The Linux Mint 21.1 Beta ISOs were being tested before release, as you might have seen if you were reading Neowin over the weekend. The wait is gone for those anxious to try out the Beta. Downloads for the Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce editions are now accessible. Although they should all be quite stable, as they are all Beta versions, you might find flaws that you should report.
The theming used is the primary change in this release. The Mint team decided to make colours more vivid in this update, but they have also used less of them overall to ensure that they are not overly obtrusive. Accent colours from the panel have been deleted in this version, and menus and folders now have a yellow colour. In a controversial move, the Mint team has also chosen to omit the familiar mint colour and instead utilise the blue Aqua theme by default.
Although this is a significant change, the operating system’s basic tenet is that the user is in charge. Because of this, one of the options you’ll have when you view the Welcome screen after installation is to select the accent colour and whether you want to utilise a light or dark theme. Choose the “Mint-Y-Legacy” theme, which is installed by default, if you wish the old theme to be restored completely.
The icons that are displayed on the desktop are another change that users will quickly notice. Because it is simple to access from the main menu, the panel, or by hitting Super + E on the keyboard, the home folder has been removed from the desktop (Super is the Windows key). The installation icon, objects you drop on the desktop, files stored in /Desktop, and mounted devices are now the only items visible on the desktop.
New noises that are “contemporary and comforting” have also been added, along with a new default cursor and numerous new choices. Various icon themes are also available, including Mint-X, Mint-Y, Mint Legacy, Breeze, Papirus, Numix, and Yaro.
Certainly a substantial update for a point release. Users aren’t overly surprised by this update because Linux Mint is typically known for its slow, steady adjustments, although it does depart slightly from that tradition. You can quickly go back to the previous appearance by choosing the previous theme and cursor.
You may now download the beta versions of Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce. It’s okay if you don’t like the new modifications after reading about them and want to stick with Linux Mint 21. Updating will keep happening till 2027.
