Following the recent Cinnamon 6.6 release, the Linux Mint team has made beta ISOs of Linux Mint 22.3 Zena available for download. Based on Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS, it includes updated Xfce 4.20 and MATE 1.26 desktops alongside Cinnamon 6.6, for testing ahead of the full launch.
Beta ISO images for Linux Mint 22.3 Zena are now available from official mirrors. This pre-release builds on Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS (Noble Numbat) with Linux kernel 6.14 and introduces Cinnamon 6.6—detailed in our prior coverage—as the flagship desktop, plus Xfce 4.20 and MATE 1.26.
Distro-wide enhancements include new System Information and System Administration tools, pause functionality in Nemo file manager, per-app notification badges on panels, persistent Night Light mode, and snapshot pausing in Timeshift. Cinnamon 6.6 brings its menu redesign, Wayland improvements, Thunderbolt settings, and applet updates, matching the earlier standalone release for seamless upgrades from Linux Mint 22.2 Zara.
As an LTS edition supported until 2029, this beta is for testing only—not daily use. Full mirrors and an official announcement are imminent.
