How to Check the Kernel Version in Linux

By 

Dejan Panovski
•

Updated on

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2 min read

Check the Linux kernel version from the command line

Knowing which kernel version is running on your system helps when troubleshooting hardware issues, checking whether a security patch applies, or verifying driver compatibility. This guide covers three ways to check the Linux kernel version from the command line.

Using the uname Command

The uname command displays system information including the kernel name, version, and architecture.

The quickest way to print just the kernel release is uname -r:

Terminal
uname -r
output
6.8.0-49-generic

For more detail, add the -s and -m flags to include the kernel name and machine hardware:

Terminal
uname -srm
output
Linux 6.8.0-49-generic x86_64

The output shows that this is a 64-bit Linux system running kernel 6.8.0-49. The components of the version string are:

  • 6 - Major version.
  • 8 - Minor version (also called patchlevel).
  • 0 - Sub-level (bug-fix increment).
  • 49 - Distribution-specific patch number.
  • generic - Build flavor set by the distribution.

To print all available system information at once, use uname -a.

Using the hostnamectl Command

The hostnamectl utility is part of systemd. It is used to query and change the system hostname, but it also shows the Linux distribution and kernel version. Use this method on systemd-based systems:

Terminal
hostnamectl
output
 Static hostname: linuxize
       Icon name: computer-laptop
         Chassis: laptop
      Machine ID: af8ce1d394b844fea8c19ea5c6a9bd09
         Boot ID: 15bc3ae7bde842f29c8d925044f232b9
Operating System: Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS
          Kernel: Linux 6.8.0-49-generic
    Architecture: x86-64

You can use the grep command to filter the kernel line:

Terminal
hostnamectl | grep -i kernel
output
          Kernel: Linux 6.8.0-49-generic

If hostnamectl is not available on your system, use uname -r or cat /proc/version instead.

Using the /proc/version File

The /proc directory contains virtual files with information about system memory , CPU cores , mounted filesystems , and more. The running kernel version is stored in /proc/version.

Use cat or less to display the file:

Terminal
cat /proc/version
output
Linux version 6.8.0-49-generic (buildd@lcy02-amd64-080) (x86_64-linux-gnu-gcc-13 (Ubuntu 13.3.0-6ubuntu2~24.04) 13.3.0, GNU ld (GNU Binutils for Ubuntu) 2.42) #49~24.04.1-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Wed Nov  6 17:42:15 UTC 2024

This output includes the compiler version and build date, which can be useful when verifying that a specific kernel patch was applied.

Conclusion

The fastest option is uname -r. Use hostnamectl when you also need the distro name, or read /proc/version when you need the full build details. For more on inspecting your system, see the uname command guide.

Tags

linux commands

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About the authors

Dejan Panovski

Dejan Panovski

Dejan Panovski is the founder of Linuxize, an RHCSA-certified Linux system administrator and DevOps engineer based in Skopje, Macedonia. Author of 800+ Linux tutorials with 20+ years of experience turning complex Linux tasks into clear, reliable guides.

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