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Linux Mint

A beginner-friendly desktop Linux built on Ubuntu LTS (and Debian, as LMDE), known for its traditional Cinnamon desktop.

  • Active project
  • Latest 22.3 LTSJan 2026
  • Supported 9 versions
Download Official site 58 Linux Mint guides
On this page

At a glance

Type
Linux distribution
Developer
Clement Lefebvre and the Linux Mint team
Based on
Ubuntu
First release
27 Aug 2006
Release cadence
Point release about every 6 months on each Ubuntu LTS base
OS family
Linux
Package format
.deb (APT); Flatpak via Software Manager
Init system
systemd
Default desktop
Cinnamon (MATE and Xfce editions)
Architectures
amd64
Support
Until the Ubuntu LTS base ends (about 5 years)
Also available
LMDE, the Linux Mint Debian Edition
License
Free software
Website
linuxmint.com

Newest release

Linux Mint 22.3 LTS

Released 11 Jan 2026

Support status

22.3 LTS Supported

Until 30 Apr 2029 · in 2 years

LMDE 7 'Gigi' Supported

No end date announced

22.2 LTS Supported

Until 30 Apr 2029 · in 2 years

22.1 LTS Supported

Until 30 Apr 2029 · in 2 years

22 LTS Supported

Until 30 Apr 2029 · in 2 years

21.3 LTS Supported

Until 30 Apr 2027 · in 5 months

21.2 LTS Supported

Until 30 Apr 2027 · in 5 months

21.1 LTS Supported

Until 30 Apr 2027 · in 5 months

21 LTS Supported

Until 30 Apr 2027 · in 5 months

Release history

VersionNameReleasedEnd of lifeStatus
22.3 LTSZena11 Jan 202630 Apr 2029Supported
lmde7Gigi14 Oct 2025Not announcedSupported
22.2 LTSZara4 Sep 202530 Apr 2029Supported
22.1 LTSXia16 Jan 202530 Apr 2029Supported
22 LTSWilma25 Jul 202430 Apr 2029Supported
21.3 LTSVirginia12 Jan 202430 Apr 2027Supported
lmde6Faye27 Sep 20231 Jan 2026End of life
21.2 LTSVictoria16 Jul 202330 Apr 2027Supported
21.1 LTSVera20 Dec 202230 Apr 2027Supported
21 LTSVanessa31 Jul 202230 Apr 2027Supported
lmde5Elsie20 Mar 20221 Jul 2024End of life
20.3 LTSUna7 Jan 202230 Apr 2025End of life
20.2 LTSUma8 Jul 202130 Apr 2025End of life
20.1 LTSUlyssa8 Jan 202130 Apr 2025End of life
20 LTSUlyana27 Jun 202030 Apr 2025End of life
lmde4Debbie20 Mar 20201 Aug 2022End of life
19.3 LTSTricia18 Dec 20191 Apr 2023End of life
19.2 LTSTina2 Aug 20191 Apr 2023End of life
19.1 LTSTessa19 Dec 20181 Apr 2023End of life
19 LTSTara29 Jun 20181 Apr 2023End of life
18.3 LTSSylvia27 Nov 20173 May 2021End of life
18.1Serena27 Jan 20171 Apr 2021End of life

Release data: endoflife.date and vendor announcements, checked 13 Nov 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Support timeline

The 12 most recent releases, from release day to the end of support.

  • Active support
  • Today
22.3 LTS
lmde7
22.2 LTS
22.1 LTS
22 LTS
21.3 LTS
lmde6
21.2 LTS
21.1 LTS
21 LTS
lmde5
20.3 LTS

History

Linux Mint was started in 2006 by Clement Lefebvre as an Ubuntu-based desktop with media codecs and a familiar, Windows-like layout out of the box. When GNOME 3 and Ubuntu’s Unity changed the Linux desktop in 2011, Mint created its own Cinnamon desktop and adopted MATE. That helped it become one of the most popular desktop distributions.

Since Mint 17 every release is built on an Ubuntu LTS base and supported until that base reaches end of life. Point releases (x.1, x.2, x.3) add new features on the same base. Releases use women’s codenames that change with each version. The Debian-based LMDE serves as a fallback in case Ubuntu ever becomes unsuitable as a base.

Milestones

  1. 2006Linux Mint 1.0 "Ada" is released
  2. 2010The first LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) is released
  3. 2011Linux Mint 12 introduces MATE; work on the Cinnamon desktop begins after GNOME 3
  4. 2014Mint 17 starts the policy of basing all releases on Ubuntu LTS
  5. 2016Attackers briefly replace the Mint 17.3 Cinnamon ISO download with a backdoored copy
  6. 2017Mint 18.3 adds Timeshift system snapshots
  7. 2024Linux Mint 22 "Wilma" moves to the Ubuntu 24.04 base
  8. 2026Linux Mint 22.3 "Zena" is released in January

Linux Mint guides

Browse all 58 Linux Mint guides →

Frequently asked questions

What is the latest version of Linux Mint?

The newest Linux Mint release is Linux Mint 22.3 LTS, released on 11 Jan 2026.

Which Linux Mint versions are still supported?

As of 13 Nov 2026, 9 versions are supported: Linux Mint 22.3 LTS (until 30 Apr 2029); Linux Mint LMDE 7 'Gigi'; Linux Mint 22.2 LTS (until 30 Apr 2029); Linux Mint 22.1 LTS (until 30 Apr 2029); Linux Mint 22 LTS (until 30 Apr 2029); Linux Mint 21.3 LTS (until 30 Apr 2027); Linux Mint 21.2 LTS (until 30 Apr 2027); Linux Mint 21.1 LTS (until 30 Apr 2027); Linux Mint 21 LTS (until 30 Apr 2027).

Is Linux Mint LMDE 6 'Faye' still supported?

No. Linux Mint LMDE 6 'Faye' reached end of life on 1 Jan 2026 and no longer gets free security updates. Upgrade to Linux Mint 22.3 LTS.

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