Linux Mint 22 “Wilma” Is Now Available for Download, Here’s What’s New

posted by Marius Nestor on Jul 23, 2024,
updated Jul 28, 2024

Dubbed “Wilma”, Linux Mint 22 is based on the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) operating system series and uses the Linux 6.8 kernel. It will receive security updates until 2029 and new kernel versions as they’re available upstream in the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS repositories.

The flagship edition features the latest Cinnamon 6.2 desktop environment while the Xfce and MATE editions ship with the Xfce 4.18 and MATE 1.26 desktop environments. The Wayland session in the Cinnamon edition is still in an experimental state and Linux Mint 22 Cinnamon will default to X11.

Read on

Update

LWN takes a look:

• A look at Linux Mint 22

  Linux Mint has released a beta of its next long-term-support (LTS) release, Linux Mint 22 (code-named "Wilma"), based on Ubuntu 24.04. Aside from the standard software updates that come with any major upgrade, some of Wilma's largest selling points are what it doesn't have; namely snap packages or GNOME applications that have broken theming on non-GNOME desktops like Mint's Cinnamon desktop.

  Over the years, Ubuntu has doubled down on the snap format for shipping software. Mint decided to buck that and disable the Snap Store starting with Linux Mint 20 and has continued to work around snap-formatted software since. Likewise, Mint has continued to use GTK to develop the Cinnamon desktop and its own applications, but as more GNOME-specific conventions are being woven into GTK libraries, Mint is having to carry more work to ensure that default applications carried over from GNOME (such as the GNOME Calculator, or Calendar) blend in with the desktop.

Original roundup:

• Monthly News – July 2024

  Many thanks for your donations and for your support. Linux Mint 22 is ready. The release will be announced this week. It will be followed by upgrade instructions for Linux Mint 21.3 and package backports for LMDE 6. The BETA phase was very productive.

The Linux Mint Blog:

• Linux Mint 22 “Wilma” released! – The Linux Mint Blog

  Linux Mint 22 is a long term support release which will be supported until 2029. It comes with updated software and brings refinements and many new features to make your desktop even more comfortable to use.

Three More Updates:

• Linux Mint 22 Officially Released, This is What's New - OMG! Ubuntu

  This major update is built on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and sees Linux Mint 22 inherit big updates to underlying packages, libraries, tooling, and core technology stacks.

  There’s also a new Linux kernel, and a fresh set of graphics drivers.

  Linux Mint 22 ships with a new version of the Cinnamon desktop (featuring new options), a suite of new and improved apps (plus a few downgrades and removals), and makes some notable security changes (like no more guest login by default).

  In this post, I give you an overview of what’s new in Linux Mint 22, where to download it, recap the system requirements, and touch on when you can upgrade.

• Linux Mint 22 "Wilma" Released, Here's What's New

  The wait is finally over! Linux Mint, one of the best desktop distributions known for its user-friendly interface and stability, has just unveiled its latest version, Linux Mint 22 “Wilma.” This release is a long-term support (LTS) edition, ensuring updates and security patches until 2029.

  Now, without further ado, let’s review all the key improvements and new features that make “Wilma” a notable upgrade for all Mint users.

• Say goodbye to Microsoft Windows 11 and hello to Ubuntu-based Linux Mint 22

  Linux Mint 22, dubbed "Wilma," offers several reasons for users to consider switching from Windows 11. This latest release, a long-term support version backed until 2029, introduces a suite of refinements aimed at enhancing the desktop experience. With improved localization, enhanced hardware compatibility, and a focus on security, Linux Mint 22 seems tailored for a seamless transition from the familiar confines of Windows.

  One of the key improvements in Linux Mint 22 is its language support. The installation process has been streamlined to remove unnecessary language packages, resulting in significant disk space savings. For users with internet connectivity during setup, the system automatically downloads language packs for their selected language. This version supports several languages without needing an internet connection, including English, German, and Spanish, among others.

It's FOSS News:

• Linux Mint 22 is Here!

  Linux Mint 22 is the next most exciting distro release after Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, at least, for me.

  Linux Mint always manages to do things different and arguably better than Ubuntu. We have an article stating some reasons Linux Mint is better if you are curious.

  If you are a Linux Mint fan or a user, you probably already know that.

  That being said, the latest release of Linux Mint 22 based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS has finally arrived!

  What is new? How can you upgrade from an existing Linux Mint system? I will tell you all about it here.

FOSS Post:

• Linux Mint 22 Could Be One Of The Best Distributions In 2024

  Linux Mint 22 ships with many interesting features and updates, and the experience that it builds on top of Ubuntu 24.04 makes it one of the best choices for users switching from Windows 11 or macOS to Linux.

  The distribution is suitable for old computers and new ones alike. Users can choose between the Xfce, MATE and Cinnamon editions according to their hardware specs.

  The experimental Wayland support is a step forward towards a modern Linux desktop that overcomes the shortages and flaws of the old X window system. It is still not finished yet, but shipping it with the distribution will encourage users to try it and give feedback, which in turn will fasten its maturity towards a full experience.

  Linux Mint’s cautious approach towards unverified Flatpaks shows how well they care for users’ security and privacy. Linux Mint could be one of the very few distributions to disable these Flatpaks, considering that they form a significant number of overall Flatpaks.

Another One From Ankush Das:

• Linux Mint 22 Review: Subtle And Impactful Upgrade

  After every Ubuntu LTS release, the wait starts for upgrades to some of the best derivatives, including Linux Mint.

  This time, Linux Mint 22 has landed, based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

  But, should you upgrade right away? What are the improvements that you can expect?

  I took the distribution for a test drive to give you some details to help you decide.

More Updates Here:

• Linux Mint 22 is an attractive option for migrating away from Windows - gHacks Tech News

  The Linux Mint team has just released Linux Mint 22, a new major version of the free Linux distribution. With Windows 10's end of support coming up quickly next year, at least some users may consider making the switch to Linux.

  While there are other options, paying Microsoft for extended support or upgrading to Windows 11, these options are not available for all users or desirable.

  Linux Mint 22 is a long-term service release. Means, it is supported until 2029. Unlike Microsoft, which made drastic changes to the system requirements of Windows 11 to lock out millions of devices from upgrading to the new version, Linux Mint will continue to work on older hardware, even after 2029.

  Linux Mint 22 receives the full focus of the team until 2026. Work shifts to Linux Mint 23 then and version 22 of the Linux distribution will receive security updates only going forward. Updates from Linux Mint 22 to 23 will be provided.

• Linux Mint 22 Is Now Available

  The long-awaited Linux Mint 22 has exited beta testing and is now available as a stable release. You can install it today, though upgrade instructions for Mint 21.3 users have yet to be published.

  Linux Mint 22 is a long-term support release that will receive security updates until 2029. It's based on Ubuntu 24.04 and utilizes the Linux kernel version 6.8 for improved compatibility with modern hardware, apps, and packages (kernel updates will come every 6 months, interestingly). Plus, themes are now upgraded to GTK4, which provides GPU acceleration and other graphical performance improvements.

  This release makes several changes to Linux Mint's under-the-hood behavior and default processes. Audio is now handled by PipeWire, for example, and Mint's broken Online Accounts synchronization feature has been fixed. Unfortunately, several GNOME applications have been downgraded to GTK3 for theme compatibility purposes—if you want GNOME applications with full GTK4 goodness, Ubuntu or Fedora are still your best options.

• Linux Mint 22 Released: A Look At The Distro And Its Future

  The team at Linux Mint have released the next major version, Linux Mint 22, bringing a number of significant changes and improvements.

  Project lead Clément (Clem) Lefèbvre made the announcement Thursday morning, following a longer-than-usual beta phase for the new release. The extra work comes largely from the move to a new base, the latest release of Canonical’s Ubuntu, as well as some additional work to implement new features and ensure consistency.

• Linux Mint 22 "Wilma" is out now with Linux 6.8 and GTK4 themes - Neowin

  The Linux Mint team has just announced the availability of Linux Mint 22 "Wilma", alongside the official release notes. While it has just been announced, some users downloaded it a few days early while it was still propagating out to Linux Mint's extensive list of mirrors.

  The headline feature in the release notes is better language support. When you install Linux Mint 22 now, only the languages you chose, and English, will remain at the end of the installation, saving you a significant amount of space. You may not have realized it, but this was not optimized in older versions.

  While we are on the topic of languages, the installation media now includes English, German, Spanish, French, Russian, Portuguese, Dutch, and Italian for offline installations. Other languages will require that you have an internet connection.

LWN:

• Linux Mint 22 "Wilma" released

  Linux Mint has announced version 22 of the distribution in three editions: Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce. Mint 22 is based on Ubuntu 24.04 and uses kernel version 6.8.0:

  Linux Mint 22 is a long term support release which will be supported until 2029. It comes with updated software and brings refinements and many new features to make your desktop even more comfortable to use.

  LWN covered the Linux Mint 22 beta in early July. See the new features page and release notes for more information on this release.

GamingOnLinux:

• Linux Mint 22 is officially out now supported until 2029 | GamingOnLinux

  Linux Mint 22 "Wilma" is officially out now, as their next long-term supported release with updates until 2029 based on Ubuntu 24.04. With this release they've switched to Pipewire and you get kernel 6.8 for newer hardware support.

OSTechNix:

• Linux Mint 22 Wilma Is Officially Released

  The Linux Mint team announced the release of Linux Mint 22, codenamed "Wilma". Linux Mint 22 is a long-term support release which will be supported until 2029. It is based on Ubuntu 24.04 and comes with a number of new features, refinements, and a focus on security and user experience.

Notebookcheck:

• Linux Mint 22 lands with improved language and hardware support

  Available since 2006, Linux Mint has just received an update to version 22. Codenamed "Wilma" and based on Ubuntu Linux 24.04 LTS, this distro will receive support until June 2029. However, those using one of the 21.x versions have no reason to rush the upgrade process since they will receive updates until April 2027. Even the Ubuntu 20.04 LTS-based Linux Mint 20.x releases are going to be supported until April 2025.

  Unsurprisingly, Linux Mint 22 is built upon the Ubuntu 24.04 package base and the 6.8 kernel. The list of changes is quite long and includes better language support, a new default sound server (Pipewire), Debian DEB822 support, updated themes with GTK4 support, a new thumbnailer and JXL support in Pix, HiDPI improvements in the boot sequence, Slick-Greeter, and Plymouth. The standalone app previously introduced as "Gnome Online Accounts GTK" is now available in Mate and Xfce as well.

  In addition to the above, Linux Mint 22 "Wilma" also comes with a faster and better-looking Software Manager app, security optimizations (unverified Flatpacks are disabled by default), the Matrix chat network replaces Hexchat, and more. The versions available for download are Cinnamon, Xfce, and Mate. Those new to Linux Mint should check out the official Linux Mint Installation Guide first.

Another One From How-To Geek:

• Are You Planning to Try Linux Mint 22?

  This week, Linux Mint 22 was officially released with a number of quality-of-life improvements, boasting six years of security updates. The alternative PC operating system is popular for its familiarity and ease of use for people new to Linux and coming from Windows. In fact, Mint was the first Linux distribution I ever installed, and it served me well for about a year before I started trying others. Are you tempted to give version 22 a try, or, if you're already a Mint user, are you upgrading?

ZDNet:

• I've tried a zillion desktop distros - it doesn't get any better than Linux Mint 22

  I've been using Linux for my desktop since 1992. Over the years, I've tried more Linux distros than you can shake a laptop at. Since 2010, however, my favorite Linux distribution has been Linux Mint. (More precisely, since Mint 10.)

  Why? As I wrote in February 2010, it's "because Mint works, really, really well." That's still true today.