16 things to do after installing Ubuntu
Miscellaneous / / November 17, 2023
We set up a fresh system so that it is pleasant to use.
1. Update your system
This is to ensure that you have the latest security patches and bug fixes. Tap Application Drawer (bottom left corner) → Update Applications.
Also in Ubuntu you can perform various actions through command line. Linux fans appreciate this method because it's faster than clicking through menus. To perform the update, press Ctrl + Alt + T and enter the command in the terminal that opens:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Press Enter and enter your password.
2. Enable additional repositories
Ubuntu has several application archives that provide software for your system. Enabling all of these repositories will give you access to more programs and proprietary drivers.
Open the Applications Drawer and find Programs and Updates. On the Ubuntu Software tab, check all the repositories: Main, Universe, Restricted and Multiverse. Click "Close" and "Update".
You will need to enter a password to update software sources. After completing this operation, you will find more applications to install in the “Program Center”.
3. Select the appropriate update server
You may have noticed that Ubuntu doesn't update very quickly. This happens if installation program, a server with repositories was selected that is geographically too far from you.
To fix this, open the "Applications Menu" and under "Programs and Updates" find the "Download from:" drop-down menu. Click “Other...” → “Select the best server.”
4. Install missing drivers
By default, Ubuntu installs the so-called free, that is, open source drivers. They are not bad if your computer is only used for work. But if you want to play, you need to install proprietary drivers from Nvidia or AMD.
In the "Programs and Updates" menu, open the "Additional Drivers" tab. Choose the option that suits you - as a rule, the most recent one, that is, the one with the highest number in the version. Wait while it installs and reboot your device.
5. Install multimedia codecs and additional fonts
Ubuntu does not have native support for multimedia codecs like MP3, MPEG4, AVI and DVD, or proprietary fonts found on the Internet. Distribution has them in its repository, but does not install them by default due to copyright issues in different countries.
To get these codecs and fonts, open a terminal and enter the following command:
sudo apt install ubuntu‑restricted‑extras
If during the installation process Ubuntu asks for your confirmation, press Y (Yes) and Enter. If the installer shows you the options "Yes" or "No", select "Yes" using the arrows and press Enter.
6. Enable dark theme
Light interfaces are installed in all systems by default, but they are very hard on the eyes. And the laptop battery is drained if you have an AMOLED screen.
To fix this, tap Menu → Settings → Appearance and select Dark Style. Here you can change color accents from standard orange to something more pleasant.
7. Get rid of standard wallpaper
You can view the default Ubuntu wallpaper by clicking Menu → Settings → Background. But they quickly become boring, and you want something new. You can search for wallpapers all over the internet manually or install Variety.
This program automatically downloads new backgrounds from Unsplash, Bing and other sources at an interval you specify. To download it, enter the command in the terminal:
sudo apt install variety
8. Turn on the Night Light feature
Everyone knows that blue light Screens interfere with sleep and generally harm the body. To avoid disrupting your sleep patterns, activate a special filter. It will automatically color your screen in soft, warm colors in the evenings. To enable this feature, tap Menu → Settings → Screen settings → Night light.
9. Enable minimizing windows on click
By default, if you click on the open window icon in the Ubuntu dock, the system will do nothing. At the same time, Windows and macOS When you click on the icons on the panels, open windows are minimized and expanded. And it's much more convenient.
To force Ubuntu to enable this feature, enter the following command in a terminal:
gsettings set org.gnome.shell.extensions.dash‑to‑dock click‑action 'minimize'
10. Enable changing layout via Caps Lock
By default, Ubuntu changes the input language in the same way as Windows: by pressing Win + Spacebar (though the Win key is called Super). This is the usual method for most users.
But if you often switch layouts while entering text, it is more convenient to do this with just your little finger, rather than with two fingers. Therefore, it is better to attach this function to the Caps Lock key - it is rarely needed anyway. To do this, open a terminal and enter the command:
sudo apt install gnome‑tweaks
Now launch the Advanced Settings application:
gnome‑tweaks
In the window that opens, select “Keyboard and Mouse” → “Advanced layout options” → “Switch to another layout.” And select Caps Lock. Or any other combination you like.
11. Install your favorite browser
Ubuntu comes with a browser installed out of the box. Firefox. However, you can easily download your favorite web browser. To install Google Chrome, Vivaldi or any other browser, go to the download page on the official website of the developer and download the package in DEB format. Click it and select “Install applications” → “Install”. Everything is like in good old Windows.
Download Google Chrome →
Download Vivaldi →
Download Opera →
Download Brave →
Download Yandex. Browser →
You can also install a browser from Microsoft on Ubuntu.
Download Edge →
12. Connect your Google account
Click “Menu” → “Settings” → “Network Accounts”. Select Google and enter your email address and password. Ubuntu will now sync its data with your Google account.
Events from the calendar will appear in the panel at the top and in the standard Calendar utility; tasks will be displayed in the program of the same name. Additionally, you will be able to view, upload and edit your files in Google Drive through the Ubuntu file manager.
13. Connect your email to Thunderbird
Most people prefer to check their email in browser. But if you have a lot of emails (as corporate workers often do), try Thunderbird. This is a built-in email client in Ubuntu that supports almost all more or less popular providers.
Open Thunderbird from the sidebar and enter your name, address and password. The app will display all your emails, tasks, calendars and addresses, and they will be synced with your Google account. And therefore, with a smartphone too.
14. Install Synaptic
If you use the Ubuntu App Store, you've probably noticed that it's a little slow. You can, of course, follow the path of a true Linux fan and install all programs via terminal, but most still want to use a graphical interface.
If you are one of the latter, install Synaptic. This is a package search program that is faster than the App Store, but at the same time is more visual and understandable than the terminal. In the future, you can search for all programs through it, select the ones you need, and download them in one fell swoop.
To install Synaptic, enter the command:
sudo apt install synaptic
15. Enable backup
Backing up your documents, files and photos allows you to restore them if something goes wrong. Don't neglect creating backups.
Click Application Drawer → Utilities → Backups and click Create Backup. Choose where to save it: on your Google Drive, on an external drive or on a server on the local network.
Once the process is complete, enable the “Automatically create backups” option. In the sandwich menu, in the “Options” section, you can specify how often to do this. The default is once a week.
16. Install Steam
The times when you couldn't play games on Linux are, fortunately, gradually becoming a thing of the past. For example, Valve's portable Steam Deck console runs on Arch and games run quite well on it. And the Proton function built into Steam allows you to run Windows titles on Linux without much loss of performance.
To install Steam, go to the App Store and search for the title. Or enter the command in the terminal:
sudo apt install steam‑installer
What else should Linux users read?🐧
- 85 Linux commands for all occasions. Almost
- 8 cool Linux distributions that few people have heard of
- 12 Things That Annoy You About Linux and How to Fix Them
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