Ubuntu kernel lifecycle and enablement stack

The Ubuntu LTS enablement, or Hardware Enablement (HWE), stack provides the newer kernel and X11 display support for existing Ubuntu LTS releases. That stack can be enabled manually, but may also be pre-enabled with an Ubuntu LTS release.

The HWE stack can be used by desktop and server systems, as well as cloud or virtual images.

Installation

Ubuntu 14.04 LTS — Trusty Tahr

Desktop:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-lts-xenial xserver-xorg-core-lts-xenial xserver-xorg-lts-xenial xserver-xorg-video-all-lts-xenial xserver-xorg-input-all-lts-xenial libwayland-egl1-mesa-lts-xenial

Server:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-lts-xenial

The 14.04.2 and newer point releases ship with an updated kernel and X stack by default. If you have installed with older media, you can use these instructions to install the newer HWE kernel derived from 16.04 (Xenial).

If you run a multiarch desktop (for example, i386 and amd64 on amd64, for gaming or Wine), you may find you need a slightly more involved command:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-lts-xenial xserver-xorg-core-lts-xenial xserver-xorg-lts-xenial xserver-xorg-video-all-lts-xenial xserver-xorg-input-all-lts-xenial libwayland-egl1-mesa-lts-xenial libgl1-mesa-glx-lts-xenial libgl1-mesa-glx-lts-xenial:i386 libglapi-mesa-lts-xenial:i386

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS — Xenial Xerus

Desktop:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-16.04 xserver-xorg-hwe-16.04

Server:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-16.04

The 16.04.2 and newer point releases ship with an updated kernel and X stack by default for the desktop. Server installations default to the GA kernel and provide the enablement kernel as optional.The 16.04 HWE stacks follow the Rolling Update Model.

Ubuntu 18.04 LTS — Bionic Beaver

Desktop:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-18.04 xserver-xorg-hwe-18.04

Server:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-18.04

The 18.04.2 and newer point releases will ship with an updated kernel and X stack by default for the desktop. Server installations will default to the GA kernel and provide the enablement kernel as optional.

The 18.04 HWE stacks follow the Rolling Update Model.

Ubuntu 20.04 LTS — Focal Fossa

Desktop:

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

Server:

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

Desktop installations of 20.04 default to tracking the HWE stack. Server installations will default to the GA kernel and provide the enablement kernel as optional.

Note that certain desktop machines may be on a separate “OEM” track. To determine if the machine is eligible for this, run the command ubuntu-drivers list-oem from a terminal. If this is non-empty, the machine is running the OEM cadence instead of HWE.

The 20.04 HWE stack follows the Rolling Update Model.

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS — Jammy Jellyfish

Desktop:

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

Server:

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

Desktop installations of 22.04 default to tracking the HWE stack. Server installations will default to the GA kernel and provide the enablement kernel as optional.

Note that certain desktop machines may be on a separate “OEM” track. To determine if the machine is eligible for this, run the command ubuntu-drivers list-oem from a terminal. If this is non-empty, the machine is running the OEM cadence instead of HWE.

The 22.04 HWE stack follows the Rolling Update Model.

Check your support status

To determine if your install is still supported, use this terminal command:

hwe-support-status --verbose

Kernel release schedule

20142016201820202022202420262028203020322034203625.046.1424.04.2 LTS (HWE)6.1124.1022.04.5 LTS (HWE)6.824.04.1 LTS24.04.0 LTS20.04.5 LTS (HWE)5.1522.04.1 LTS22.04.0 LTS18.04.5 LTS (HWE)5.420.04.1 LTS20.04.0 LTS16.04.5 LTS (HWE)4.1518.04.1 LTS18.04.0 LTS14.04.5 LTS (HWE)4.416.04.1 LTS16.04.0 LTS14.04.1 LTS3.1314.04.0 LTSStandard support (4-5 years)Expanded Security Maintenance (extra 5 years)Interim release standard security maintenance (9 months)Legacy support (years 11 and 12)
Kernel version Ubuntu version Released End of Standard Security Maintenance End of Expanded Security Maintenance End of Legacy Support
6.14 25.04 Apr 2025 Jan 2026
6.11 24.04.2 LTS (HWE) Feb 2025 Jul 2025
24.10 Oct 2024 Jul 2025
6.8 22.04.5 LTS (HWE) Aug 2024 Apr 2027 Mar 2032 Apr 2034
24.04.1 LTS Aug 2024 Apr 2029 Mar 2034 Apr 2036
24.04.0 LTS Apr 2024 Apr 2029 Mar 2034 Apr 2036
5.15 20.04.5 LTS (HWE) Aug 2022 Apr 2025 Apr 2030 Apr 2032
22.04.1 LTS Aug 2022 Apr 2027 Mar 2032 Apr 2034
22.04.0 LTS Apr 2022 Apr 2027 Mar 2032 Apr 2034
5.4 18.04.5 LTS (HWE) Aug 2020 Apr 2023 Apr 2028 Apr 2030
20.04.1 LTS Aug 2020 Apr 2025 Apr 2030 Apr 2032
20.04.0 LTS Apr 2020 Apr 2025 Apr 2030 Apr 2032
4.15 16.04.5 LTS (HWE) Aug 2018 Apr 2021 Apr 2026 Apr 2028
18.04.1 LTS Jul 2018 Apr 2023 Apr 2028 Apr 2030
18.04.0 LTS Apr 2018 Apr 2023 Apr 2028 Apr 2030
4.4 14.04.5 LTS (HWE) Aug 2016 Apr 2019 Apr 2024 Apr 2026
16.04.1 LTS Jul 2016 Apr 2021 Apr 2026 Apr 2028
16.04.0 LTS Apr 2016 Apr 2021 Apr 2026 Apr 2028
3.13 14.04.1 LTS Jul 2014 Apr 2019 Apr 2024 Apr 2026
14.04.0 LTS Apr 2014 Apr 2019 Apr 2024 Apr 2026