How to Install GNOME 46 for Linux Mint 22.04

Linux Mint is designed around Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce, but it is still based on Ubuntu and can run other desktop environments. If you want a more upstream GNOME experience on a Linux Mint 22 system, you can install GNOME 46 from the Ubuntu 24.04 package base that Mint 22 uses. The process is straightforward, but it should be done carefully because installing a second desktop environment changes login sessions, display manager options, default applications, and some system behavior.

TLDR: Linux Mint 22 is based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, which provides GNOME 46 packages through the standard APT repositories. The safest approach is to update your system, create a Timeshift snapshot, install GNOME and GDM3, then choose the GNOME session from the login screen. Avoid random third-party PPAs unless you have a specific reason, because they can make desktop packages harder to maintain. If anything goes wrong, you can return to Cinnamon or restore your system snapshot.

Before You Begin

First, it is important to clarify terminology. There is no official release called Linux Mint 22.04 in the same way Ubuntu has version numbers such as 22.04 or 24.04. Linux Mint 22 is based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, and that base is what makes GNOME 46 available through normal repositories. If you are actually using Linux Mint 21.x, which is based on Ubuntu 22.04, these instructions will not provide GNOME 46 from the default repositories.

You should also understand that GNOME and Cinnamon are full desktop environments. Installing GNOME does not simply add a theme or a panel; it installs a separate shell, settings tools, background services, file manager integration, and login session. This is normally safe, but it can leave you with duplicate applications such as two file managers, two terminal apps, or multiple settings panels.

To check your Mint version, open a terminal and run:

cat /etc/os-release

Look for entries showing Linux Mint 22 and an Ubuntu base of 24.04. If your system is older, consider upgrading Mint first rather than trying to force GNOME 46 through unsupported repositories.

Step 1: Update Linux Mint Fully

Before installing a major desktop environment, bring the system fully up to date. This reduces the chance of package conflicts and ensures you receive the latest security and compatibility fixes.

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade

If the upgrade installs a new kernel, graphics stack, or important system libraries, reboot before continuing:

sudo reboot

After rebooting, log back into your normal Cinnamon session and continue with the next steps.

Step 2: Create a Timeshift Snapshot

This step is strongly recommended. Linux Mint includes Timeshift, a system snapshot tool that can restore core system files if a package installation causes problems. Installing GNOME is usually reversible, but a snapshot is faster and safer than manually undoing packages if something unexpected happens.

1. Open Timeshift from the application menu.
2. Choose your snapshot type, usually RSYNC for most desktop systems.
3. Select the destination drive.
4. Create a manual snapshot before installing GNOME.

Give the snapshot a clear comment such as Before GNOME 46 installation. If you are working on a production machine, also back up personal files separately. Timeshift is not a complete replacement for file backups.

Step 3: Choose a GNOME Installation Method

There are two practical ways to install GNOME on Linux Mint 22. The recommended method for most users is to install the GNOME session and core GNOME components from the official repositories. This gives you GNOME Shell without unnecessarily replacing the entire Mint experience.

A more complete method is to install a larger GNOME or Ubuntu GNOME desktop package, but that may add more applications, services, themes, and Ubuntu-specific defaults. For a Linux Mint system, a controlled installation is usually better.

Recommended core installation:

sudo apt install gnome-session gnome-shell gnome-control-center gnome-terminal nautilus gdm3

This installs the GNOME session, GNOME Shell, GNOME Settings, GNOME Terminal, the Nautilus file manager, and the GDM3 display manager. These are the essential pieces needed for a standard GNOME login experience.

If APT asks for confirmation, review the package list and continue by typing:

Y

Step 4: Select the Display Manager

During installation, you may be asked to choose a default display manager. Linux Mint normally uses LightDM, while GNOME is designed to work most naturally with GDM3. For the cleanest GNOME experience, select gdm3 when prompted.

If you do not see the prompt or want to change the choice later, run:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm3

Then select gdm3 from the menu. You can use GNOME with LightDM in some cases, but GDM3 provides better integration with GNOME session handling, Wayland options, lock screen behavior, and user switching.

After choosing the display manager, reboot the system:

sudo reboot

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Step 5: Log Into GNOME

When the system restarts, you should see the GDM login screen if you selected GDM3. Click your username, then look for a session selector, usually represented by a small gear icon. Choose GNOME before entering your password.

Depending on the packages installed and graphics support, you may see more than one GNOME option, such as:

• GNOME — usually the default GNOME session, often using Wayland where supported.
• GNOME on Xorg — GNOME running on the traditional X11 display server.
• Cinnamon — your original Linux Mint desktop session.

If you use NVIDIA proprietary drivers or encounter display scaling, screen sharing, or input issues, try GNOME on Xorg. Wayland is the modern default for GNOME, but Xorg can still be more reliable for certain hardware and workflows.

Step 6: Confirm the GNOME Version

Once logged in, open GNOME Terminal and check the installed GNOME Shell version:

gnome-shell --version

On Linux Mint 22, you should see a GNOME 46 version, depending on the exact package updates available from the Ubuntu 24.04 repositories. You can also open Settings, go to About, and review the desktop information shown there.

If the command is not found, GNOME Shell may not have installed correctly. Run the installation command again and check for package errors:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install gnome-shell gnome-session

Recommended Post-Installation Adjustments

After installing GNOME, take a few minutes to configure the desktop properly. GNOME has a different workflow from Cinnamon, so some behavior may feel unfamiliar at first. It uses the Activities Overview, dynamic workspaces, a top bar, and a simplified settings interface.

Useful packages include:

• gnome-tweaks — provides additional appearance and behavior settings.
• gnome-shell-extensions — adds common GNOME extension support.
• extension-manager — helps manage GNOME Shell extensions from a graphical interface, if available in your repositories.

Install them with:

sudo apt install gnome-tweaks gnome-shell-extensions

If extension-manager is available, install it as well:

sudo apt install extension-manager

Be conservative with extensions. GNOME extensions can significantly change the desktop, but they can also break after GNOME updates. Install only extensions you genuinely need, and remove those that cause performance or stability problems.

Handling Duplicate Applications

After installing GNOME, your application menu may contain both Mint and GNOME tools. For example, you might see Cinnamon settings alongside GNOME Settings, or Nemo and Nautilus as separate file managers. This is normal when multiple desktop environments are installed.

Do not remove Cinnamon packages aggressively unless you are certain you no longer need them. Cinnamon is part of the standard Mint environment, and removing broad package groups can remove useful Mint components. If your goal is simply to use GNOME, leave Cinnamon installed as a fallback session.

You can set preferred applications from GNOME Settings under Default Apps. For file manager behavior, GNOME uses Nautilus, while Cinnamon uses Nemo. Both can coexist safely, though desktop icon handling may differ between sessions.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

GNOME does not appear on the login screen: Make sure the GNOME session package is installed:

sudo apt install gnome-session

Then reboot and check the session selector again.

The login screen does not load correctly: Switch to a virtual terminal with Ctrl + Alt + F3, log in, and reconfigure the display manager:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm3
sudo systemctl restart gdm3

If needed, switch back to LightDM:

sudo apt install lightdm
sudo dpkg-reconfigure lightdm
sudo reboot

GNOME feels slow or animations stutter: Confirm your graphics drivers are working correctly. On systems with NVIDIA hardware, use Mint’s Driver Manager to install the recommended proprietary driver if appropriate. You can also try logging into GNOME on Xorg instead of the default GNOME session.

Settings look different from Mint tutorials: This is expected. GNOME uses its own control center and workflow. Cinnamon-specific tools remain available only when they are installed, and some apply mainly to Cinnamon sessions.

How to Return to Cinnamon

If you decide GNOME is not for you, you can return to Cinnamon without uninstalling GNOME. Log out, select the session menu on the login screen, choose Cinnamon, and sign in. This is the safest approach because it keeps GNOME available for testing while preserving the original Mint desktop.

If you want to remove GNOME later, proceed carefully. Start with the main packages you installed:

sudo apt remove gnome-session gnome-shell gnome-control-center gnome-terminal nautilus gdm3

Then remove unused dependencies:

sudo apt autoremove

Before rebooting, make sure LightDM and Cinnamon are still installed:

sudo apt install lightdm cinnamon
sudo dpkg-reconfigure lightdm

Select lightdm, then reboot. If the system becomes difficult to recover manually, restore the Timeshift snapshot created before installation.

Security and Stability Notes

For a serious workstation, the most reliable installation source is the official Linux Mint and Ubuntu package base. Avoid installing GNOME 46 from random PPAs or unofficial scripts unless you fully understand the maintenance consequences. Desktop environments depend on many libraries, and mixing incompatible package sources can create long-term upgrade problems.

Also remember that GNOME 46 on Linux Mint will not make your system identical to Fedora Workstation or Ubuntu’s official GNOME experience. Mint includes its own package choices, update policies, themes, and system tools. This hybrid setup can work well, but it should be treated as a customized Linux Mint installation rather than a pure GNOME distribution.

Conclusion

Installing GNOME 46 on Linux Mint 22 is entirely possible because Mint 22 is built on the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package base. The safest method is to update the system, create a Timeshift snapshot, install GNOME’s core packages with GDM3, reboot, and select the GNOME session from the login screen. Keep Cinnamon installed as a fallback, especially during the first few days of testing.

If GNOME’s workflow suits you, you can refine it with GNOME Tweaks and carefully selected extensions. If it does not, you can return to Cinnamon quickly from the login screen or remove GNOME later. With a cautious approach and a reliable backup, trying GNOME 46 on Linux Mint can be a practical way to compare two mature Linux desktop environments on the same system.