How To Install Kernel 6.14 On Ubuntu, Debian And Derivative Systems

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

Yesterday, Linus Torvalds himself announced the release of the stable version of Kernel 6.14.

The official announcement:

“So it’s early Monday morning (well – early for me, I’m not really a morning person), and I’d love to have some good excuse for why I didn’t do the 6.14 release yesterday on my regular Sunday afternoon release schedule.

I’d like to say that some important last-minute thing came up and delayed things.

But no. It’s just pure incompetence.

Because absolutely nothing last-minute happened yesterday, and I was just clearing up some unrelated things in order to be ready for the merge window. And in the process just entirely forgot to actually ever cut the release. D’oh.

So yes, a little delayed for no good reason at all, and obviously that means that the merge window has opened. No rest for the wicked (or the incompetent).”

Amog others, it comes with changes and various fixes.

Kernel 6.14 highlights

Security Enhancements – This release bolsters defenses against vulnerabilities such as Spectre and Meltdown, integrates advanced security modules, and offers robust live patching capabilities.
Hardware Support – Linux 6.14 introduces the AMDXDNA accelerator driver, enabling support for Ryzen AI Neural Processing Units (NPUs). Additionally, it includes core energy counter support for AMD CPUs and power management suspend/resume support for Raspberry Pi devices.
File System Improvements – The Btrfs file system now supports RAID1 read balancing, enhancing data redundancy and performance. XFS has been updated with reflink and reverse-mapping support for real-time devices, improving data management capabilities.
Performance Optimizations – The introduction of the ntsync subsystem emulates Windows NT synchronization primitives, improving compatibility and performance for applications running via Wine or Steam Play. Furthermore, the kernel includes uncached buffered I/O support and a new cgroup controller for device memory, contributing to overall system efficiency.
Additional Features – Linux 6.14 incorporates FUSE support for io_uring, enhancing asynchronous I/O operations, and adds support for SELinux extended permissions, providing finer-grained security controls. Moreover, it introduces support for T-Head vector extensions for RISC-V architectures, expanding the kernel’s versatility across different hardware platforms.

In this article I will show you how to install Kernel 6.14 on Ubuntu, Linux Mint and derivative systems.

Check your current kernel version:

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

uname -r

How to install Kernel 6.14 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 6.14 Packages

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

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.14/amd64/linux-headers-6.14.0-061400-generic_6.14.0-061400.202503241442_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.14/amd64/linux-headers-6.14.0-061400_6.14.0-061400.202503241442_all.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.14/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-6.14.0-061400-generic_6.14.0-061400.202503241442_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.14/amd64/linux-modules-6.14.0-061400-generic_6.14.0-061400.202503241442_amd64.deb

Step 3: Install the New Kernel

Install the downloaded packages using dpkg:

sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-6.14*.deb linux-modules-6.14*.deb linux-image-6.14*.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 6.14.

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 6.14.
- 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 6.14 – If you prefer to remove the new kernel permanently, run:

sudo apt remove linux-headers-6.14* linux-modules-6.14* linux-image-6.14*
sudo update-grub
sudo reboot

Conclusion

After successfully installing Linux Kernel 6.14 on your Ubuntu system, you can now take advantage of the latest features and enhancements this release has to offer. From increased security measures to better hardware compatibility and performance optimizations, Kernel 6.14 significantly improves the overall Linux experience. Whether you’re using Linux for personal, professional, or development purposes, these updates make your system more resilient, efficient, and capable of handling modern workloads.

With new security mitigations, advanced device drivers, and support for cutting-edge technologies like Ryzen AI NPUs and Raspberry Pi power management, this kernel reflects Linux’s continuous evolution. It also enhances the file system landscape, particularly with Btrfs and XFS improvements, and improves compatibility with Windows-based applications through the new ntsync subsystem. These additions keep Linux at the forefront of innovation in both the desktop and server spaces.

By keeping your kernel up to date, you’re not only unlocking new features but also contributing to the stability and security of your Ubuntu system. The Linux community’s collaborative spirit and ongoing contributions ensure that every new kernel release brings exciting advancements, reinforcing Linux’s position as a leading operating system for users around the globe.