Linux Kernel 5.12 Released! How to Install it in Ubuntu

Linux Kernel

Linus Torvalds announced the release of Linux Kernel 5.12 last night. He wrote on lkml:

Thanks to everybody who made last week very calm indeed, which just makes me feel much happier about the final 5.12 release.

New Features in Kernel 5.12 include:

  • Intel VRR / Adaptive-Sync for Intel Xe.
  • Radeon RX 6800/6900 series OverDrive overclocking support.
  • Mainline support for the Nintendo 64
  • Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense controller driver.
  • CXL 2.0 Type-3 memory device support
  • Lenovo Laptop Platform Profile support.
  • Better Microsoft Surface device support.
  • And much more.

How to Install Linux Kernel 5.12:

The Ubuntu Mainline Kernel Archive provides the new kernel packages via DEB files.

The mainline build kernels do not include any Ubuntu-provided drivers or patches. They are not supported and are not appropriate for production use.

For those prefer using a graphical tool, see this tool to install the latest Kernel.

To manually download the mainline kernel packages for Linux 5.12, go to the link button:

Download Kernel 5.12 (DEB)

Select generic for common system, and lowlatency for a low latency system (e.g. for recording audio):

  1. linux-headers-5.12.0-xxxxxx_all.deb
  2. linux-headers-5.12.0-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64.deb
  3. linux-modules-5.12.0-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64.deb
  4. linux-image-xxx-5.12.0-xxx-generic(/lowlatency)_xxx_amd64.deb

Alternatively you can download and install the kernel binaries via terminal commands ( open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T):

cd /tmp/

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.12/amd64/linux-headers-5.12.0-051200_5.12.0-051200.202104252130_all.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.12/amd64/linux-headers-5.12.0-051200-generic_5.12.0-051200.202104252130_amd64.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.12/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-5.12.0-051200-generic_5.12.0-051200.202104252130_amd64.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.12/amd64/linux-modules-5.12.0-051200-generic_5.12.0-051200.202104252130_amd64.deb

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Once installed, restart your computer and enjoy!

Uninstall Linux Kernel 5.12:

Restart your machine and select boot with the previous kernel in boot menu ‘Grub2 -> Advanced Option for Ubuntu’. Then run command to remove Linux Kernel 5.12:

sudo dpkg --purge linux-image-unsigned-5.12.0-051200-generic