Ubuntu comes with everything you need to get started right out of the box. But if you want your new Linux system to be more complete and have more options to choose from, we suggest six basic tasks to do after installing Ubuntu Linux.
Ubuntu Linux is one of the most popular distributions, along with Debian , Linux Mint , Zorin , and Fedora . So, you’ll likely choose Ubuntu to get started with Linux, or it might be your go-to distribution if you’ve been using this operating system for years. In any case, twice a year, Ubuntu is updated with a new version packed with new features, changes, and updates. And any excuse is a good one to do a fresh install . But installing Ubuntu isn’t enough. After installing Ubuntu Linux , there’s still much to do.
There are many ways to install Linux on your PC . You can even try it online . And there are many Linux distributions to choose from. So, whether you’re fleeing Windows or looking for an operating system that works well from day one , Linux can be a good choice for your laptop or desktop computer. Whatever your situation, a distribution like Ubuntu Linux will ensure that your computer, old or new, will perform well in most of the tasks you need to do on a daily basis. Forget about surprise updates, crashes, and applications that stop working without you having touched anything.
But simply installing Linux on your computer isn’t enough . You’ll probably want to get the most out of it , ensuring your hardware and software work seamlessly together, having plenty of apps to install, and customizing the system to your liking. You can achieve all this and much more if, after installing Ubuntu Linux , you dedicate some time to the following tasks.
After installing Ubuntu Linux, update
It might seem contradictory, but after installing Ubuntu Linux , the first thing you should do is update it. Update Ubuntu immediately after installation. Why? Because, although the installation disk is usually updated with the latest version of the operating system, Linux is made up of thousands of packages, programs, and libraries that are frequently updated independently of the rest of the system. So, by the time you install Ubuntu, it’s likely that several of the default apps will need updating to fix problems and correct errors .
There are several ways to update Ubuntu Linux . One of the most recommended methods is to open the command terminal and enter the following commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -yWhen Ubuntu finishes updating, you can optionally enter the command `sudo apt autoremove -y` to remove obsolete packages that you no longer need.
The other way to update after installing Ubuntu Linux is to open Software Update . You can find this tool using the Ubuntu search bar or by viewing your installed applications and clicking the Show Applications button . This tool allows you to search for updates, select and deselect them, and get information through a graphical interface. To update your installed applications , open the Application Center and go to Manage . There, click Check for Updates . When updates appear, click Update All .
Install the multimedia codecs and extras
Linux, in general, and Ubuntu Linux, in particular, are free software projects. This means, among other things, that their applications, libraries, and other components are open source . But, unfortunately, they sometimes require proprietary tools . For example, drivers for the hardware to function properly, or codecs so you can listen to music and watch video at the best possible quality on your monitor or screen. This proprietary content is not installed by default due to licensing restrictions.
So, if you want any audio or video to play correctly on your computer, it would be a good idea to install the additional multimedia codecs and restricted extras that Ubuntu provides to its users after installing Ubuntu Linux. The quickest and most efficient way to install these add-ons is with the following command:
sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras -yThis package includes audio codecs such as MP3, AAC, and OGG, among others; video codecs such as H.264/AVC, XviD, and GStreamer; Microsoft TrueType fonts ; and a few other tools that Ubuntu Linux might need. Installing these codecs and extras isn’t mandatory, but they will be helpful later. Furthermore, the Ubuntu Linux installation wizard will ask if you want to install the recommended proprietary programs. Below, you should select both options. The first option affects proprietary drivers , and the second affects the multimedia codecs I mentioned earlier.
Install the proprietary drivers
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Continuing with the proprietary content that wasn’t installed during the initial setup, after installing Ubuntu Linux you should do the same with your hardware drivers , especially those for your graphics card . By default, Ubuntu includes open-source drivers that work in most cases. However, there are always unforeseen issues that can cause problems. As with multimedia codecs, Ubuntu already has a specific package for installing proprietary drivers , but it doesn’t install them by default for various reasons.
The commands needed to search for compatible drivers and then install those drivers on your Linux system are as follows:
ubuntu-drivers devices
sudo ubuntu-drivers install
sudo rebootThe third command will restart Ubuntu Linux , ensuring that the installed drivers are working correctly upon system restart. Another useful command is `nvidia-smi` . This checks that you have installed the correct driver for your NVIDIA graphics card .
Activate the Ubuntu Linux firewall
One of the advantages of Ubuntu Linux , and Linux in general, is that it’s more secure than Windows . There are several reasons for this, which I won’t go into to avoid being too lengthy. What I will say is that Ubuntu comes equipped with several features that enhance its security. These include the ability to encrypt the entire disk , its constant and frequent security updates , the AppArmor security module that restricts application permissions, the blocking of insecure encryption protocols, and much more.
Another security-focused component of Ubuntu Linux is its firewall. It’s known by the acronym UFW , which stands for Uncomplicated Firewall , and it lives up to its name . It also has a graphical version, GUFW , so you don’t have to configure it from the command line. However, this firewall isn’t enabled by default . So, after installing Ubuntu Linux, you should enable it.
To verify that UFW is disabled , enter the command:
sudo ufw statusAnd, to activate the Ubuntu Linux firewall:
sudo ufw enableTo install GUFW and use the firewall from a window:
sudo apt-get install gufwWith the Ubuntu Linux firewall, you can restrict incoming and outgoing connections , configure rules so that specific applications can access the internet securely and easily, and even find out which ports are being used by apps connecting to the internet.
Install Tweaks and the Extension Manager
Ubuntu Linux is composed of several elements. One of the most important is its desktop environment . Currently, Ubuntu uses GNOME , one of the oldest and most complete desktop environments available. You can change its appearance from the Ubuntu Settings app. Of course. But if you want to further customize your desktop, after installing Ubuntu Linux you should also install GNOME Tweaks . In addition, we’ll also install the GNOME Extensions Manager to add new features to your desktop.
To install GNOME Tweaks , you only need the following command:
sudo apt install gnome-tweaksIf you want to install both applications, Tweaks and the Extension Manager:
sudo apt install gnome-tweaks gnome-shell-extension-manager -yWith Tweaks, you can customize everything related to GNOME’s icons, fonts, sounds, colors, windows, and menus. Within limits, of course. It’s more versatile than Ubuntu’s Settings . But don’t expect too much from it.
Its ideal complement is the GNOME Extensions Manager . With it, you can install new extensions to the Ubuntu Linux desktop, adding new features and elements. For example, you can add a drop-down menu for better access to your applications, use a CPU manager to customize its behavior, keep your latest clipboard items readily available , change the look of Ubuntu Linux with more desktop themes , and much more.
Install Flatpak to get more apps
There are a thousand things you can do after installing Ubuntu Linux, but those we’ve seen so far are the essentials. And if you want to expand the catalog of applications available on your Linux system , in addition to those you’ll find in the Application Center, you can add more applications thanks to compatible package management systems.
To install, update, and uninstall applications, Ubuntu has two main systems. The most visible is Snap. It’s developed and maintained by Canonical , the company behind Ubuntu. You can access its applications from the App Center and by using the `snap` command . For example, `snap install spotify` . And, of course, Ubuntu Linux maintains the APT package system . An acronym for Advanced Package Tool , and inherited from Debian, it’s the package system we’ve seen in the previous commands for installing or updating applications. And it’s one of the most common.
But Ubuntu Linux also works well with other package systems. For example, Flatpak . This package system is also very easy to use and contains some of the most popular applications, such as Spotify, Steam, Telegram , and Firefox . Compatible with more than 38 distributions, including Ubuntu, your Linux system can have several package systems installed simultaneously. So you can install Flatpak without any problems .
According to the official Flatpak website , you only need these commands. The first installs Flatpak. The second installs a plugin to install Flatpak applications from the Software app , which is GNOME’s application manager. The third command adds Flatpak’s official repository to find and keep applications updated.
sudo apt install flatpak
sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-flatpak
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepoBefore you start installing Flatpak applications through the Software app , you should restart Ubuntu Linux to complete the installation. If you check the Software app’s repositories , you’ll see that the Flatpak repositories now appear alongside the official ones.
