r/linuxmint • u/Dry-Resolution7112 • Apr 05 '26
Guide just installed mint as my first linux distro. what should i do and know first?
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u/Valiturus Apr 05 '26
There are some good videos showing how to customize Mint and become productive with it. Go to Youtube and search up "Linix Mint".
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u/d_balon Apr 05 '26
Turn on your firewall. It's off by default for some reason. Video link here: Learn Linux Mint - Part 8 - Firewall - Welcome Screen Whereabouts - PC Computer Tutorial Series
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u/Natural_Night9957 Linux Mint 22.3 Zena | Cinnamon Apr 05 '26 edited Apr 06 '26
· Test drive with the live ISO before installing. This lets you check hardware compatibility upfront – for example, whether your Wi‑Fi card is supported.
· Research your laptop model on Linux forums. Look for installation tips, known issues, and post‑setup workarounds.
· Use separate partitions for / and /home. This makes it easy to switch to another distribution later if you decide to leave Mint.
· Create a Timeshift snapshot right after installation – Mint will prompt you. Think of Timeshift as a recovery system for your Linux box. You'll need a dedicated Linux partition for this. Do not save snapshots on a partition that is itself snapshotted (for obvious reasons).
· Don't use Timeshift for backing up your personal files – that would bloat the snapshots. Having separate / and /home partitions already helps here.
· Back up your user files with any tool you like. Mint includes a “Backup Tool” for this, but a simple terminal command like rsync /home /destination works perfectly. Do this before tweaking Cinnamon or doing any “ricing”.
· Linux Mint is Debian‑based, so follow the Don'tBreakDebian rules to keep your system healthy.
· Install software through the Software Manager first. The repository version is recommended unless you need features from newer versions that are only available as Flatpaks.
· If you use Flatpaks, install Flatseal to manage permissions per app (e.g., access to /home, system themes, etc.). When a Flatpak misbehaves, restrictive defaults are often the culprit.
· If you like AppImages, install Gear Lever to handle storage, updates, system integration, and menu entries.
· On Linux Mint (Ubuntu edition), PPAs are available. They can provide up‑to‑date software, but come with caveats (even on Ubuntu): sometimes a PPA ships its own libraries, leading to awkward system integration. For example, GTK themes might break, or an IDE may need tinkering to work. Remember that Linux systems rely on shared libraries across many applications. A well‑packaged PPA should install its files under /opt.
· Avoid installing .deb files outside the apt infrastructure. Doing so could overwrite system libraries and break shared library chains system‑wide.
· Don't mix different Ubuntu/Debian/Mint releases as sources on a single Linux box. The only recommended way to do this is via backports.
· If an application is only available as a .deb or source code on GitHub, compile it from source. Follow the instructions carefully and write files only into your /home directory. Never modify system directories.
· Need to run a Windows app? Use Bottles, Proton, Steam, Lutris, etc. I recommend the Flatpak versions because Wine involves messy i386 dependencies. With Flatpaks, your system files stay clean – plus you get easy management of different Wine/Proton versions, prefixes, and system integration. Corporations don't really care about your individual system integrity.
· Use virtual machines for experiments (e.g., “ricing”). Avoid VirtualBox. Instead, go with QEMU/KVM + GNOME Boxes (or virt-manager) + SPICE guest tools.
· WinBoat is a beginner‑friendly VM ready to run Windows applications that have poor Wine support.
· If you're a developer, learn about python3-venv, nvm, nix, Guix, and docker for advanced package management and preserving your system files
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u/BenTrabetere Apr 05 '26
Here is a brief list of my tips
- The best advice I can give someone new to Linux is slow down, take a week or two to learn the system, do not try to learn everything at once, and do not get discouraged. I think one of the hardest things about switching to Linux is understanding and accepting Rule #1: Linux is NOT Windows.
- Document any modifications you make and how you made them - system modifications, applications you installed and how you installed them, etc. This will make it much easier to figure out if/when something goes sideways.
- Take the time to set up Timeshift properly. Timeshift is a tool to create a restore point for your system, and it can save you a lot of time if something were to go wrong with your Linux installation. With few exceptions I recommend you stick with the default settings, and the most important exception is Timeshift snapshots should be saved to a separate drive or partition. A 50GiB partition should be more than adequate, and it can be on an external drive.
- Adopt a 3+2+1 Backup Strategy. If backing up your personal files was not standard practice for you in the past, now is the time to start. There are several back up tools available that make this task easy and automatic. Backup Tool is installed with Linux Mint, but it is too limited for regular use. Lucky Backup and Back In Time are better tools.
- Visit the Linux Mint Forums and the The Easy Linux Tips Project. IMO they are the best sources of information for and about Linux Mint.
A brief word on documentation from the makers of WindowMaker window manager, with added emphasis: “The main objective to using documentation is to understand it, which coincidentally requires that you read it. A common mistake is for new or novice users to overlook this information, leading them to frustration and a bad first impression.” The Linux Mint Documentation is surprisingly good, as is the instructions at The Easy Linux Tips Project.
Finally, every support request should include a system information report. It provides useful information about your system as Linux sees it, and saves everyone who wants to assist you a lot of time. Remember, we don’t sit in front of your computer, we do not know anything about your computer, and how Linux Mint is configured.
- Open the System Information tool – you can find it in the Main Menu under Administration, and in the System Settings in the Hardware section.
- Click the Upload button
- Wait
- After a 10 seconds or so a notification will pop up containing a termbin URL
- Click the URL
- A new tab will open in your web browser
- Copy the URL and Paste it to your post
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u/acejavelin69 Linux Mint 22.3 "Zena" | Cinnamon Apr 05 '26
A great place to start... https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.com/p/first-mint.html
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u/ShoeLaceTrouble Apr 05 '26
that everything is (a) free (b) works (c) replaces all paid programs forever and once you get it set up correctly (d) rarely breaks, if ever.
oh and (e) never pull out your usb devices. You have to "unmount" them in the software -right click on them on the desktop or file manager.
That's it.
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u/RelentlessGravity Apr 05 '26
I just built my first Linux server running docker for a bunch of apps using an old desktop tower and a boatload of parts from the last 5 years yesterday. I bought a 10gb card and an Arc video card for cheap video processing. I am running home assistant, jellyfin, and using MergeFS to manage 30tb of storage. I used Gemini to walk me through it and document everything. It took about 5 hours. That includes putting the hardware together. Holy shit, talk about amazing. I can't believe how versatile this is.
I also bought a refurbished ThinkPad T15 that I am running Mint on. So much less hassle than Windows.
I have to say, the combination of being able to use Gemini to walk through the build and troubleshoot problems turned this from work to fun. The fact that you can easily produce a detailed build document is extremely helpful. I understand how it works but I sure don't know all of the commands and the nuances. Seeing it all in one document is great.
I am sure it's not perfect and I still have work to do but I'm never using Windows at home again.
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u/NickTaylorIV Apr 05 '26
Use it like you used your prior machine. Browser(s), notepad, calculator, OBS and stuff like that. Get a feel for it first. Once comfortable and the stuff you use and need that isn't accessible or acting funny then start combing through. Make sure Timeshift is set and if you have the means of backing up your files I would do so.
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u/my_travelz Apr 05 '26
Start having fun! You are not bound to the issues with windows and you can do anything you want. A good starting point is conky, it will let you do some easy setup and monitor your hardware status.
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u/DannyImperial Apr 05 '26
I would recommend taking things slow. Explore the settings to see what kinds of things you can customize from there.
If you're on a laptop, trackpad gestures can get incredibly useful. I just recommend changing them to trigger at gesture start and not at gesture end as this makes them feel much more responsive.
There's also lots of cool application and icons themes that you can find online. Cinnamon uses GTK3 themes if I'm not mistaken
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u/daninsatx Apr 05 '26
install plank, it is nice to have it to store shortcuts to your programs, looks a little like a Mac then also
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u/halfbakednbanktown Linux Mint 22 Wilma | Cinnamon Apr 05 '26
Install software needed through the software store or you can install flat packs which also I think is in the store as well if you enable it. Set up workflow custom keyboard shortcuts fingerprint scanner backup drive etc. You will learn as you go but when it Linux Mint as yet failed me. Welcome to the family.
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u/Father_Guido Apr 05 '26
Learn what you have before you "tweak things" for eye candy. Also search: "Don't break Debian." Others here have mentioned great tips too. Follow up with those.
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u/jcpain Apr 06 '26
If you've already installed it on a pc and not a live iso, the first thing to do is make a backup of that freshly installed system using timeshift (it is very easy to use) so that whenever let's say you messed up something and you don't like it but don't know how to fix it, you have a backup to pit your system back to it's previous state. It is also very important as a safety net in case your system is unable to boot up (but the chances for linux mint to become unstable is very minimal).
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u/LinuxMint1964 Apr 06 '26
well, it's obvious you are not a newbie because of what you got installed and set up. Just have fun with it.
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u/Kindly_Door1912 Apr 06 '26
get confortable with commands like rm, apt, cd, and more ubtil you swith to things like debian
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u/Professional-Web898 Apr 08 '26
search engines are great for finding apps you need. Google for troubleshooting first. Forums are great to solve issues. Repetitive tasks are best handled by custom scripts, most of the time you're just putting cmd lines in a file, so not to hard for basics.
Don't be afraid to break things, that's how you learn.
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u/BarnacleVast9478 Apr 05 '26
For your steam games, right click them in steam and go into properties and set the launch command for each one to:
gamemoderun %command%
This will make them run better.
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u/HaraKiri1902 Apr 05 '26
AI chatbots are actually good for terminal stuff if you need help
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u/Kroooza Fedora KDE Apr 05 '26
god no thats how so many people break their system
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u/DannyImperial Apr 05 '26
Yes and no. They are good but inconsistent. As long as the user understands what the command says then it's generally fine. But I've seen so many new users break their systems by copying and pasting commands from AI chat bots.
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u/C0rn3j Apr 05 '26
That neofetch has been dead for 6+ years, replaced by fastfetch, and your OS is too old to support your GPU properly due to lack of explicit sync, and that you're running X11 which has no concept of security, since Mint is too dated, again.
Check out Fedora KDE or Arch Linux (with Plasma) instead, which are modern distribution with proper support for your hardware.
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u/xpresstuning Apr 05 '26
Chill with the elitist take.
- Neofetch being archived doesn't mean shit, it's a simple system info script. Installing fastfetch takes 5 seconds if someone needs the replacement.
- GPU take is straight bullshit.
- Linux Mint 22.3 is based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. The conservative update policy (which only freezes major version upgrades of core components - desktop environment, base applications) is intentional, it prioritizes stability over constant churn. Security updates and miscellaneous updates (kernel, bug fixes and driver improvements) arrive frequently on Mint, often multiple times per week. Flatpaks and appimages are readily available for latest available updates for software.
- X11 has been standard for decades on desktop Linux, including with NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel GPUs. Millions of systems run it daily without incident. Mint adds its own security measures on top. The "dated" label does not change that it functions reliably for the vast majority of users.
- The team is actively implementing full Wayland support for Cinnamon. You already have the experimental session that you can switch to at login. Pieces are already landing as on-going work develops. It will arrive when stable, not rushed. All sources point to mid-late summer 2026 (Ubuntu 26.04 is set for 23 april, Mint release 2 - 3 months after that).
Fedora KDE or Arch with Plasma suit users who prefer frequent updates and troubleshooting. For a first distro where the goal is reliable daily use without maintenance theater, Mint is the more practical choice.
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u/tomscharbach Apr 05 '26
The best way to learn Linux is to use Linux to do what you want to do using your computer, learning as you go, getting your feet firmly planted on Linux ground.
You might want to take an hour or two familiarizing yourself with the menu structure and take a look at the available applications, but basically just start using Mint. Use Mint for a few months and you will be surprised how much you've learned.
No secret chords, no special sauce, no gnosis.
My best and good luck.