Quick answer: To install Linux Mint in 2026, download the Linux Mint 22.3 “Zena” Cinnamon ISO from linuxmint.com, flash it to an 8 GB or bigger USB drive with Balena Etcher or Rufus, boot your PC from the USB, and run “Install Linux Mint”. To keep Windows, pick “Install Linux Mint alongside Windows Boot Manager” in the installer and you get a menu at every startup to choose Windows or Mint. One important update for readers of our old video: Linux Mint 20 stopped getting security updates on 30 April 2025, so do not install it any more. Use 22.3, which is supported until April 2029.
Which Linux Mint version should you install in 2026?
Linux Mint is one of the easiest Linux systems for people coming from Windows. The menu, taskbar and file manager feel familiar, it runs well on older laptops, and it is completely free. Here is where the versions stand in November 2026:
| Version | Released | Security updates until | Should you install it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux Mint 22.3 “Zena” | January 2026 | April 2029 | Yes, best choice today |
| LMDE 7 “Gigi” (Debian based) | October 2025 | Supported | Only if you specifically want a Debian base |
| Linux Mint 21.3 “Virginia” | January 2024 | April 2027 | No, upgrade path only |
| Linux Mint 20.x “Ulyana/Una” | 2020-2022 | Ended 30 April 2025 | No, unsupported |
What about Linux Mint 27? The Mint team announced in its September 2026 monthly news that the next release will be called Linux Mint 27 “Adrien”, based on Ubuntu 26.04 and scheduled for Christmas. The version number now matches the coming year, and Mint is moving to one release per year with no more point releases. You do not need to wait for it. Install 22.3 now; when 27 arrives, Mint will offer an upgrade path, and 22.3 stays supported until 2029 anyway.
Cinnamon, Xfce or MATE?
- Cinnamon: The main edition, looks the most modern. Pick this if your PC has 4 GB RAM or more.
- Xfce: Lightest of the three. Good for old laptops with 2-4 GB RAM or a slow hard disk.
- MATE: Classic, stable desktop, a middle ground between the two.
Requirements before you start
| Item | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB or more |
| Storage | 20 GB free | 100 GB (SSD makes a huge difference) |
| Display | 1024 x 768 | Any modern screen |
| Processor | 64-bit Intel or AMD CPU | |
| USB drive | 8 GB or bigger (it will be completely erased) | |
| Software | Linux Mint ISO, plus Balena Etcher or Rufus on Windows | |
| Backup | Copy important files to another drive or cloud before you touch partitions | |
Boot menu keys for common laptops in India: HP F9, Dell F12, Lenovo F12 (or the small Novo button), Asus Esc or F8, Acer F12, MSI F11. On desktops it is usually F8, F11 or F12 depending on the motherboard.
Want to try Mint without touching your disk first? Install it inside a virtual machine. Our list of best free virtual machines for Windows covers VirtualBox and other free options.
Step-by-step: install Linux Mint 22.3 with dual boot
Step 1: Download the ISO
Go to linuxmint.com > Download, choose Linux Mint 22.3 “Zena” and pick the edition (Cinnamon for most people). Download from a mirror close to India. Only use the official site; “Linux Mint 2026 pro” or pre-activated ISOs on random websites are not official.
Optional but smart: Mint publishes a sha256sum.txt file for every release. In Windows PowerShell run Get-FileHash linuxmint-22.3-cinnamon-64bit.iso (use your file name) and check that the value matches the one in that file. If it does not match, download again.
Step 2: Prepare Windows
- Turn off Fast Startup: Control Panel > Power Options > “Choose what the power buttons do” > “Change settings that are currently unavailable” > untick “Turn on fast startup”. Fast Startup keeps the Windows drive locked and can cause boot problems with dual boot.
- Check BitLocker / Device Encryption: Many Windows 11 laptops come with it switched on. Search “Manage BitLocker” or check Settings > Privacy & security > Device encryption. Save your recovery key from your Microsoft account (aka.ms/myrecoverykey) before you continue, because changing partitions or boot order can ask for it.
- Make free space: Press Win + X > Disk Management. Right-click your C: or D: drive > Shrink Volume, and shrink at least 40,000 MB (about 40 GB; 60-100 GB is better). Leave it as “Unallocated”. Do not create a new partition in it.
Step 3: Create the bootable USB
With Balena Etcher (the tool the official Mint guide recommends): open Etcher, click Flash from file and choose the ISO, select your USB drive, and click Flash.
With Rufus: select your USB under Device, click SELECT and choose the ISO, keep Partition scheme as GPT and Target system as UEFI for any PC from the last 8-10 years, then click START. If Rufus asks to write in ISO mode or DD mode, choose DD Image mode; it is the most reliable for Mint.
Step 4: Boot from the USB
Plug in the USB, restart, and keep tapping your boot menu key. Choose the USB entry that starts with UEFI. In the Mint boot screen, select “Start Linux Mint 22.3”. You will land on the live desktop, where you can test Wi-Fi, sound, touchpad and display before installing anything. Linux Mint 22.x boots with Secure Boot on most PCs; if your laptop refuses to boot the USB, turn Secure Boot off in BIOS for the install.
Step 5: Run the installer
- Double-click Install Linux Mint on the desktop.
- Choose language and keyboard layout (English (US) works for most Indian keyboards).
- Tick “Install multimedia codecs” so videos and MP3s play right away.
- On “Installation type”, choose “Install Linux Mint alongside Windows Boot Manager”. The installer uses the unallocated space you made. Only choose “Erase disk” if you want to remove Windows completely.
- Select your time zone (Kolkata), then enter your name, computer name, username and password.
- Wait 10-20 minutes, then click Restart Now and remove the USB when asked.
After restart you see the GRUB menu: “Linux Mint” is the first option and “Windows Boot Manager” is below it. Use the arrow keys to pick one.
Step 6: First things to do after installing
- Welcome Screen > First Steps: set up Timeshift snapshots so you can roll back if an update breaks something.
- Update Manager: install all updates.
- Driver Manager: install the recommended Nvidia driver if you have an Nvidia GPU. AMD and Intel graphics work out of the box.
- Software Manager: install apps like VLC, OBS Studio, GIMP or Steam. Chrome can be installed from Google’s .deb file.
Troubleshooting common problems
PC boots straight into Windows, no GRUB menu
Enter BIOS and move “ubuntu” or “Linux Mint” above “Windows Boot Manager” in the UEFI boot order. On some HP and Lenovo laptops, you can also run bcdedit /set {bootmgr} path \EFI\ubuntu\shimx64.efi from an admin Command Prompt in Windows.
“Alongside Windows” option is missing
Usually the USB was booted in Legacy mode while Windows uses UEFI (or the other way round). Reboot and choose the USB entry that starts with “UEFI”. Also check that BitLocker is not still encrypting the drive, and that Intel RST/RAID mode is switched to AHCI in BIOS (change this only after reading your laptop maker’s advice, as Windows may need a safe-mode boot first).
Black screen or freeze on boot (Nvidia laptops)
At the USB boot menu, choose “Start Linux Mint in compatibility mode”. After installing, open Driver Manager and install the recommended Nvidia driver.
Windows time is wrong after using Mint
Linux and Windows read the hardware clock differently. In Mint, open Terminal and run timedatectl set-local-rtc 1, then restart.
Wi-Fi not working
Connect by phone USB tethering or Ethernet, then open Driver Manager; some Broadcom and Realtek adapters need an extra driver.
Pros and cons of Linux Mint
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free, no ads, no account needed | No Microsoft Office or Adobe apps (use LibreOffice, web Office, GIMP) |
| Runs fast on old laptops, great with an SSD | Some online games with anti-cheat (Valorant, etc.) do not run |
| Familiar Windows-like layout | Some printers and Wi-Fi cards need extra setup |
| 22.3 supported until April 2029 | Learning curve for terminal fixes |
Who should install Linux Mint?
Mint is a great pick if you have an older Windows 10 laptop that cannot run Windows 11, if you mainly browse, study, code or watch videos, or if you want to learn Linux without breaking things. Students and programmers in India will find almost everything they need for free. If you mostly play competitive online games or depend on Adobe Premiere or Tally, keep Windows as your main system and use Mint in dual boot. Still choosing? Read our complete Zorin OS guide and our list of Windows 10 alternatives before you decide. For an even simpler option on very old PCs, see our ChromeOS Flex review.
Verdict
The steps from our 2021 video still work, but the version has changed. Skip Linux Mint 20 because it no longer gets security updates. Install Linux Mint 22.3 Cinnamon (or Xfce on low-end hardware), give it at least 40 GB, turn off Fast Startup, save your BitLocker key, and choose “alongside Windows”. You will have a safe dual-boot setup supported until 2029, with an upgrade to Linux Mint 27 coming around Christmas 2026.
FAQs
Is Linux Mint free?
Yes. Linux Mint is completely free to download, install and use on any number of PCs. Donations to the project are optional.
Can I still install Linux Mint 20 in 2026?
You can, but you should not. Linux Mint 20.x reached end of life on 30 April 2025 and gets no security fixes. Install 22.3 instead.
Will dual booting delete my Windows files?
No, as long as you choose “Install Linux Mint alongside Windows Boot Manager” and not “Erase disk”. Still, always back up important files first.
Is 4 GB RAM enough for Linux Mint?
Yes. Cinnamon runs fine on 4 GB for browsing and office work. With 2-4 GB, the Xfce edition feels faster.
Can I play games on Linux Mint?
Many Steam games run through Steam’s Proton compatibility layer. Games with kernel-level anti-cheat usually do not work, so keep Windows for those.
How do I remove Linux Mint later?
Boot into Windows, delete the Mint partitions in Disk Management and extend your Windows partition. Then set Windows Boot Manager first in BIOS so GRUB no longer appears.
Sources and Credits
- Linux Mint official download page
- Linux Mint blog: monthly news (September 2026, Linux Mint 27 “Adrien”)
- Official Linux Mint Installation Guide
- endoflife.date: Linux Mint support dates
- GamingOnLinux: Linux Mint 22.3 Zena released
- The Register: Linux Mint 22.3 release
- Rufus and Balena Etcher
- Video: Adi 4 U YouTube channel
