
What Does apt upgrade Do?
It upgrades all the packages that have new versions available while keeping existing dependencies intact.

Step 2: Download the Kernel 6.12.22 Packages

Download the necessary kernel packages from the official Ubuntu repositories or the kernel website:

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.12.22/amd64/linux-headers-6.12.22-061222-generic_6.12.22-061222.202504071109_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.12.22/amd64/linux-headers-6.12.22-061222_6.12.22-061222.202504071109_all.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.12.22/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-6.12.22-061222-generic_6.12.22-061222.202504071109_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.12.22/amd64/linux-modules-6.12.22-061222-generic_6.12.22-061222.202504071109_amd64.deb

Step 3: Install the New Kernel

Install the downloaded packages using dpkg:

sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-6.12*.deb linux-modules-6.12*.deb linux-image-6.12*.deb

Step 4: Update GRUB and Reboot

Once the kernel installation is complete, update GRUB to ensure the new kernel is recognized:

Regenerate the GRUB Configuration

Run the following command to update GRUB with the latest installed kernel:

sudo update-grub

Verify GRUB Configuration

To confirm that the new kernel has been detected, check the GRUB configuration:

cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg | grep 'menuentry'

This should list all available kernels, including Kernel 6.12.22.

Reboot the System

Restart your computer to apply the changes:

sudo reboot

Select the New Kernel (if needed)If the system doesn’t automatically boot into the new kernel, you can manually select it:
- Hold Shift or Esc during boot to access the GRUB menu.
- Navigate to Advanced options for Ubuntu.
- Choose the entry with Kernel 6.12.22.
- Press Enter to boot.

Verifying the Installed Kernel

After rebooting, confirm the new kernel version:

uname -r

Rolling Back to a Previous Kernel

If you encounter issues with the new kernel, you can revert to an older version:

Reboot and Access the GRUB Menu -Restart your system and hold Shift or Esc to enter the GRUB boot menu.
Select Advanced options for Ubuntu – Choose an older kernel version and boot into it.
Remove Kernel 6.12.22 (if desired) – If you prefer to remove the new kernel permanently, run:

sudo apt remove linux-headers-6.12* linux-modules-6.12* linux-image-6.12*
sudo update-grub
sudo reboot

Conclusion

Linux Kernel 6.12.22 continues the trend of focused stability and security updates rather than introducing major new features. The patch addresses critical issues across multiple subsystems, with particular attention to the bcachefs filesystem and networking stack. These changes reflect the kernel team’s commitment to improving reliability in production environments, especially for filesystems and network-intensive workloads.

Driver updates play a significant role in this release as well, with fixes spanning from low-level serial communication to more complex subsystems like Bluetooth and CPU power management. By resolving long-standing bugs and refining hardware interaction layers, this version ensures better hardware compatibility and energy efficiency, particularly on modern Intel platforms.

Overall, while 6.12.22 might seem like a minor release, it reinforces the importance of incremental refinement in Linux kernel development. Users who rely on stability, security, and consistent performance—especially in enterprise or server environments—will benefit from upgrading. As always, testing before deployment is advised, particularly if your systems depend on specific drivers or filesystems affected by this update.

Newer kernel 6.12.x is available

How To Install Kernel 6.12.23 On Ubuntu, Debian And Derivative Systems