Linux Mint 22 beta released with Cinnamon 6.2 desktop based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

The Linux Mint development team has released the beta version of Linux Mint 22 for download, which for the first time is based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and comes with the Linux 6.8 kernel. In addition to the updated Cinnamon 6.2 desktop, MATE 1.26 and Xfce 4.18 are also available.

Version 22 (code-named “Wilma”) of Linux Mint, popular with users new to Linux, is now available for download as a beta release. Linux Mint 22 is based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and will be supported by the developers until 2029. The final version of Linux Mint 22 is expected to be released in late July or early August.

Linux Mint 22 “Wilma” uses the Linux 6.8 kernel, and PipeWire will be the distribution’s default sound server for the first time. One of the biggest new features of the in-house Cinnamon desktop in version 6.2 is the GNOME Online Accounts GTK X application, which is not based on Gnome’s libadwaita GUI library and can therefore be used in the Xfce and MATE editions of Linux Mint.

The developers have also revamped the mintinstall software manager, which should now load faster and be easier to use. As an important security feature, the installation of unchecked flatpacks via the software manager is disabled by default in Linux Mint 22 Beta. The actions of the Nemo file manager can now be configured individually thanks to a new layout editor.

Installations of Linux Mint 22 use significantly less disk space than before, as unselected language packages are removed at the end of the installation process, which was not the case in previous versions of Mint. Mint 22 replaces the discontinued IRC client Hexchat with the WebApp Matrix, which provides a modern IRC experience in the style of Discord or Slack.

The beta version of Linux Mint 22 “Wilma” is available for download in Cinnamon, XFCE and MATE editions from the developer’s website. Detailed information on the new features of Mint 22 can be found on the project’s website.