Kernel Version 4.14.117 Android Guide

Aftermarket firmware like LineageOS 16.0 (Android 9) and 17.1 (Android 10) often ship with kernel 4.14.117 as a base for devices where the vendor stopped providing updates. For instance:

If you check your device’s kernel version today and see 4.14.117, it likely means one of three things:

Before analyzing 4.14.117, it is essential to understand Linux kernel versioning conventions.

When appended with "Android", this signifies that the kernel is not a vanilla upstream Linux kernel but rather one customized with the Android Common Kernel (ACK) patches, vendor-specific drivers (e.g., Qualcomm, MediaTek, Samsung Exynos), and Google’s security backports.

Thus, 4.14.117 represents a specific snapshot in time (circa mid-2019) of the 4.14 LTS branch, adapted for Android’s unique requirements: binder IPC, ashmem, low memory killer (LMK), wakelocks, and vendor hooks.

Kernel 4.14 was the first branch designated for the Generic Kernel Image (GKI) initiative, which aimed to decouple the kernel from the hardware vendor implementation.

Article last updated: May 2026. Kernel versions and security data reflect information available as of this writing.

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:

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:

Use Cases

Kernel version 4.14.117 is still used in some Android devices, particularly:

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Kernel version 4.14.117 might seem outdated, but it still provides a stable foundation for Android devices.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. kernel version 4.14.117 android

Would you like to know more about a specific aspect of this kernel version or Android kernel development in general?

Kernel version 4.14.117 is a specific maintenance release within the Linux 4.14 Long Term Support (LTS) branch. In the Android ecosystem, this version served as a foundational layer for devices released around 2019, most notably the Pixel 4 series. Core Purpose & Context

The kernel acts as the bridge between your phone's hardware and the Android OS. Version 4.14.117 was an incremental security and stability update designed to fix bugs without adding new features. Performance & Stability

Target Devices: Primarily optimized for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 era. It was highly stable for its time but is now considered "legacy" compared to the newer 5.x and 6.x kernels used in modern devices.

Security: As an LTS-based release, 4.14.117 received backported security patches to protect against known vulnerabilities like Spectre and Meltdown variants.

Android Compatibility: It was the minimum required kernel for many devices launching with Android 10. Technical Limitations

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) . Aftermarket firmware like LineageOS 16

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

Linux kernel 4.14.117 is a maintenance release in the 4.14 long-term support (LTS) series. It includes bug fixes, security patches, and driver updates relevant for Android devices using the 4.14 kernel baseline. This post summarizes notable fixes, how to obtain sources, build notes, and upgrade guidance.