How can I clean up the old Linux kernel

[windf]

I often update my computer, and then it has many version kernels. How can i clean up the old Linux kernel?

[dalto]

The kernels should overwrite each other. Where are you seeing the kernel versions.

What is the output of pacman -Q | grep "^linux"

[windf]

 pacman -Q | grep "^linux"
linux 5.18.6.arch1-1
linux-api-headers 5.17.5-2
linux-firmware 20220610.7b71b75-1
linux-firmware-whence 20220610.7b71b75-1
linux-headers 5.18.6.arch1-1
linux-zen 5.18.6.zen1-1
linux-zen-headers 5.18.6.zen1-1

But when I start up my computer, I can see that there are many versions of kernel to choose.

[sradjoker]

@windf

versions of kernel to choose.

You have two kernels:

1. linux kernel and kernel headers
2. linux-zen kernel and kernel headers

Which one do you want to keep? You can remove the other using

sudo pacman -Rs <kernel-name>  <kernel-header-name>

[dalto]

Where do you see lots of kernel versions? In grub?

[windf]

Thank you all, I love endeavourOS !
It is simpler than arch Linux and faster than manjaro!
This forum has a lot of enthusiastic people!

[windf]

yes, I can see a lot of options in grub.

[dalto]

Does running sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg fix it?

[Kresimir]

The answer here marked as the solution is misleading.

It does not remove any “old Linux kernels”, it removes the current version of a package installed (which is the only one that exists on the system).

[windf]

step 1:
list all of linux kernels:

pacman -Q | grep "^linux"

step 2:
select it and remove it:

sudo pacman -Rs <kernel-name>  <kernel-header-name>

but you have to keep a linux kernel.

[pebcak]

The thing is that in Arch (-based) systems, there are no “old kernels” to be cleaned up.
What you have installed are only the latest versions of some kernel “types” if you so will.
See >> https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Kernel

So the title of the topic is somewhat erroneous. It should read instead some thing like:

How can I uninstall kernels (I don’t use)?

So you might want to consider editing the title of the topic to better reflect the issue at hand.

[I0F]

@Kresimir wants to say, that your approach isn’t the fix for the initial problem. You had multiple version entries inside GRUB, which should be removed by running the command @dalto shared.

You now removed a kernel and GRUB was most likely updated due to that. The solution you are providing is removing kernels, not removing multiple version entries in GRUB.

[windf]

OK, i got it.
I’m sorry , because I used linux mint before, It provides tools to clean up old kernels.
So I asked a stupid question.

@pebcak

The thing is that in Arch (-based) systems, there are no “old kernels” to be cleaned up.
What you have installed are only the latest versions of some kernel “types” if you so will.
See >> https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Kernel

So the title of the topic is somewhat erroneous. It should read instead some thing like:

How can I uninstall kernels (I don’t use)?

So you might want to consider editing the title of the topic to better reflect the issue at hand.

[pebcak]

No problem! It takes some time to find out and get used to how things are done in a different distro when they are actually done differently as in this case. In many other cases you will find much more similarities between different distros than what set them apart.

[windf]

Yes, you are right.I think I’ll be using endeavouros Linux for a long time to come!!

[sradjoker]

@windf

So I asked a stupid question.

No it’s not a stupid question. As @pebcak says things are little bit different around here. Apart from that you’ll find several underlying things like systemd etc. to be the same as mint.

[pebcak]

Sounds great!
Wish you the best of luck!
And don’t hesitate to ask the forum any questions or any doubts you might have.

[windf]

@pebcak

Sounds great!
Wish you the best of luck!
And don’t hesitate to ask the forum any questions or any doubts you might have.

I like this forum, thank you all.