Installing an alternative kernel

Most Linux distributions automatically provide kernel updates through their package managers. However, these updates may not always include the very latest kernel version.
If you want to take advantage of new features or performance improvements, you can manually install a newer kernel.

⚠️ Important: Using a kernel that hasn’t been tested by your Linux distribution can cause stability or compatibility issues. Proceed with caution.

1. Check Your Current Kernel Version

To check which kernel version your system is currently running:

1. Open the GNOME Launcher and click on Terminal.

2. Type the following command:

   uname -r

   The output will display your current kernel version, for example:

   6.5.0-28-generic

2. Download the New Kernel

New kernel versions for Ubuntu, Linux Mint, elementary OS, and other Ubuntu-based distributions are available at:
👉 http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/

At the time of writing, the latest stable release is 6.8.7.

⚠️ Note: Versions marked with rc (release candidate) are not stable and should generally be avoided for daily use.

After selecting your desired kernel version, scroll down to the section titled “Build for amd64 succeeded” and download the following three files:

Headers:
linux-headers-6.2.0-060200_6.2.0-060200.202302191831_all.deb

Image:
linux-image-unsigned-6.2.0-060200-generic_6.2.0-060200.202302191831_amd64.deb

Modules:
linux-modules-6.2.0-060200-generic_6.2.0-060200.202302191831_amd64.deb

3. Install the Downloaded Files

Once the downloads are complete:

1. Open Terminal and navigate to your Downloads directory:

   cd ~/Downloads/

2. Install all three downloaded files using the following command:

   sudo dpkg -i *.deb

3. Update your GRUB configuration:

   sudo update-grub

4. Reboot Your Laptop

Restart your system for the new kernel to take effect.
After rebooting, verify that the new kernel is active:

You should now see the version number of the newly installed kernel.

5. Removing Older Kernels

If you want to remove an older kernel version, use the following command — replacing the version number with the one you wish to remove:

Once the removal is complete, reboot your system to apply the changes.