How to Install Linux Mint on Your Computer

Installing Linux Mint takes about 30 minutes and requires a USB drive, a computer you can restart, and the willingness to erase what's currently on the drive you choose

Linux Mint is a free operating system you read and install yourself. The process has three main steps: read the Mint image file to your computer, write that file to a USB drive using free software, then boot from the USB drive and follow the installer. You do not need a product key, do not need to pay anyone, and do not need technical support to complete it — the installer walks you through each choice.

The biggest decision is which drive to install Mint onto. If you have a second hard drive or an external drive you do not need, you can install Mint there and keep your current system. If you want to replace what you have now, the installer will erase the drive you select. Either way, back up anything you want to keep before you start — the installer will ask you to confirm the drive, but once you confirm, that data is gone.

Key Takeaways

You need a USB drive with at least 4 GB of space, a computer that can boot from USB, and about 30 minutes of uninterrupted time.
read the Mint image file from linuxmint.com, then use Balena Etcher (Windows, Mac, Linux) or Rufus (Windows only) to write it to the USB drive.
Restart your computer, enter the boot menu by pressing Delete, F2, F10, or F12 during startup, and select the USB drive as the boot device.
The Mint installer will ask you to choose a drive, set your language and timezone, create a user account, and confirm before erasing — read each screen carefully.
After installation finishes and you restart, Mint will boot from your hard drive and you can remove the USB drive and use your computer normally.

What You Need Before You Start

A USB drive with at least 4 GB of free space is the first requirement. You can use any USB drive — a thumb drive, an external hard drive, or even an old USB stick. The installer will erase whatever is on it, so choose one that does not hold files you need. If you have nothing spare, a 16 GB USB drive costs $5 to $10 new.

You also need a computer that can boot from USB. Almost every computer made in the last 15 years can do this, but very old machines or some locked-down work computers cannot. If you are not sure, try the process — if your computer will not boot from the USB drive, you will know within a minute and can stop.

Finally, back up anything on the drive you plan to install Mint onto. The installer will ask you to confirm which drive to use, but once you confirm, that drive is erased. If you are installing Mint on a second drive or external drive you do not use, you can skip this step. If you are replacing your current system, copy your documents, photos, and anything else you want to keep to an external drive, cloud storage, or another computer first.

read the Mint Image and Write It to USB

Go to linuxmint.com and click the read button. You will see several versions — choose the one labeled "Cinnamon" unless you have a very old computer, in which case choose "MATE". Cinnamon is the standard version and works well on most machines. read the file to your computer; it will be about 2 GB and take a few minutes depending on your internet speed.

Once the read finishes, you need to write the image file to the USB drive. Do not just copy and paste the file — you need special software to write it correctly. read Balena Etcher from balena.io/etcher. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, is free, and takes 30 seconds to install.

Open Balena Etcher, click "Select image", and choose the Mint file you just downloaded. Click "Select target", then click your USB drive from the list — make sure it is the USB drive and not your main hard drive. Click "Flash" and wait. The process takes 5 to 10 minutes. When it finishes, you can close Etcher and unplug the USB drive.

If you use Windows and prefer a different tool, Rufus also works well. read it from rufus.ie, plug in your USB drive, select the Mint image file, and click Start. The steps are similar to Balena Etcher.

Boot Your Computer from the USB Drive

Plug the USB drive into your computer and restart it. As soon as the computer starts up — before the Windows or Mac logo appears — press a key to enter the boot menu. The key varies by computer: Delete, F2, F10, or F12 are most common. If you are not sure which key, try F12 first, then F2, then Delete. You will see a menu appear with a list of devices.

Look for an entry that says "USB" or has the name of your USB drive. Click or select it. Your computer will boot from the USB drive instead of your hard drive, and after a few seconds you will see the Mint desktop with an "Install Linux Mint" icon on the left side of the screen.

If the boot menu does not appear, your computer may not support USB boot, or you may have pressed the key too late or too early. Restart and try again, pressing the key when ready after you see the manufacturer logo. If nothing works after three tries, your computer may not be able to boot from USB — this is rare but possible on very old machines or locked work computers.

Run the Mint Installer and Choose Your Settings

Double-click the "Install Linux Mint" icon on the desktop. A window will open and ask you to choose your language. Select the language you want to use, then click Continue. The installer will ask for your timezone — find your city or region in the list and click it. This is used to set the correct time on your computer.

Next, the installer asks about your keyboard layout. If you use a standard US keyboard, the default is correct — just click Continue. If you use a different layout, find it in the list. Then you will see a screen asking where to install Mint. This is the most important choice.

If you have multiple drives or partitions, you will see them listed. Read the names and sizes carefully — you want to select the drive you decided to use before you started. If you are replacing your current system, select the main drive. If you are installing on a second drive, select that one. Once you click on a drive, the installer shows you what will happen — read this carefully. If it says it will erase a drive you need, click Back and select a different drive.

After you confirm the drive, the installer asks you to create a user account. Enter your name, a username (usually lowercase, no spaces), a computer name (what your computer will be called on a network), and a password. You will use the username and password to log in after installation. Write them down if you think you might forget them. Click Continue.

Complete Installation and First Boot

The installer will show a summary of what it is about to do — read it one more time to make sure the correct drive is selected. If everything looks right, click Install. The installer will erase the drive you selected and copy Mint onto it. This takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on your computer speed.

When the installer finishes, it will ask you to restart your computer. Click Restart Now. Remove the USB drive when the computer shuts down, then let it boot normally. Mint will start up from your hard drive, and you will see a login screen. Enter the username and password you created during installation.

After you log in, you will see the Mint desktop. You can now use your computer normally. The USB drive can be erased and reused for anything else, or kept as a backup copy of the Mint installer in case you need to reinstall later.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

If your computer boots into Windows or Mac instead of the Mint installer, you did not select the USB drive in the boot menu, or the USB drive was not written correctly. Restart, enter the boot menu again, and look more carefully for a USB entry. If you still cannot find it, try unplugging the USB drive, restarting, then plugging it back in and restarting again — sometimes the drive is not detected until you do this.

If the Mint installer starts but freezes or crashes during installation, your USB drive may be faulty or the image file may not have been written correctly. Try writing the image to the USB drive again using Balena Etcher, making sure to select the correct drive. If it happens a second time, try a different USB drive.

If you see an error message about partitions or disk space, you may not have enough room on the drive you selected. Mint needs at least 15 GB of free space to install. If your drive is full, you will need to delete files or choose a different drive.

If your computer will not boot from USB at all, even after trying multiple times, your computer may not support it. This is rare on machines less than 15 years old. Check your computer's manual or search online for "[your computer model] boot from USB" to see if it is possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install Mint alongside Windows instead of replacing it?

Yes, but it requires more careful setup. During installation, when the installer asks where to install Mint, choose "Something else" instead of the default option. You will see your Windows partition listed — you need to shrink it to make room for Mint, then create a new partition for Mint on the freed space. This is more complex than a full replacement, so only attempt it if you are comfortable with partitions, or if you have a second drive you can use instead.

Do I need internet during installation?

No, the installer does not require internet. However, after you finish and log in, Mint will offer to read updates. It is a good idea to connect to your network and let it read these — they include security patches and bug fixes. You can do this when ready after installation or wait until later.

What if I change my mind and want to go back to Windows?

If you kept your Windows installation media or a backup, you can reinstall Windows using the same process you used to install Mint — read Windows, write it to a USB drive, boot from USB, and run the installer. If you did not back up Windows, you will need to obtain installation media from Microsoft or your computer manufacturer.

Will my programs and files from Windows still work in Mint?

No, Windows programs do not run in Mint. However, many common programs have Linux versions — Firefox, LibreOffice, GIMP, and VLC all work in Mint. For programs without Linux versions, you may need to find an alternative. Mint includes a software manager where you can search for and install free programs.

How much disk space does Mint use?

Mint itself takes about 10 GB after installation. The rest of your drive is available for your files, programs, and updates. If you have a 256 GB drive, you will have roughly 240 GB left for your own use after Mint is installed.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.