Linus Torvalds has officially released Linux 6.18, the latest stable version of the Linux kernel.
The announcement came on Sunday, November 30, 2025, marking another milestone for the open-source operating system that powers everything from smartphones to supercomputers.
Torvalds shared the news through the Linux kernel mailing list, noting that while there was more bugfixing activity in the final week than he would have preferred, nothing raised concerns serious enough to delay the release. “So 6.18 is tagged and pushed out,” he confirmed.
The release brings numerous driver fixes and improvements across the kernel. Most of the last-minute updates focused on driver enhancements, with additional fixes touching Bluetooth, Ceph, and AFS subsystems.
These changes help ensure better stability and compatibility with a wide range of hardware.
What’s Next for Linux Development
With Linux 6.18 now available, the merge window for Linux 6.19 opens immediately. Torvalds mentioned he already has three dozen pull requests waiting for review. However, the timing presents some challenges.
| Feature Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Status | Official stable release (Linux 6.18) – November 30, 2025 |
| Driver Improvements | Multiple driver fixes and enhancements for better hardware compatibility |
| Subsystem Updates | Bluetooth, Ceph, and AFS improvements included in final fixes |
| Stability Focus | Last-minute bugfixing completed; all critical issues resolved before release |
| Hardware Support | Enhanced compatibility across various hardware configurations and devices |
| Quality Assurance | Extensive testing completed; ready for production deployment |
| Merge Window | Linux 6.19 merge window opens immediately after 6.18 release |
| Development Timeline | 6.19 scheduled to extend to rc8 due to holiday season delays (targeting February) |
The merge window will overlap with the yearly kernel maintainer summit, meaning Torvalds will be traveling during the second week.
He warned that while pull requests must still arrive on time, his responses might be slightly delayed.
The first release candidate (rc1) could also face a delay of a day or two due to travel and time zone differences.
Looking ahead, Torvalds noted that the holiday season will affect the Linux 6.19 development cycle.
He plans to extend that release to rc8, adding an extra week to account for any time lost during the holidays.
“People will presumably have gotten over their food coma by then,” he joked about the February target date.
Each Linux kernel release improves how computers interact with hardware. Driver enhancements mean better performance for graphics cards, network adapters, storage devices, and other components.
These updates benefit millions of users worldwide, from desktop Linux users to companies running cloud servers.
Torvalds encouraged users to continue testing the new release. Community testing helps identify bugs and ensures the kernel works well across different hardware setups.
Linux 6.18 is now available for download from kernel.org. System administrators and Linux enthusiasts can upgrade to take advantage of the latest improvements.
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