And we’re off – the Linux Mint 22 beta release is now available to download.
The beta of Linux Mint 22 “Wilma” arrives ahead of an anticipated stable release in late July/early August (depending on how many bugs, issues, and quirks are found and fixed during the formal beta testing period).
Linux Mint 22 is a sizeable update. It’s the first version to be based on top of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, and inherits all of the foundational goodies that release provides. It includes the Linux 6.8 kernel, new graphics drivers, and PipeWire as default sound server.
But Linux Mint adds plenty of its own ‘spice’ on top of this Ubuntu base, including a new version of the Cinnamon desktop environment, a suite of core apps, a Flatpak-friendly software store, and a myriad of other substantive changes.
I’ll start with the new features in Cinnamon 6.2 as this is the default desktop of Linux Mint 22 (though MATE and Xfce versions are also available, for those who’d prefer them):
- Search bar shows by default when adding toStartup Applications
- New screen lock delay options: 5 & 10 seconds
- Workspace Switcher supports removing workspace with middle click
- Cinnamon Spices now support configurable keybindings
- Keybindings now searchable (in keyboard shortcuts editor)
- User applet supports showing user profile pic on panel
- Cinnamon sessions now have greeter badges
- Mint Menugains a ‘Science’ category
- Cornerbar applet makes click actions configurable
- OSK picks up a button to dismiss the OSK
- Active VPN connections append padlock to network icons
Many of the default apps in Linux Mint 22 gain new features and/or improvements:
- Nemo gains a new layout editor, and submenus for actions
- Matrix web app (Element) added to default install
- Software Manager hides unverified Flathub apps by default
- Warpinator now has a ‘restart’ item in the menu
- Pix now supports JXL images
- Sticky notes lets you set default screen position
- Time Shift backup now shows confirmation dialog on delete
- Xed text editor gains keyboard shortcut to toggle minimap
- Redshift removed (due to Mozilla location service deprecation)
Additionally, Thunderbird remains packaged as a DEB package, albeit by the Linux Mint team. Ubuntu has switched to a Thunderbird snap, and made the Thunderbird DEB in the repos a transition package which (re)installs the snap build.
Web apps made using Linux Mint’s Web App Manager continue to use Firefox (as before) but the toolbar and menu bar is now hidden by default (but will reappear as/if/when needed, such as opening a link in a web app in a new tab).
Curiously, many of the apps in Linux Mint 22 have been downgraded to older, GTK3 versions. This is due to newer builds adopting libadwaita, which Linux Mint isn’t enamoured with as it affects integration with the Linux Mint desktop experience.
Among apps downgraded to older versions (than what are in the noble repos): Celluloid, GNOME Calculator, Simple Scan, Disk Usage Analyser, System Monitor, GNOME Calendar, and File Roller.
More general changes in Linux Mint 22 include:
- Guest sessions disabled by default
- PipeWire is now the default sound server
- Less disk space used for translations
- Default touchpad driver is now libinput
- Selection of new desktop backgrounds
- Shutdown timeout is reduced to 10 seconds
- Slick Greeter supports cursor scaling for HiDPI displays
- Standalone GNOME Online Accounts app
And a bunch of lower-level bug fixes, stability improvements, and performance tweaks are (as you’d expected) included as part of this update. But those ‘invisible changes’ aside, the list above covers the user-facing new features in Linux Mint 22.
Download Linux Mint 22 Beta
Download Linux Mint 22 beta from one of the official mirrors linked to in the release announcement. Be sure to read the release notes and keep in mind that this release is intended for testing purposes, may contain bugs, etc.
Those testing should report bugs with Linux Mint 22 on the dedicated Github page (but do not file bugs related to Wayland there).
No-one is advised to make a beta release their default OS, but many do. Anyone using the beta will be able to “upgrade” to the final, stable Linux Mint 22 release by installing updates.
Similarly, once the final release arrives it will be possible to upgrade to Linux Mint 22 from 21.3.
The final release of Linux Mint 22 will be supported with security updates until 2029, and work on the next major version, Linux Mint 23, won’t take place until 2026. Linux Mint 22.1, 22.2, and 22.3 will also be based on Ubuntu 2404 LTS.
