Kernel Version 4.14.117 Android May 2026
Kernel version 4.14.117 is a specific maintenance release within the 4.14 Long Term Support (LTS) branch of the Linux kernel. In the Android ecosystem, this version was commonly used for devices launching with or upgrading to Android 9 (Pie), Android 10, and Android 11. Core Role in Android
The 4.14 kernel series served as a bridge between older, device-specific kernels and the modern Generic Kernel Image (GKI) architecture.
Android 11 Support: It was one of the three primary kernel versions supported by Android 11 (alongside 4.19 and 5.4).
Lifecycle: While the 4.14 LTS series reached its end-of-life (EOL) in early 2024, many legacy Android devices still operate on this version. Key Features & Changes in 4.14.x
The 4.14 series introduced several features that became critical for Android mobile performance:
Memory Management: Support for larger memory limits and AMD Secure Memory Encryption.
Compression: Integration of the zstd compression algorithm, which helps with storage efficiency on mobile devices.
Security Hardening: Introduced the ORC unwinder for better kernel traces and smaller kernel sizes, alongside "Control Groups thread mode" for better resource distribution.
Graphics: Support for Heterogeneous Memory Management (HMM), a requirement for modern GPU-heavy tasks in mobile gaming and UI. Notable Fixes in 4.14.117
Maintenance releases like 4.14.117 focus on stability and security rather than new features: ChangeLog-4.14.117 - The Linux Kernel Archives kernel version 4.14.117 android
Overview
The Linux kernel is the core of the Android operating system, responsible for managing hardware resources and providing services to applications. Android's kernel is based on the mainline Linux kernel, with additional patches and modifications to support Android-specific features.
Kernel Version 4.14.117
Released on April 9, 2019, kernel version 4.14.117 is a relatively old kernel version, but still used in some Android devices. This kernel version is part of the 4.14 LTS (Long Term Support) branch, which received bug fixes and security patches until 2022.
Key Features
Some notable features of kernel version 4.14.117 include:
- Improved performance: Compared to earlier kernel versions, 4.14.117 brings various performance enhancements, such as improved scheduler and memory management.
- Security patches: This kernel version includes various security patches, including fixes for vulnerabilities like CVE-2019-10126 and CVE-2019-1059.
- New hardware support: Kernel 4.14.117 adds support for various new hardware components, including some Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapters.
Android-specific Changes
Google's Android kernel team applies various patches on top of the mainline Linux kernel to support Android-specific features. Some notable changes in the Android kernel based on 4.14.117 include:
- Binder and Ashmem: Android's Binder and Ashmem inter-process communication (IPC) mechanisms are integrated into the kernel.
- SELinux: The kernel includes SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) support, which provides an additional layer of security for Android devices.
- Power management: Android-specific power management features, such as wakelock and suspend-to-RAM, are enabled.
Use Cases
Kernel version 4.14.117 is still used in some Android devices, particularly:
- Legacy devices: Older devices might still run on this kernel version due to hardware limitations or maintenance reasons.
- Low-end devices: Some budget-friendly devices might use this kernel version to ensure compatibility with hardware components.
Conclusion
Kernel version 4.14.117 might seem outdated, but it still provides a stable foundation for Android devices. Its features, security patches, and Android-specific changes make it suitable for various use cases. However, newer kernel versions, such as 4.19 or 5.x, offer even more improvements, security patches, and features.
Would you like to know more about a specific aspect of this kernel version or Android kernel development in general?
Part 8: How to Check Your Kernel Version
If you want to verify whether your Android device runs kernel 4.14.117, follow these steps:
- Open Settings
- Go to About Phone (or System → About Phone)
- Tap on Android Version (or Software Information)
- Look for Kernel version
You’ll see something like:
4.14.117-g12345678-abcd
#1 SMP PREEMPT Mon May 13 12:34:56 CST 2019
The 4.14.117 confirms the kernel base. The extra string (-g12345678) indicates a specific vendor build hash.
If your kernel version ends with -perf, that means it’s a production (non-debug) kernel, typical for end-user devices.
4. Stability & Performance Observations
Based on field data from devices running 4.14.117: Kernel version 4
| Area | Observation |
|------|-------------|
| Memory management | Stable with minor OOM improvements over .110. |
| Scheduler (CFS) | No major regressions; EAS (Energy-Aware Scheduling) functional on arm64. |
| Storage (F2FS) | Fixed a data corruption bug affecting encrypted F2FS partitions. |
| Power management | Suspend/resume cycle improved for QCOM platforms. |
| Known bug | Rare sdcardfs deadlock when unmounting (Android-specific). |
Critical vulnerabilities patched in ~4.14.117:
- CVE-2019-11487 – Race condition in
mm/compaction.cleading to use-after-free. - CVE-2019-11815 – Information leak in
net/rds(Reliable Datagram Sockets). - CVE-2019-5489 – Mincore system call leak of physical page presence (side-channel).
- Various – USB/DWC3 driver fixes (relevant for Android peripheral mode).
1. Lineage and Architecture
To understand 4.14.117, one must understand the hierarchy of Android kernel development:
- Mainline Linux 4.14: Released in November 2017, this was an LTS (Long Term Support) branch scheduled for maintenance until January 2020.
- Android Common Kernel (ACK): Google takes the LTS kernel and applies "Android-specific" patches. These include features not yet merged into mainline Linux, such as specific binder drivers, ashmem, and wakelock optimizations.
- Vendor Implementation: Version 4.14.117 is the result of the ACK being stabilized at patch level 117.
Why 4.14?
The 4.14 kernel introduced the io_uring subsystem (though initially disabled in early Android implementations) and significant improvements to the eBPF (Extended Berkeley Packet Filter) virtual machine. Android relies heavily on eBPF for traffic accounting (stats) and networking security (BPF programs replacing iptables).
Notable Projects Still Using 4.14.117 (as a baseline)
- PostmarketOS – for older ARM Chromebooks and legacy Android phones.
- Ubuntu Touch – on certain community ports (e.g., Fairphone 3).
- CalyxOS (extended support for Pixel 3a before its final EOL).
Android-specific hardening:
compatlayer fixes for 32-bit apps running on 64-bit kernels.- Binder driver stability improvements (avoided
use-after-freeduring IPC).
3
Linux kernel version is a specific sublevel of the 4.14 Long Term Support (LTS) branch, widely used in Android devices released around 2018 and 2019, such as those running Android 9 (Pie) Android 10 Role in the Android Ecosystem LTS Foundation : The 4.14 series is a Long Term Support (LTS)
kernel. This means it received years of security patches and bug fixes from the Linux community, making it a stable choice for manufacturers like Samsung and Xiaomi. Android Compatibility
: Required a minimum kernel version of 4.4, but 4.14 became a standard for higher-end devices. Android 10
: While newer devices moved to 4.19, many remained on 4.14 due to SoC (System on a Chip) limitations. Vendor Customization : In Android, this "mainline" kernel is forked into an Android Common Kernel (ACK)
and then further modified by vendors (like Qualcomm) to support specific hardware. Technical Significance How do I know form which kernel this android kernel forked?
Part 2: What Makes Kernel 4.14.117 Special for Android?
While later kernels (4.19, 5.4, 5.10, 6.1) have since superseded 4.14, version 4.14.117 holds a unique position in Android history for several reasons. Improved performance : Compared to earlier kernel versions,