Install Linux Mint and set it up for daily use

If you want to move from Windows to Linux without starting with something too technical, Linux Mint is one of the easiest places to begin.

It works especially well for people who want a stable desktop they can install and use right away without heavy tweaking.

Quick conclusion

If you are considering Linux Mint:

Linux Mint is a strong fit for Linux beginners and for people who want a stable work machine
you should download the ISO from the official site: linuxmint.com/download.php
for most people, the best edition to start with is Cinnamon
after installation, the first things to do are: update the system, check drivers, set up backups, and install core software

Who is Linux Mint good for?

Linux Mint is especially suitable if you:

are moving from Windows to Linux
need a machine for coding, study, office work, and web browsing
do not want the operating system to change too aggressively after updates
prefer a traditional desktop layout that feels familiar

If you want a distro that feels ready to use after installation, Linux Mint is often a much smoother starting point than a very minimal distro.

What is Linux Mint?

Linux Mint is a Linux distribution focused on desktop usability.

Its strengths are:

friendly interface
easy installation
useful desktop tools included out of the box
good fit for personal computers

According to the official Linux Mint website as of June 16, 2026, the latest release is Linux Mint 22.3 "Zena". The release notes also state that it is an LTS release supported until April 2029.

Sources:

Which edition should you choose?

Linux Mint usually comes in three main editions:

Cinnamon
MATE
Xfce

If you are unsure, choose:

Cinnamon

That is the best fit for most desktop users.

When should you choose Cinnamon?

your machine has decent RAM and CPU
you want the best-looking and most polished desktop
you want the most typical Linux Mint experience

When should you choose MATE?

you want something a bit lighter than Cinnamon
you prefer a more traditional and simple desktop

When should you choose Xfce?

your machine is older
you want lower resource usage
you care more about being light than flashy

Official Linux Mint download link

You should download Linux Mint from the official page:

https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

The official installation guide is here:

Linux Mint Installation Guide

If you want to see supported releases:

All currently supported Linux Mint releases

What should you prepare before installing?

Before installing Linux Mint, prepare:

a USB drive with at least 8GB
the Linux Mint ISO from the official site
a backup of important files if you are installing on an existing machine
a clear decision:
- dual boot with Windows
- or replace Windows completely

If this is your main computer, backing up first is still the safe move even if you have installed operating systems before.

How to create a Linux Mint bootable USB

According to the official installation guide, the easiest path is to turn the ISO into a bootable USB drive.

You can use:

Rufus on Windows
balenaEtcher
Ventoy
or a USB image writing tool on Linux

Official guide:

Create the bootable media

How to install Linux Mint

The installation flow is straightforward:

plug the bootable USB into the computer
boot the machine from USB
enter the Linux Mint live environment
launch the installer
choose language, keyboard, and timezone
choose the install type:
- install alongside another OS
- or erase the disk and install Linux Mint
create your user account and password
wait for the installation to finish and reboot

Official guides:

What should you watch out for if you want dual boot with Windows?

If you want dual boot:

make sure you have free disk space available
disable Fast Startup in Windows first
back up your data before changing partitions

If you are not comfortable with manual partitioning, the safer route is:

shrink the partition from Windows first
then let the Linux Mint installer use that free space

What should you do right after installation?

These are the first things worth doing after your first boot into Linux Mint.

1. Update the system

Linux Mint includes Update Manager, and this is one of the most important tools to use after installation.

You can update with:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Or open:

Menu -> Administration -> Update Manager

Official documentation:

Update Manager

2. Check hardware drivers

This is especially important if your machine uses:

Wi‑Fi hardware
an NVIDIA GPU
hardware that depends on proprietary drivers

Open:

Menu -> Administration -> Driver Manager

Official reference:

Hardware drivers

3. Set up backups

If you plan to keep using Linux Mint long term, set up a backup habit early.

At minimum, you should:

back up your work folders
back up important config files
consider regular snapshots if this is your main machine

4. Install the basic software you need

Depending on your workflow, that often includes:

a browser if you do not want the default one
VS Code or another editor
Git
Docker if you need development containers
VLC
Telegram / Discord / Zoom if needed

Example:

sudo apt install git curl vlc -y

5. Configure Vietnamese input and keyboard settings

If you need Vietnamese typing, this is one of the important post-install steps.

Depending on your preferred input method, you might use:

ibus-bamboo
or fcitx5-unikey

If your site already has a separate article for Vietnamese input on Linux, this article should link to it.

What makes Linux Mint easy to use every day?

One of the nice things about Linux Mint is that it stays close to a traditional desktop workflow:

app menu is easy to navigate
taskbar feels familiar
file manager is easy to understand
installing apps is not difficult

For new users, common tasks like:

browsing the web
opening files
installing applications
managing Wi‑Fi
changing themes
adjusting keyboard layouts

all feel relatively straightforward.

How do you install software on Linux Mint?

You can install software in a few ways:

Software Manager
apt
Flatpak when available

For beginners, the easiest path is usually:

open Software Manager
search for the app
click install

If you prefer the terminal:

sudo apt install <package-name>

Is Linux Mint good for coding?

Yes.

Linux Mint works well for:

web development
backend development
learning Linux command line
local Docker workflows
Git-based development

If you want a Linux machine for coding without spending a lot of time building the environment from scratch, Mint is a very balanced choice.

Common issues new Linux Mint users hit

These are common problems:

USB boot does not start because BIOS/UEFI is not booting from the right device
Wi‑Fi is missing because the right driver is not installed yet
dual boot issues caused by partitioning or Windows Fast Startup
outdated packages because the system was not updated after installation
Vietnamese typing is not ready because the input method is not installed yet

If the issue is hardware-related, check:

Driver Manager
the release notes
the official installation guide

When might Linux Mint not be the best choice?

Linux Mint is not always the perfect answer.

You may prefer another distro if you:

need an ultra-light setup for very old hardware
want a desktop closer to upstream GNOME or KDE
want a rolling release
want a very minimal system to build entirely yourself

A short checklist after installing Linux Mint

After installation, check:

have you fully updated the system?
are Wi‑Fi, audio, Bluetooth, and GPU working correctly?
have you checked Driver Manager?
have you installed your main work software?
have you configured Vietnamese input if needed?
do you already have backups or a backup plan?

Conclusion

Linux Mint is a very strong personal desktop Linux option because it is easy to install, easy to use, and generally stable.