Linux Kernel 6.18 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
Supported
Linux Kernel 6.18 is actively supported. It reaches end of life on 31 Dec 2028.
875 days of security support left
6.18.43 latest release
22% of this branch's supported lifetime has elapsed — 30 Nov 2025 → 31 Dec 2028.
Check your versionuname -r
Support timeline
Official dates from the Linux Kernel release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 30 Nov 2025 | — |
| End of life (scheduled) | 31 Dec 2028 | in 875 days |
| Latest release | 6.18.43 · 6 Aug 2026 | current |
How much runway a newer branch buys
Linux Kernel 6.18 is the newest branch — this is the longest runway currently available.
| Branch | End of life | Days left | vs 6.18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux Kernel 6.18 | 31 Dec 2028 | 875 | this branch |
| Linux Kernel 6.12 | 31 Dec 2028 | 875 | 0 days |
| Linux Kernel 6.6 | 31 Dec 2027 | 509 | -366 days |
| Linux Kernel 6.1 | 31 Dec 2027 | 509 | -366 days |
| Linux Kernel 5.15 | 31 Dec 2026 | 144 | -731 days |
| Linux Kernel 5.10 | 31 Dec 2026 | 144 | -731 days |
Frequently asked questions
When does Linux Kernel 6.18 reach end of life?
Linux Kernel 6.18 reaches end of life on 31 Dec 2028 — 875 days from now. After that date it receives no security fixes.
Is Linux Kernel 6.18 still supported?
Yes. Linux Kernel 6.18 is currently maintained. Latest release: 6.18.43, published 6 Aug 2026.
What happens when Linux Kernel 6.18 reaches end of life?
Security fixes stop. After 31 Dec 2028 this branch receives no further updates under standard support.
How long do I have to upgrade from Linux Kernel 6.18?
875 days. This is already the newest branch, so this is the longest runway currently available.
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