AL2 supported kernels
Supported kernel versions
Important
On 2026-01-20, Amazon Linux will update its default kernel from 4.14 to
5.10 for the Amazon Linux 2 base AMI (amzn2-ami-hvm-x86_64-gp2
and amzn2-ami-hvm-arm64-gp2), reflecting our long-standing
recommendation that all AL2 customers use kernel 5.10 as their default.
This means that customers launching new EC2 instances using these standard
AMI names will automatically receive kernel 5.10, benefiting from enhanced
performance, security improvements, and better hardware support without
requiring any explicit action.
We will continue providing kernel 4.14 updates through Amazon Linux 2's
end-of-life on 2026-06-30, and customers who specifically need kernel
4.14 can continue using the dedicated AMI names (amzn2-ami-kernel-4.14-hvm-x86_64-gp2
and amzn2-ami-kernel-4.14-hvm-arm64-gp2) to ensure their
workloads remain unaffected.
Currently, AL2 AMIs are available with kernel versions 4.14 and 5.10, with version 5.10 as the default. We recommend that you use an AL2 AMI with kernel 5.10.
AL2023 AMIs are available with kernel version 6.1. For more information, see AL2023 Kernel changes from AL2 in the Amazon Linux 2023 User Guide.
Support Timeframe
The 5.10 kernel available on AL2 will be supported until the AL2 AMI reaches the end of standard support.
Live patching support
| AL2 kernel version | Kernel live patching supported |
|---|---|
| 4.14 | Yes |
| 5.10 | Yes |
| 5.15 | No |