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After installing Ubuntu Desktop, first apply available updates, then check whether your hardware needs extra drivers or media support. Next, install only the applications you need, set up and test a backup, review network services, and check how long your Ubuntu release is supported. These steps apply to Ubuntu Desktop; menu labels and available options can vary by release and device.
1. Install available updates
A fresh installation may have package updates ready. Ubuntu provides two straightforward ways to apply them: a graphical updater or the terminal. Choose one; both update installed software rather than upgrading Ubuntu to a new release.
| Method | How to use it | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Software Updater | Open Software Updater and follow its prompts. | Users who prefer a graphical workflow. |
| APT in Terminal | Run sudo apt update, then sudo apt upgrade. |
Users comfortable with commands who want a repeatable, explicit process. |
sudo apt update refreshes the package information APT uses; sudo apt upgrade installs available upgrades. Restart if Ubuntu prompts you to do so. Canonical recommends updating after a fresh install in its Ubuntu Desktop installation guide. A release upgrade is a separate operation that changes the Ubuntu version.
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If Wi-Fi, graphics acceleration, audio, a touchpad, or another device is missing or not working as expected, investigate driver support for that specific hardware and your installed release. The Ubuntu installer can offer third-party software, including NVIDIA graphics drivers, that may improve hardware support. That does not mean every installation needs a proprietary driver: consider what is already working and what the device requires before changing drivers.
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Ubuntu-certified hardware is a useful compatibility signal, not a guarantee that every configuration or peripheral will work identically. If you selected third-party software during installation, avoid installing another driver merely because a checklist says to do so.
3. Add media-format support only when you need it
The installer may offer third-party software that enables additional media-format support. Whether you need it depends on the formats you plan to play and the options chosen during installation. If your media already works, there is no general setup requirement to add more codecs or formats. Ubuntu describes the installer options in its Desktop installation documentation.
4. Install applications from sources you trust
Ubuntu includes a basic set of applications, and you can add others through App Center. Ubuntu supports software distributed as Debian packages (.deb) and snaps; the appropriate source depends on the application. See Ubuntu’s Desktop software installation guide for the supported workflows.
- Install what you need rather than adding a large bundle of utilities on day one.
- When installing third-party software, check that the publisher and download source are the ones you intended.
- Avoid generic “debloat” recipes that remove desktop components without explaining what depends on them or how to restore them.
5. Plan a backup—and test that you can restore it
Choose which files matter, how often they should be copied, where the copies will live, and how you would restore them. Ubuntu’s backup guidance describes removable hard drives as physical backup media that can be moved off-site, as well as copying backups to another location over a network. An external hard drive is one option, not a requirement or a particular product recommendation. Ubuntu’s backup guidance is written for Ubuntu Server, but its planning questions and storage examples are also useful for a desktop backup plan.
| Destination | Useful trade-off to consider |
|---|---|
| Removable drive | Can be disconnected and moved elsewhere; recovery can be quick when the drive is available. Capacity depends on the drive, and keeping it with the computer leaves it exposed to the same loss or damage. |
| Another location over a network | Keeps a copy separate from the computer; recovery depends on network and destination availability, and the destination must have enough capacity. |
Whichever destination you choose, perform a restore test on a sample file or folder. A completed copy alone does not establish that you can recover the data.
6. Review network services and firewall access
Think about what your computer makes available on the network, such as file sharing or remote desktop, and whether you intend other devices to reach it. Ubuntu desktop help notes that GNOME does not include a firewall interface by default; a user who wants a graphical manager may need to install one, such as GUFW. A firewall manager is not a universal prerequisite for every desktop. Ubuntu’s firewall help explains enabling or blocking access; allow only the services and connections you mean to expose.
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7. Check your release’s support window
Ubuntu release type affects how long it receives standard support and security updates. Canonical’s release-upgrade documentation states that LTS releases receive five years of standard support and security updates, while interim releases receive nine months of support. These are support periods, not a recommendation to upgrade immediately. Check the lifecycle for your specific release before planning a move to another version.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRoutine package updates keep the current release’s installed software up to date; a release upgrade changes the operating-system release. Before a release upgrade, Ubuntu advises making backups and checking third-party repositories. Follow the instructions for your installed release in Ubuntu’s release-upgrade guidance.
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