Linux Kernel 6.8 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
End of Life
Linux Kernel 6.8 reached end of life on 30 May 2024. It no longer receives security fixes.
801 days without security patches
Recommended action: upgrade to Linux Kernel 7.1. Check your versionuname -r
Support timeline
Official dates from the Linux Kernel release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 10 Mar 2024 | — |
| End of life | 30 May 2024 | 2.2 years ago |
| Latest release | 6.8.12 · 30 May 2024 | final |
Where to go from 6.8
Recommended target: Linux Kernel 7.1.
The newest actively supported branch is Linux Kernel 7.1 (latest release 7.1.7).
Frequently asked questions
Is Linux Kernel 6.8 still safe to use?
Linux Kernel 6.8 reached end of life on 30 May 2024, 801 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download Linux Kernel 6.8?
Yes — the final release (6.8.12) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade Linux Kernel 6.8 to?
Upgrade to Linux Kernel 7.1, the newest actively supported branch.
All Linux Kernel versions
7.1 supported 7.0 EOL 2026 6.19 EOL 2026 6.18 supported 6.17 EOL 2025 6.16 EOL 2025 6.15 EOL 2025 6.14 EOL 2025 6.13 EOL 2025 6.12 supported 6.11 EOL 2024 6.10 EOL 2024 6.9 EOL 2024 6.8 EOL 2024 6.7 EOL 2024 6.6 supported 6.5 EOL 2023 6.4 EOL 2023 6.3 EOL 2023 6.2 EOL 2023 6.1 supported 6.0 EOL 2023 5.19 EOL 2022 5.18 EOL 2022 5.17 EOL 2022 5.16 EOL 2022 5.15 supported 5.14 EOL 2021 5.13 EOL 2021 5.12 EOL 2021 5.11 EOL 2021 5.10 supported 5.4 EOL 2025 4.19 EOL 2024 4.14 EOL 2024 4.9 EOL 2023