Linux Kernel 7.1 Officially Released, Here’s What’s New
Linux kernel 7.1 is now stable, removing legacy i486 processor support and introducing a fully rewritten NTFS driver after four years of development. It also integrates Intel FRED by default and resolves Steam Deck OLED audio issues. The release arrived half a day early due to Linus Torvalds’ travel schedule, with security updates including Landlock improvements.
What changed
This update adds a modern NTFS driver, drops i486 compatibility, and enables Intel FRED as the default, alongside performance improvements for Intel Arc and AMD Radeon graphics.
Live updates
-
Linux Kernel 7.1 Officially Released: NTFS Rewrite, i486 Drop, and New Defaults
confidence 100%Linux kernel 7.1 is now stable, removing legacy i486 processor support and introducing a fully rewritten NTFS driver after four years of development. It also integrates Intel FRED by default and resolves Steam Deck OLED audio issues. The release arrived half a day early due to Linus Torvalds’ travel schedule, with security updates including Landlock improvements.
What's confirmed:
- Linux kernel 7.1 removes support for the i486 processor architecture, ending legacy compatibility for Intel 486 CPUs.
- The release includes a fully rewritten NTFS driver, replacing the older version after four years of development.
- Intel FRED is now enabled by default in the kernel.
- Steam Deck OLED audio issues have been resolved in this update.
- Linux 7.1 arrived half a day early, announced by Linus Torvalds on June 14, 2026, due to his travel schedule.
- The update includes security enhancements, specifically improvements to the Landlock security module.
- Performance improvements for Intel Arc and AMD Radeon graphics drivers are included in the new kernel.
-
Linux Kernel 7.1 Released Early: NTFS Rewrite, Steam Deck Fixes, Intel FRED Default
confidence 100%Linux 7.1 is now stable, dropping legacy i486 support and introducing a fully rewritten NTFS driver after four years of work. It resolves Steam Deck OLED audio issues, improves hardware compatibility, and integrates Intel FRED by default. The release was announced June 14 by Linus Torvalds, arriving a half-day early due to travel. Security updates, including Landlock enhancements, are also included.
What's confirmed:
- Linux 7.1 was released June 14, 2026, by Linus Torvalds, arriving a half-day early due to his travel plans.
- The kernel drops support for the i486 architecture, marking a clear move away from outdated hardware.
- A fully rewritten NTFS driver is now included after four years of development.
- Steam Deck OLED audio issues have been resolved in this release.
- Intel FRED is now integrated by default in Linux 7.1.
- The release includes updates for broader hardware compatibility.
-
Linux Kernel 7.1 Released: NTFS Rewrite, Steam Deck Fixes, and Hardware Shifts
confidence 92%Linux Kernel 7.1 is now stable, dropping i486 support and introducing a fully rewritten NTFS driver after four years of development. It resolves Steam Deck OLED audio issues and includes updates for broader hardware compatibility. The release marks a clear move away from outdated architectures while adding security and driver improvements. Announced on June 14, 2026, by Linus Torvalds during travel, it also integrates Intel FRED by default and enhances Landlock security.
What's confirmed:
- Linux Kernel 7.1 was officially released on June 14, 2026, with an announcement from Linus Torvalds while traveling.
- The release includes a fully rewritten in-kernel NTFS driver, replacing the previous implementation after four years of development.
- Support for the i486 architecture has been dropped in this version, aligning with a shift toward modern hardware compatibility.
- Steam Deck OLED audio issues have been resolved in Kernel 7.1, improving compatibility with Valve’s handheld device.
- Intel FRED is now enabled by default in the kernel, alongside broader hardware and driver updates.
- Landlock security features have been enhanced, contributing to improved system isolation and protection.
- Btrfs and exFAT filesystem support have been updated, alongside cleanup of obsolete kernel code.
Still unconfirmed:
- Apple Silicon support has been added in Kernel 7.1 (single-source claim).
- The latest Ubuntu version may integrate Kernel 7.1 features (unconfirmed).
- Calibre’s update and a Raspberry Pi OS alternative are linked to Kernel 7.1 (irrelevant to kernel changes).
-
Linux Kernel 7.1 Released: NTFS Overhaul, Steam Deck Fixes, and Legacy Code Removal
confidence 98%Linux Kernel 7.1 is now stable, ending i486 support and introducing a fully rewritten NTFS driver after four years of development. It also resolves Steam Deck OLED audio issues and includes routine driver and networking stability patches. The release marks a shift toward modern hardware while dropping outdated architectures.
What's confirmed:
- Linux Kernel 7.1 officially dropped support for the i486 architecture, ending compatibility with 32-bit legacy systems.
- The kernel introduces a completely rewritten NTFS driver, replacing the previous version after four years of development.
- Steam Deck OLED audio issues have been resolved in Linux 7.1, improving compatibility with Valve’s handheld device.
- The release includes routine stability patches for drivers, networking, and sound subsystems rather than flashy new features.
- Apple Silicon battery reporting is now supported in Linux 7.1, expanding compatibility with Apple’s ARM-based hardware.
- Linux 7.1 is described as a feature release with significant changes, including hardware performance enhancements for upcoming Intel and AMD CPUs.
Still unconfirmed:
- Cache-aware scheduling improvements, previously teased for Linux 7.2, may be partially backported to 7.1 for Intel and AMD CPU optimizations (single-source claim).
- The kernel’s total codebase now exceeds 40 million lines, though exact figures remain unverified (single-source estimate).