When Linux Mint 20 launched back in June 2020, it brought a range of improvements, such as a refined Cinnamon desktop experience, better performance, and the promise of long-term support (5 years).
Five years later, its time has come, as it has officially reached end-of-life (EOL) status. This means that systems running that version of Linux Mint will no longer receive security updates and important patches.
If you are on the fence about the upgrade, let me give you a quick look at what’s new and why upgrading is a good idea.
We begin with Linux Mint 22, which introduced a newer Cinnamon version that offers better Flatpak support, improved window management on multi-monitor setups, and tweaked Cinnamon Spices.
Linux Mint 22.1, on the other hand, introduced a slimmer Ubuntu font, transitioned to the PipeWire sound server for improved audio handling, and offered better support for VirtualBox environments.
As for the upcoming Linux Mint 22.2 release, the main highlight is the Fingwit integration, enabling system-wide fingerprint authentication. Users can easily register fingerprints to securely unlock the login screen, authorize sudo commands, access administrator apps, and resume from the screensaver.
And, if you like GNOME apps, then you are in luck, as this release is set to offer Libadwaita support for theming (Mint-Y, X, and L) and upgrades for apps like Calendar, Document Scanner, and Disk Usage Analyzer to their Libadwaita versions.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Linux kernel 6.8 acts as the powerhouse for the 22.x series of releases, offering better hardware support for Intel, Snapdragon, AMD, and the Raspberry Pi 5.
Upgrade to Linux Mint 22
The recommended upgrade path from Linux Mint 20.x is to perform a fresh installation of Linux Mint 22, which is supported until 2029. The developers consider this the cleanest and most reliable method.
Alternatively, you can upgrade from Linux Mint 20.3 to 21, and then from 21.3 to 22.
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No matter what upgrade path you choose, don't forget to back up your data first!
If you go for a fresh installation, then downloads for the three editions of the flagship Linux Mint 22 release can be found on the official website. Currently, 22.1 is the most recent version, with 22.2 arriving soon.
Since Linux Mint 20.x is based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, and that release has also reached EOL, Ubuntu 20.04 users should consider upgrading to at least Ubuntu 22.04.
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