Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Linux Mint's June newsletter just dropped, and buried inside it is a change that Cinnamon users have been waiting years for — Wayland is officially no longer labeled "experimental."
For a long time, Cinnamon users had a choice at login: stick with X11, the old, battle-tested display server that's powered Linux desktops for decades, or try Wayland, the modern replacement designed for today's hardware, security standards, and high refresh rate displays. Wayland has technically been available on Cinnamon for a while now, but it always carried an "experimental" warning — meaning it might work great, or it might break in unexpected ways. Because of that label, most users stuck with X11 out of caution.
That's changing.
According to the Linux Mint development team, they've spent serious time refining the Wayland session over the past several months. In their own words from the newsletter: "We worked really hard on Wayland and we got to the point where it feels solid and the experience is almost on par with X11." That's a significant statement, considering X11 has had literally decades to mature while Wayland is still relatively young by comparison. For the Mint team to say the two are now "almost on par" means a lot of the rough edges — screen tearing, multi-monitor issues, app compatibility problems — have been smoothed out.
And it's not just a symbolic label change either. Starting with the next version of Cinnamon, both X11 and Wayland will be fully supported, side by side, as equally valid options — not one treated as the "real" experience and the other as a fallback.
In this video, I go through exactly what this announcement means, why Wayland matters in the first place, what practical benefits it brings over X11 (better handling of mixed refresh-rate monitors, smoother fractional scaling, and a more secure architecture overall), and why X11 still isn't going anywhere for people who depend on it for specific tools or workflows.
I also talk about why this update carries more weight than it might seem on the surface. Linux Mint has built its entire reputation on being the cautious, stability-first option in the Linux space. This is a project that deliberately avoids chasing trends — they wait, they test, and they only mark something as "ready" when it truly is. So when the Mint team says Wayland is no longer experimental, it's not hype. It's a conservative, trusted project finally giving its stamp of approval after years of work.
Whether you're a longtime Linux Mint user trying to decide if it's time to finally switch to Wayland, or you're new to Linux entirely and trying to understand what all this X11 vs Wayland talk even means, this video breaks it down in plain language.
If you found this useful, consider subscribing for more Linux Mint news, open source updates, and breakdowns of what's happening across the Linux desktop world. And let me know in the comments — are you planning to switch to Wayland on Mint, or are you sticking with X11 for now?
Source: Linux Mint June Newsletter
#LinuxMint #Wayland #Cinnamon #Linux #OpenSource #LinuxNews #Ubuntu #FOSS
Linux Mint's June newsletter just dropped, and buried inside it is a change that Cinnamon users have been waiting years for — Wayland is officially no longer labeled "experimental."
For a long time, Cinnamon users had a choice at login: stick with X11, the old, battle-tested display server that's powered Linux desktops for decades, or try Wayland, the modern replacement designed for today's hardware, security standards, and high refresh rate displays. Wayland has technically been available on Cinnamon for a while now, but it always carried an "experimental" warning — meaning it might work great, or it might break in unexpected ways. Because of that label, most users stuck with X11 out of caution.
That's changing.
According to the Linux Mint development team, they've spent serious time refining the Wayland session over the past several months. In their own words from the newsletter: "We worked really hard on Wayland and we got to the point where it feels solid and the experience is almost on par with X11." That's a significant statement, considering X11 has had literally decades to mature while Wayland is still relatively young by comparison. For the Mint team to say the two are now "almost on par" means a lot of the rough edges — screen tearing, multi-monitor issues, app compatibility problems — have been smoothed out.
And it's not just a symbolic label change either. Starting with the next version of Cinnamon, both X11 and Wayland will be fully supported, side by side, as equally valid options — not one treated as the "real" experience and the other as a fallback.
In this video, I go through exactly what this announcement means, why Wayland matters in the first place, what practical benefits it brings over X11 (better handling of mixed refresh-rate monitors, smoother fractional scaling, and a more secure architecture overall), and why X11 still isn't going anywhere for people who depend on it for specific tools or workflows.
I also talk about why this update carries more weight than it might seem on the surface. Linux Mint has built its entire reputation on being the cautious, stability-first option in the Linux space. This is a project that deliberately avoids chasing trends — they wait, they test, and they only mark something as "ready" when it truly is. So when the Mint team says Wayland is no longer experimental, it's not hype. It's a conservative, trusted project finally giving its stamp of approval after years of work.
Whether you're a longtime Linux Mint user trying to decide if it's time to finally switch to Wayland, or you're new to Linux entirely and trying to understand what all this X11 vs Wayland talk even means, this video breaks it down in plain language.
If you found this useful, consider subscribing for more Linux Mint news, open source updates, and breakdowns of what's happening across the Linux desktop world. And let me know in the comments — are you planning to switch to Wayland on Mint, or are you sticking with X11 for now?
Source: Linux Mint June Newsletter
#LinuxMint #Wayland #Cinnamon #Linux #OpenSource #LinuxNews #Ubuntu #FOSS
![How I Set Up Linux Mint 22 for Daily Use — Without Missing Windows & Satisfied [Linux vs Windows]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kKPWqUIQsbg/mqdefault.jpg "How I Set Up Linux Mint 22 for Daily Use — Without Missing Windows & Satisfied [Linux vs Windows]
Many videos about Linux focus on installing the system and then rush ahead.
This video is different. It starts where daily life actually begins.
Here, I show how I set up Linux Mint so it feels comfortable and dependable for everyday use. These are the programs I use myself, not because they are fashionable, but because they are easy to understand and don’t get in the way.
For internet browsing, I use Firefox, which is clear, familiar, and respectful of privacy. When I need a second browser for certain websites, I sometimes use Chromium, but only when it’s necessary.
For writing letters, working with documents, or opening files from other people, LibreOffice does the job quietly and reliably. Watching videos or listening to music is handled by VLC, which simply plays files without asking questions or installing extras.
Email is managed with Thunderbird, which keeps everything in one place and works well even if you prefer a traditional email layout. For taking notes, planning, or keeping ideas organized, tools like Obsidian or Joplin keep your information stored on your own computer, not locked behind an online account.
To make everyday tasks easier, I use Flameshot for screenshots and GIMP for simple image edits. These tools are there when needed and invisible when not.
Most importantly, I set up safety early. Timeshift creates restore points so the system can be rolled back if something goes wrong, and Déjà Dup quietly backs up personal files. This removes the worry of “what if I break something.”
This setup is not about learning Linux commands or becoming technical.
It’s about having a computer that feels steady, familiar, and dependable.
If you’ve used Windows for years and want something calmer, or if past attempts at Linux felt confusing, this video shows how Linux Mint can fit naturally into everyday life.
No rush.
No complexity.
Just a computer that works.")
