How to Check Your Linux Version (Distro, Kernel, and More)

Knowing which version of Linux you're running isn't just trivia — it affects software compatibility, security updates, troubleshooting steps, and whether your system can handle certain applications. The process is straightforward, but the right command depends on what exactly you need to know and which Linux distribution you're using.

What "Linux Version" Actually Means

This is where a lot of confusion starts. Linux version can refer to two distinct things:

• The kernel version — the core of the operating system itself, developed by Linus Torvalds and the Linux kernel team
• The distribution version — the packaged operating system built around that kernel, such as Ubuntu 22.04, Fedora 39, or Debian 12

A system running Ubuntu 22.04 and a system running Fedora 39 might both use a similar kernel version, but they're entirely different environments with different package managers, release cycles, and software ecosystems. When most people ask "what version of Linux am I running," they usually want the distribution version — but sometimes they need both.

How to Check Your Linux Distribution Version

Using lsb_release

The most widely supported command across distributions is: