Topic: HWE

HWE (hardware enablement) involves periodic backports of newer Linux kernel and GPU drivers to stable Ubuntu LTS releases, as well as Linux distros based on them, like Linux Mint.

Ubuntu 24.04 gets a big open-vm-tools update

A major update to open-vm-tools, a package that integrates Linux virtual machines with VMware hypervisors, is rolling out to users of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. “Without SRUing the newer version users get issues running on more […]

24 August 2026
A laptop showing the Linux Mint desktop.

Linux Mint 22.3 HWE released with Linux kernel 7.0

A refreshed Linux Mint 22.3 (Zena) OS installer is available for download, powered by Linux kernel 7.0. The distro made the first Linux Mint 22.3 HWE ISO available in March, with an installer that boots […]

10 August 2026

Ubuntu 26.04 virtualization HWE stack offers newer QEMU & libvirt

Ubuntu’s hardware enablement (HWE) effort has expanded to include backports of newer virtualisation tech to users of the current LTS release. The virtualization HWE stack from Canonical will let users benefit from newer versions of QEMU, […]

28 July 2026
A laptop showing the Linux Mint desktop.

Linux Mint’s new HWE ISOs improve hardware support

Linux Mint’s switch to a longer development cycle – the next release is coming at Christmas – has a knock on effect for people trying to install it on newer hardware that requires a newer […]

30 April 2026

Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS released with Linux 6.17 + Mesa 25.2

Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS is now available to download. This fourth point release brings the Linux 6.17 HWE kernel and Mesa 25.2 graphics stack for better hardware support.

12 February 2026
Ubuntu logo with 24.04 LTS mascot with upgrade wording on background.

Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS HWE update is now available

The Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS HWE update is now available to install. It brings Linux kernel 6.17, Mesa 25.2.7 and Wayland Protocols 1.45 to the current LTS.

5 February 2026

A Huge GPU & Kernel Update is Coming to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS's updated hardware enablement stack (HWE) brings Linux Kernel 6.17, Mesa 25.2.7 and a new set of Wayland Protocols – a nice uplift, right?

9 January 2026
Intel Battlemage GPU on a coloured background with the Ubuntu logo.

Major Linux Kernel & GPU Driver Update Lands in Ubuntu 24.04

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS users are getting a new HWE update with Linux 6.14 and Mesa 25.0, delivering a big gaming boost and support for newer hardware.

10 July 2025
Intel Battlemage GPU on a coloured background with the Ubuntu logo.

Ubuntu LTS Users Might Soon Get Frequent Intel GPU Updates

This week sees the (belated) release of Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS, the first point release update in the noble series to bring an updated hardware enablement (HWE) stack with it. Ubuntu’s HWE backports newer1 Linux kernel […]

17 February 2025

Ubuntu 22.04 Users Can Now Upgrade to Linux Kernel 6.5

You can now upgrade to Linux kernel 6.5 in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS — no PPAs, additional repos, or edge packages required. Ubuntu routinely back-ports newer Linux kernels from “interim” releases to its latest long-term support […]

10 January 2024
Ubuntu logo peeling back to reveal a computer circuit.

Ubuntu 22.04 Users Can Now Upgrade to Linux Kernel 6.2

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS users can now upgrade to Linux kernel 6.2 using the Software Updater tool. Ahead of the formal Ubuntu 22.04.3 point release due next week (August 10) Canonical has issued an updated kernel […]

4 August 2023
developers on laptops

Canonical Bringing Livepatch Support to HWE Kernels

Ubuntu Pro subscribers will be able to apply reboot-free updates to more Linux kernels from July. As spotted by our friends at Neowin, Canonical announced Livepatch support for Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernels starting this summer. […]

15 April 2023