As the Cinnamon 6.2 release indicated, the upcoming Linux Mint 22 release is getting mighty close. But before a stable release can be made, there has to be a beta.
Don’t get excited — a Linux Mint 22 Beta isn’t available to download, not yet!
But it seems a public beta isn’t too far away.
Yesterday, a Linux Mint 22 Cinnamon Edition ISO was added to Linux Mint ISO tracker. This is where internal testing of images takes place, and suggests a public beta release is on the way (though ISOs for the MATE and Xfce editions are yet to be added).
Once an ISO moves from ‘being tested’ to ‘approved’ status— if it’s ‘rejected’ a new ISO is added and the process starts again—a formal beta release can take place.
That’ll be the one you, I, and anyone else willing to brave potential bugs, can download from the Linux Mint website to try out and road-test the new features.
Linux Mint 22 will be a HUGE update
Linux Mint 22 will be a major update, and the first to be based on the newest Ubuntu 24.04 LTS release.
Alongside a significant foundational uplift, including a newer Linux kernel, GPU drivers, libraries, and tooling, the update will provide users with a multitude of updated software and introduce a new version of the Cinnamon desktop.
I’ve covered many of the new features in Linux Mint 22 in other posts over the past few months, so if you’ve not kept pace, head to our Linux Mint archives to catch up on what’s coming (and maybe bookmark this blog to stay in the loop).
Naturally, I shall recap all of the new features and changes in my usual screenshot-heavy style once the Linux Mint 22 beta release is available to download — keep your eyes peeled for that post sometime in the next few weeks!
When Will Linux Mint 22 Be Released?
The public Linux Mint 22 beta release should happen in the next week or so, if past schedules are any indication.
Most Linux Mint beta releases get 3-4 weeks of public testing to provide enough time for real-world usage to uncover bugs, give developers a chance to fix them, and then test those new fixes to make sure they don’t introduce new bugs of their own!
Once satisfied, a final, stable release is issued.
So (but don’t jot this down in permanent ink) it’s likely Linux Mint 22 will be released in early August, perhaps even the end of July if the stars align, the beta arrives quickly, and no super pesky issues are detected.
Exciting stuff.
If you’re a long-term Linux Mint fan, a former user, or someone who’d contemplate a switch to this popular Ubuntu-based Linux distribution, do let me know if you’ll be helping test this beta when it lands – and what you hope to find in it!