Linux Mint Previews Customizable Start Menu and Enhanced System Details Tools
November 7, 2025 – Linux Mint developers are preparing notable updates for the popular desktop Linux distribution, including a redesigned Cinnamon Start Menu and a thorough new System Information tool. These changes, previewed by project lead Clem, aim to improve user customization and troubleshooting capabilities.
The upcoming Cinnamon Start Menu will offer users greater control over its layout.Users can choose the placement of system buttons – Lock Screen, Log Out, and Shut Down – positioning them on either the left sidebar or to the right of the search bar. The search bar itself is also movable, allowing placement at the top or bottom of the menu. Icon designs for these system functions have been slightly revised. Moving the system icons to the left will expand the length of the search bar.
Alongside the Start Menu overhaul, Linux Mint is introducing a rebranded and expanded System Reports tool, now called System Information. Clem noted the existing tool was insufficient for in-depth troubleshooting. The new System Information tool features four dedicated pages: USB,GPU,PCI,and BIOS.
The USB page details connected devices, including type, name, and ID. The GPU page provides graphics card and hardware acceleration information. The PCI page lists internal components and drivers, while the BIOS page displays motherboard, BIOS version, boot mode, and secure-boot details.
A companion tool,System Administration,shares a similar user interface and currently focuses on boot menu management. Users can show/hide the boot menu, adjust its display duration for dual-boot or multi-kernel systems, and add boot parameters for hardware troubleshooting.
Regarding Wayland support, Clem indicated that a transition from experimental to beta status for Wayland Cinnamon is contingent on the development of a screen locker, a complex feature that may not be ready for Linux Mint 23.
Many of these changes are expected to arrive with Linux Mint 22.3 in December 2025.
Users of Linux Mint debian Edition (LMDE) should note that LMDE 6 will reach its End of Life on January 1st, 2026, and LMDE 7 is exclusively 64-bit.
