How to Install HWE Kernel on Ubuntu Linux

The Hardware Enablement (HWE) Kernel delivers newer kernel versions and improved hardware support on Ubuntu LTS releases without upgrading to a new Ubuntu version. Desktop installations default to the HWE stack automatically, while server installations stick with the General Availability (GA) kernel unless you explicitly install HWE. The HWE stack follows Ubuntu’s Rolling Update Model, backporting drivers, performance improvements, and hardware compatibility from newer Ubuntu releases into your stable LTS base.

This guide covers installing the HWE kernel on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, 22.04 LTS, and 20.04 LTS, checking your current kernel version, verifying HWE activation, and reverting to the standard GA kernel when needed. You’ll learn when HWE makes sense (new graphics cards, WiFi chipsets, gaming performance, Ryzen/Intel latest-gen CPUs), how to check your support status with hwe-support-status, and troubleshooting steps when the HWE kernel doesn’t boot.

Choose Your Ubuntu Kernel Option

Ubuntu offers multiple kernel options beyond the default GA kernel, each targeting different use cases. Understanding the differences helps you select the kernel that matches your hardware requirements, performance goals, and stability needs.

Kernel Option	Primary Focus	Best For	Trade-offs
HWE Kernel	Hardware enablement and LTS support	Desktop systems, recent hardware on LTS releases, balanced stability with newer drivers	Slightly more frequent updates than GA kernel, still conservative compared to performance kernels
Zabbly Kernel	Mainline upstream tracking with minimal patches	Bleeding-edge hardware support, kernel developers, testing upstream features before Ubuntu integration	Rapid update cycle, less testing than Ubuntu kernels, potential instability
XanMod Kernel	Performance optimization and gaming	Gaming rigs, multimedia workstations, AMD Ryzen/Intel latest-gen CPUs, Wine/Proton users	Custom patches may conflict with some hardware, Secure Boot unsupported
Liquorix Kernel	Desktop responsiveness and low latency	Audio production, real-time applications, desktop users prioritizing responsiveness over server stability	Optimized for desktop workloads only, Secure Boot unsupported, limited to x86_64

The HWE kernel strikes a balance between stability and hardware support, making it ideal for desktop LTS installations that need newer drivers without full distribution upgrades. Zabbly tracks mainline kernel development with minimal modifications, delivering upstream features and hardware support as they land in stable releases. XanMod applies extensive performance patches targeting gaming and high-performance computing, while Liquorix focuses on desktop responsiveness and multimedia workloads with low-latency optimizations.

Production servers should favor Ubuntu’s default GA kernel or the HWE kernel for tested stability and enterprise support. Performance-focused kernels like XanMod and Liquorix trade thorough testing for cutting-edge optimizations, making them better suited for workstations, development machines, and non-critical systems where you can tolerate occasional instability in exchange for performance gains.

When to Use the HWE Kernel

Before installing the HWE kernel, first consider whether your use case actually benefits from newer kernel features. In essence, the HWE stack trades the absolute stability of the GA kernel for better hardware support and performance optimizations.

Scenarios Where HWE Makes Sense

• New hardware support: Recent graphics cards (AMD RX 7000 series, NVIDIA RTX 4000), WiFi 6E/7 chipsets, or latest-generation AMD Ryzen/Intel Core processors that need drivers not present in older kernels
• Gaming and graphics performance: Mesa updates, better Wayland support, improved GPU scheduling, and frame pacing fixes arrive faster through HWE
• Desktop systems: Ubuntu desktop installations default to HWE automatically because hardware compatibility matters more than absolute kernel stability for workstations
• Development machines: Testing against newer kernel APIs, container runtime improvements, or filesystem enhancements (Btrfs, ZFS module updates)
• Network performance tuning: Newer kernels include improvements to TCP congestion control and network stack optimizations; consider enabling BBR for better throughput on high-latency connections

When to Stick With the GA Kernel

Conversely, several scenarios favor staying with the GA kernel:

• Production servers: Mission-critical systems benefit from the extended testing and longer support window of GA kernels
• Older hardware: If your hardware already works perfectly on the GA kernel, HWE adds no value and introduces unnecessary change risk
• Compliance requirements: Some industries require frozen kernel versions for certification or audit purposes
• Minimal change tolerance: Systems where “if it works, don’t touch it” is policy

Ubuntu server installations default to the GA kernel and provide HWE as an optional install. In contrast, desktop installations automatically track the HWE stack. Additionally, some Dell, HP, and Lenovo machines ship with separate OEM kernels that follow a different cadence, so run the following command to check if your machine uses the OEM track instead of HWE.

ubuntu-drivers list-oem

Check Your Current Kernel Version

Before installing the HWE kernel, first check which kernel version your system currently runs. This confirmation helps you verify whether the HWE installation succeeds and whether you’re already running an HWE kernel.

Open a terminal with Ctrl + Alt + T and run:

uname -r

The output shows your kernel version. For instance, 5.15.0-119-generic indicates the 5.15 LTS kernel (Ubuntu 22.04 GA), while 6.8.0-48-generic indicates the 6.8 HWE kernel backported from Ubuntu 24.04. Typically, Ubuntu desktop installations show an HWE kernel by default, whereas server installations show the GA kernel unless you explicitly installed HWE.

Install HWE Kernel for Ubuntu 24.04

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) ships with the 6.8 kernel as its GA kernel. Following the Rolling Update Model, the HWE stack for 24.04 tracks newer kernels from subsequent Ubuntu releases as they become available.

Install the HWE Kernel Package

Install the HWE kernel metapackage with:

sudo apt install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-24.04

The --install-recommends flag ensures the package manager pulls in recommended packages like firmware updates and related kernel modules. Once installation completes, reboot your system:

sudo reboot

Verify the HWE Kernel Installation

Once your system restarts, check the kernel version again:

uname -r

You should see a kernel version corresponding to the HWE series for 24.04. Additionally, verify your HWE support status:

hwe-support-status --verbose

This command reports whether your HWE stack is still supported, when support ends, and whether updates are available.

Install HWE Kernel for Ubuntu 22.04

To install the HWE kernel, run:

sudo apt install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-22.04

Following installation, reboot to activate the new kernel:

sudo reboot

Verify the HWE Kernel Installation

Once your system restarts, verify the kernel version:

uname -r

You should see version 6.8 or newer, confirming the HWE kernel installation succeeded. Next, check support status with:

hwe-support-status --verbose

Install HWE Kernel for Ubuntu 20.04

Ubuntu 20.04 LTS reached end of standard support in April 2025. Extended Security Maintenance (ESM) continues through April 2030 for Ubuntu Pro subscribers. The HWE kernel for 20.04 provides the 5.15 kernel from Ubuntu 22.04.

Install the HWE Kernel Package

Run the following command to install the HWE kernel:

sudo apt install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-20.04

Once complete, reboot after installation:

sudo reboot

Verify the HWE Kernel Installation

Following the reboot, confirm the kernel version:

uname -r

You should see version 5.15 or newer. Then, check support status:

hwe-support-status --verbose

Revert From HWE Kernel to GA Kernel

Should the HWE kernel cause hardware incompatibilities, performance issues, or you need the stability of the GA kernel for production systems, you can easily revert to the standard kernel.

Remove the HWE Kernel Package

First, remove every HWE metapackage for your Ubuntu version so APT stops tracking the rolling kernel. On Ubuntu 24.04, run:

sudo apt remove linux-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-image-generic-hwe-24.04 linux-headers-generic-hwe-24.04

For Ubuntu 22.04:

sudo apt remove linux-generic-hwe-22.04 linux-image-generic-hwe-22.04 linux-headers-generic-hwe-22.04

If using Ubuntu 20.04:

sudo apt remove linux-generic-hwe-20.04 linux-image-generic-hwe-20.04 linux-headers-generic-hwe-20.04

Next, install the GA kernel metapackage to ensure the standard kernel and headers stay installed:

sudo apt install linux-generic

Clean up any leftover HWE kernel images and modules that were automatically installed as dependencies:

sudo apt autoremove --purge

Finally, reboot your system:

sudo reboot

Verify the GA Kernel

Following the reboot, verify you’re running the GA kernel:

uname -r

The version output should match your Ubuntu release’s GA kernel (6.8 for Ubuntu 24.04, 5.15 for Ubuntu 22.04, 5.4 for Ubuntu 20.04).

Troubleshooting HWE Kernel Issues

HWE Kernel Won’t Boot

Should your system fail to boot after installing the HWE kernel, use GRUB to select the previous kernel. When the GRUB menu appears during boot, select “Advanced options for Ubuntu” and choose the older kernel version. After successfully booting, remove the HWE kernel using the commands in the revert section above.

Hardware Not Recognized

Should specific hardware stop working after HWE installation, check for missing firmware:

dmesg | grep -i firmware

Then, install missing firmware packages from the linux-firmware package or hardware-specific repositories.

Check Which Kernel Is Actually Running

Sometimes the HWE package installs but GRUB still boots the old kernel. To verify the running kernel matches what you installed:

uname -r

Next, list all installed kernels:

dpkg --list | grep linux-image

Should GRUB default to the wrong kernel, update GRUB configuration:

sudo update-grub

HWE Support Status Shows Unsupported

First, run the support status check:

hwe-support-status --verbose

Should it report your HWE stack is unsupported, upgrade to a newer HWE kernel or consider upgrading to the next Ubuntu LTS release. Keep in mind that HWE kernels have limited support windows compared to GA kernels.

Conclusion

The HWE kernel provides newer drivers, performance improvements, and hardware compatibility on Ubuntu LTS releases through backported kernels from later Ubuntu versions. The installation process covers checking your current kernel with uname -r, installing the appropriate HWE metapackage for your Ubuntu version (24.04, 22.04, or 20.04), verifying support status with hwe-support-status, and troubleshooting common boot or hardware issues. Your Ubuntu system now runs the latest kernel series while maintaining LTS base stability, delivering better support for recent graphics cards, WiFi chipsets, and gaming performance without a full distribution upgrade. Consider configuring unattended upgrades to keep your HWE kernel automatically updated with security patches.