Linux Mint 22.3 Cinnamon desktop preview
See what Linux Mint looks like before you download it. Open the menu, launch apps, move windows and switch to dark mode in a mockup of the default desktop. There’s nothing to download and no virtual machine.
distro.watch rebuilt this desktop in HTML from official screenshots and default settings, and checked it on Oct 2, 2026. The default wallpaper (dark blocks with the Mint logo, unchanged in 22.3) is redrawn in a simplified form. App icons are simplified stand-ins.
What does Linux Mint look like?
Linux Mint 22.3 with Cinnamon 6.6 has a traditional, Windows-like layout: a dark panel along the bottom with the menu at the left, pinned Files, Firefox and Terminal launchers, and the system tray and clock on the right. The redesigned menu has a sidebar with your avatar, places and favorites, a column of categories, and search at the bottom. Windows are light with Mint-Y’s aqua accents.
Familiar bottom panel
The menu button sits at the bottom-left, followed by pinned Files, Firefox and Terminal. Open windows group with their launchers, and the tray on the right shows network, sound and the clock.
The new Cinnamon 6.6 menu
A sidebar shows your avatar, the Desktop and Downloads places and favorite apps (Calculator, Calendar, Text Editor, Software Manager, System Settings), with lock, log out and power buttons. Categories use small symbolic icons and search moved to the bottom.
Dark panel, light windows
The panel and menu are dark while app windows are light, with aqua highlights. Mint’s theme settings let you switch windows to dark; try it with the “Switch dark windows” button.
Practical tools built in
Update Manager, Software Manager, Driver Manager and Timeshift are preinstalled. 22.3 adds System Information (USB, GPU, PCI and BIOS details) and System Administration (boot menu settings).
Try the real Linux Mint
This preview shows the layout, theme and default apps. It can’t show speed, hardware support or the real apps. Boot Linux Mint from a USB stick to test those on your own computer before you install.
Sources
Linux Mint desktop: common questions
What does Linux Mint look like?
Linux Mint 22.3 with Cinnamon 6.6 has a traditional, Windows-like layout: a dark panel along the bottom with the menu at the left, pinned Files, Firefox and Terminal launchers, and the system tray and clock on the right. The redesigned menu has a sidebar with your avatar, places and favorites, a column of categories, and search at the bottom. Windows are light with Mint-Y’s aqua accents.
What desktop environment does Linux Mint use?
Linux Mint 22.3 Cinnamon uses Cinnamon 6.6 with the Mint-Y theme. Other Linux Mint desktops (MATE, Xfce) look different from this preview.
Is this preview a real Linux system?
No. It is an interactive mockup that distro.watch built in HTML to match Linux Mint 22.3 Cinnamon’s default layout, theme and apps. Nothing is downloaded, installed or run, so it can’t show performance or whether your hardware works.
How can I try Linux Mint for real without installing it?
Write the Linux Mint ISO to a USB stick and boot from it. The live session runs the real desktop on your own computer, so you can check Wi-Fi, graphics, sound and suspend before installing.