The Linux kernel 6.16 has officially reached its end of life. Users are now recommended to upgrade to the Linux 6.17 kernel series as soon as possible. This development ensures continued support and security updates for Linux systems.
On October 12, 2025, the Linux kernel 6.16 was announced to have reached end of life, marking the cessation of official maintenance and updates for this version. According to 9to5Linux, all users running kernel 6.16 are urged to upgrade promptly to the newer Linux 6.17 kernel series.
The end of life for kernel 6.16 means that no further stable updates, bug fixes, or security patches will be provided by the kernel maintainers. This is a standard practice in the Linux kernel development cycle, where each major version receives support for a limited period before focus shifts to subsequent releases.
Linux 6.17, the recommended upgrade path, introduces enhancements and fixes built upon previous versions. Users of distributions incorporating kernel 6.16, such as those in recent Ubuntu, Fedora, or Arch Linux releases, should check their package managers for available updates to transition smoothly.
This upgrade recommendation comes at a time when the Linux kernel continues to evolve rapidly, supporting a wide range of hardware and software ecosystems worldwide.