GNOME 46 runs on Linux Mint 22.04, but you need to add it through a third-party repository because Mint does not ship it by default

Linux Mint 22.04 comes with GNOME 45 as its desktop environment. If you want GNOME 46 instead, you will need to add the GNOME Shell upstream repository to your system, then update your packages through that repository. This process takes about 10 to 15 minutes and carries a small risk: updating core system components can occasionally break other software that depends on the older version, though this is uncommon on Mint.

The steps below walk you through adding the repository, updating GNOME, and logging back in to use the new version. You will need administrator access on your machine and a terminal window.

Key Takeaways

  • GNOME 46 is not included in Linux Mint 22.04 by default, so you must add an external repository before you can install it.
  • The installation process requires opening a terminal and running four commands in order: adding the repository, updating the package list, installing GNOME 46, and restarting your system.
  • After installation, you will log out of your current session and select GNOME from the login screen before logging back in.
  • If something breaks after the update, you can remove the repository and downgrade back to GNOME 45 using the same terminal commands in reverse.

Opening the terminal and adding the GNOME repository

Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open a terminal window. You should see a black or dark window with a command prompt (usually a dollar sign or hash mark at the end of a line).

Type or paste this command and press Enter:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome-shell-team/gnome-shell-upstream

The system will ask for your password. Type it in (you will not see the characters appear) and press Enter. The repository is now added to your system's list of software sources.

Updating your package list and installing GNOME 46

Still in the terminal, run this command to refresh your package list:

sudo apt update

This tells your system to check the new repository for available packages. It will take a minute or two and print several lines of text as it downloads the package information.

Once that finishes, run this command to install GNOME 46:

sudo apt install gnome-shell

The system will show you a list of packages it plans to install or upgrade and ask you to confirm. Type y and press Enter. The read and installation will take several minutes depending on your internet speed.

Restarting your system and selecting GNOME at login

After the installation finishes, restart your computer. You can do this from the terminal with:

sudo reboot

Or use the shutdown menu in your current desktop environment. When your computer comes back up, you will see the login screen.

Before you enter your password, look for a menu or button in the bottom-left or bottom-right corner of the login screen that says "Session" or shows a gear icon. Click it and select GNOME from the list. Then enter your password and log in. You are now running GNOME 46.

What changed in GNOME 46 compared to GNOME 45

GNOME 46 includes a redesigned Activities overview, improvements to the file manager (Nautilus), and updates to the Settings process. The taskbar and window management work similarly to GNOME 45, so the transition should feel familiar if you have used Mint before.

Some third-party extensions written for GNOME 45 may not work when ready in GNOME 46. If you use extensions, you may need to wait for the extension authors to update them, or disable them temporarily. You can manage extensions through the Extensions process or by visiting extensions.gnome.org in your web browser.

Removing GNOME 46 and going back to GNOME 45

If GNOME 46 causes problems with other software or you straightforward prefer GNOME 45, you can remove it and return to the original version. Open a terminal and run:

sudo apt install ppa-purge

Then remove the repository and downgrade GNOME:

sudo ppa-purge ppa:gnome-shell-team/gnome-shell-upstream

This command removes the repository and automatically downgrades GNOME back to version 45. Restart your computer afterward. At the login screen, select GNOME (or your original desktop environment) from the Session menu before logging in.

Troubleshooting if GNOME does not appear at the login screen

If you do not see GNOME as an option in the Session menu after installation, the desktop environment may not have installed completely. Open a terminal and run:

sudo apt install gnome-session gnome-control-center

Restart your computer and check the Session menu again. If GNOME still does not appear, use the ppa-purge command above to remove the repository and return to GNOME 45, then try a different approach or check the GNOME project's documentation for your specific Linux version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will installing GNOME 46 break my other programs?

Rarely. Most programs on Linux Mint work with multiple versions of GNOME. However, some older software or custom configurations may have issues. If something breaks, you can remove GNOME 46 and go back to GNOME 45 using the ppa-purge command described above.

Can I run both GNOME 45 and GNOME 46 at the same time?

No. Your system runs one version of GNOME at a time. You select which one to use at the login screen by choosing it from the Session menu. You cannot have both active simultaneously.

Do I need to back up my files before installing GNOME 46?

It is always good practice to back up important files before making system changes, but GNOME 46 installation does not touch your personal files or documents. Your home folder and data remain untouched during the process.

What if the terminal commands do not work?

Make sure you are copying the commands exactly as written, including spaces and hyphens. If you see an error message, read it carefully — it usually tells you what went wrong. Common issues include typos, missing spaces, or running a command without sudo when it requires administrator access.

How do I know if GNOME 46 installed successfully?

After you log in, open the Settings process and go to About. It will show your GNOME version number. If it says 46.x (where x is a smaller number), the installation worked. You can also open a terminal and type gnome-shell --version to see the version number.