These 3 settings make Linux Mint look cleaner and really feel snappier

It’s truthful to say that I’m a lifelong Windows person. Pretty a lot in all places I’ve labored has required me to make use of a Windows PC. More not too long ago, I’ve begun to depend on Linux. At first, it was a approach to prolong the lifetime of my old Windows 10 machines, however the extra I used it, the extra I noticed there was little or no preserving me on Windows. My favourite Linux distros are those which are intently modeled after Windows. While the underlying working techniques may go in another way from Windows, they’ve a feel and look that works for me.

I’ve grown to understand Linux Mint as a result of the Cinnamon desktop feels more familiar to me. I’m not all for unlearning acquainted workflows or working within the terminal with a purpose to get the job finished. I run Linux Mint on an older Dell laptop that’s not spectacular in any respect by at this time’s requirements, and even with out making any changes, Mint runs surprisingly nicely on it.

But as with many issues in life, I’m hardly ever proud of what I’ve acquired, and I believed I might attempt to make the desktop a bit cleaner and the machine itself a bit snappier. I wasn’t searching for third-party apps or new {hardware}, only a approach to get probably the most out of this PC and Linux Mint. I targeted on three easy modifications, and whereas none of them are dramatic, collectively they made Mint really feel a bit extra responsive and pleasant to make use of.

Disabling animations made my desktop really feel extra responsive

Less polish, extra snap

Like Windows, Linux Mint’s Cinnamon desktop makes use of animations and results that seem when opening and shutting purposes or switching between home windows. These results are designed to make the UI really feel extra polished, however they aren’t actually crucial. I believed eliminating them would make the desktop really feel extra responsive.

To flip off the animations, open the Linux Mint utility menu and go to System Settings > Effects. At the highest of the window, you will see a toggle known as Desktop and window results. Switch it off, and the animations disappear instantly. There’s no must restart your laptop or log off. If you’d relatively maintain the animations, you’ll be able to transfer the Window animation velocity slider towards Faster to shorten them as a substitute of turning them off utterly. I simply turned them off utterly.

With the animations disabled, the desktop did really feel a bit extra responsive. I didn’t have to attend for visible transitions any longer. That’s advantageous for me. I do not miss them in any respect.

I finished pointless purposes from launching at startup

Not all the things must run when Linux Mint begins

Mint launches some purposes at startup, similar to Windows does. Initially, these are principally fundamental utilities and apps, however over time, you will possible discover one thing you do not want working at startup. For instance, I do not use Bluetooth on this machine, so I disabled Blueman Bluetooth Manager at startup. We’re not uninstalling apps. We’re simply stopping them from working as quickly as you log in.

To do that, open the Linux Mint utility menu and seek for Startup Applications. You’ll see an inventory of packages and utilities with toggles subsequent to them. Scroll by the record, discover those you do not want, and change them off. It’s that easy. The modifications take impact the following time you log in, and you may at all times return to this display to show one thing again on. I’d keep away from disabling something you do not acknowledge with out checking what it does first, since some entries are wanted for the system to run usually.

Hiding desktop icons gave me a cleaner workspace

Less litter, fewer distractions

Over time, my desktop acquired cluttered with utility shortcuts, photographs, and different information I wasn’t utilizing. The desktop is a superb place to place one thing once you’re working, however too usually, issues get left there and accumulate. Clearing all of this out gave my desktop a cleaner, much less distracting feel and look. It doesn’t enhance efficiency, however it does make me really feel a bit extra organized.

I began by shifting screenshots and different information into folders and eliminating shortcuts I wasn’t utilizing. To disguise Linux Mint’s built-in desktop icons, open System Settings > Desktop. From there, you’ll be able to flip off icons for Computer, Home, Trash, Network, and Mounted Drives. The modifications take impact instantly, and you may nonetheless entry these places by the file supervisor. Keep in thoughts that these settings solely have an effect on Linux Mint’s built-in icons.

Small modifications that had been price making

I would not say these modifications made my outdated Dell dramatically sooner, however I can inform the distinction. The desktop feels a bit faster, and I like not having a bunch of pointless icons and information staring again at me each time I reduce a window. I additionally do not see a lot level in having purposes working within the background if I’m not utilizing them. It solely took me a couple of minutes to make these modifications. Linux Mint was already working nicely on this machine, however I prefer it a bit higher now.