Linux Mint MATE 21 MATE
Review exact release details and current availability for Linux Mint MATE 21 MATE.
About Linux Mint MATE
Linux Mint MATE carries the same Ubuntu LTS foundation and Mint tooling as the Cinnamon edition but swaps the desktop for MATE, the community continuation of the classic GNOME 2 interface. That gives it a menu-driven, panel-based workflow that predates modern desktop redesigns, plus a reputation for running smoothly where Cinnamon's compositing feels heavy. All the Mint essentials are present: the Software Manager, the Update Manager with its careful update logic, Timeshift snapshots, and the shared X-Apps, along with APT and Flatpak for packages and no Snap enabled by default. MATE's lighter footprint makes this edition a common pick for older hardware, virtual machines, and people who simply preferred how GNOME 2 worked. Compared with the Xfce edition, MATE offers a somewhat fuller set of integrated applets and panel options. Launching the MATE edition on OpenFactory makes the differences from Cinnamon easy to see directly.
All Linux Mint MATE releases and desktopsWhat happens when you press Try now
The button opens the OpenFactory console in a new tab and boots a fresh Linux Mint MATE virtual machine from OpenFactory's verified source media. The session renders directly in the browser, so there is nothing to download and nothing to install on your computer.
Each visit gets its own machine with a fresh overlay over an immutable base image. Files, settings, and desktop changes behave normally inside the session and are discarded when it ends, so every visitor starts from the same clean Linux Mint MATE 21 MATE.
How MATE behaves in a browser VM
MATE continues the GNOME 2 design: a two-panel layout, a classic application menu, and the familiar Caja file manager. It suits people who want a conventional desktop that stays out of the way.
Questions about this target
Is this an official Linux Mint MATE image?
Yes. Launches boot from OpenFactory's verified copy of official Linux Mint MATE media with the MATE desktop. The catalog records where each source came from and when it was verified, and visitor sessions never modify the stored image.
Do changes persist between sessions?
No. Every launch runs on a fresh overlay over an immutable base image, and the machine state is discarded when the session ends. No visitor sees another visitor's changes, and every session starts from the same clean Linux Mint MATE 21 MATE.
Can I get a customized Linux Mint MATE instead of the stock demo?
Yes. The OpenFactory builder turns this release into your own image: pick packages, services, users, and hardening, then build it, test it in a browser VM, and download the result for real hardware.