How to Get Kernel Version on Linux Mint 21

The kernel is the core part of the any operating system as it links your system hardware and its processes. The kernel manages the resources and allocates memory, allowing the processes to run. The kernel of the system contains the hardware drivers for supporting each hardware. It plays a vital role in managing the security of your system and avoiding system deadlock by competing application demands.

It is important to know which kernel version you are currently running while installing the new applications. The current version will give you an idea of whether you should update your kernel or not

Don’t know how to check the current Linux kernel version? Follow this guide.

Command to Find the Version of the kernel on Linux Mint 21

If you’d like to know which Linux kernel version you are using, you can execute the following commands:

Through uname command
Through cat command
Through hostnamectl command
Through neofetch command

1: Through uname Command

The uname command displays the basic information for your system. Run the below command to find the Linux kernel version:

$ uname -r

In the above output the:

First number 5 is the kernel version
Second number in the string 15 is the major version
The 0 is the minor version
58 is the bug fix
Generic is the build specific

2: Through cat Command

The cat command uses the special file to show Linux kernel version:

$ cat /proc/version

3: Using hostnamectl Command

This command displays the hostname and Linux kernel version:

$ hostnamectl

You can also use the following command with grep kernel:

$ hostnamectl | grep Kernel

This command will display the detail of your system:

$ dmesg | grep Linux

4: Using neofetch Command

The neofetch gives you the organized overview of your system. Run the below command to get the details of your system with the current Linux version:

$ neofetch

Bottom Line

If you are troubleshooting the hardware problems related to your system or installing the new application, it is good to know about your system details. Sometimes we need to update the kernel because the current version might not support specific applications in your system. There are four different commands to check the Linux kernel version on the system.