Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara” is now available for public beta testing as of today, giving users an early look at what’s coming in the next point release. The beta is based on Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS and ships with a newer Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernel for broader device support.
At the foundation, Mint 22.2 adopts Linux kernel 6.14 HWE, which should improve compatibility with recent CPUs, GPUs, Wi-Fi adapters, and storage controllers compared to the 6.8 kernel used in 22.1. This aligns the distro more closely with Ubuntu’s LTS enablement stack while preserving Mint’s desktop focus.
One of the headline additions of the upcoming Zara release is native fingerprint authentication via a new in-house tool called Fingwit. Once enrolled, fingerprints can be used to log in, unlock the screen, run sudo, and approve admin dialogs (pkexec)—a real quality-of-life boost for laptops with built-in readers.
On the desktop side, Cinnamon v6.4.8 gains better Wayland readiness, with work aimed at input methods and keyboard layouts so day-to-day usage is smoother in sessions where Wayland is enabled. As of today, however, Cinnamon remains mainly X11-first.
On the aesthetics side, the default Mint-Y theme picks up a cooler, steely-blue tint that modernizes the gray base without abandoning Mint’s recognizable look. Additionally, accent-color support and improved libAdwaita/Flatpak compatibility help GNOME/GTK4 apps blend better with the rest of the desktop.
Cinnamon’s application launcher is also being revamped with a cleaner layout, an expanded side panel that shows full names for pinned apps and standard home folders, and relocated session controls. As always, Cinnamon’s menu applet choices remain flexible for those who prefer alternatives.
Under the hood and around the edges, you can expect the usual round of refinements across Mint’s XApps and tooling, plus editions updated to current desktops (Cinnamon, Xfce, and MATE) packaged for the 22.2 base.
Once released, Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara,” like the rest of the 22.x series, inherits long-term support to 2029, keeping it a safe choice for users who value stability. If you’re eager to try it, the public beta is live now with ISOs available for download from Mint’s mirrors.
Thanks Bobby for the great content,
do you have any knowledge when the Linux Mint 22.2 “Zara, will became fully stable?