Description

Linux Mint 22.1 LTS “Xia”, released in January 2025, continues the distribution’s focus on providing a polished, user‑friendly desktop experience. The Cinnamon edition ships exclusively as a 64‑bit ISO, targeting newcomers, home users, and professionals who prefer a stable, ready‑to‑use Linux environment.

Version 22.1 brings the latest Cinnamon 5.8 desktop, delivering smoother animations, an updated panel layout, and enhanced HiDPI scaling for modern displays. Under the hood, the distribution upgrades to the Linux 6.2 kernel, improving hardware compatibility, especially for newer AMD and Intel processors. Mint’s Software Manager now includes over 5 000 curated applications and a refreshed UI that simplifies installation and updates. Users upgrading from Linux Mint 21.3 Cinnamon will notice the refined UI, while those familiar with the MATE flavor can explore the Linux Mint 20.3 MATE experience for comparison. The new “Welcome” screen guides users through driver installation, language selection, and optional media codecs, while the integrated Update Manager offers more granular control over kernel and security patches. Additionally, ZFS support has been refined, and the default theme receives subtle visual tweaks for a cleaner look.

Linux Mint 22.1 LTS will receive security and maintenance updates until April 2028, ensuring a stable long‑term desktop platform.

For a complete list of changes, bug fixes, and known issues, read the official release notes here.