Best Things To Do After Installing Ubuntu

The fresh Ubuntu desktop is open, and Software Updater can make it seem like every setup choice needs attention right away. I was surprised that the calmer first move is to notice how much already works without a tweak.

The goal is to make the next decision based on your needs, not a setup checklist. First, take stock of what Ubuntu is already ready to do.

Ubuntu is usable before you customize it

A fresh Ubuntu Desktop installation already has a usable set of applications and system defaults. Start with pending updates and a backup, then change drivers, apps, and privacy settings only when your hardware or work calls for them.

Ubuntu releases and desktop flavors do not share every tool or menu label, so check the release notes for your installed version before following version-specific instructions. The table separates routine care from optional changes.

Task	When to do it	Why
Install pending updates	After a fresh installation	Apply available security fixes and package updates
Back up personal files	Before storing your only copy of important data	Keep a recoverable copy away from the system disk
Change drivers or add software	When a device or task needs it	Avoid adding packages and settings without a purpose

What to have ready before changing the system

Updates and application installs need an internet connection, and Ubuntu asks for your account password before system-level changes. Save important files somewhere else before you start changing packages or desktop settings.

Use the Ubuntu Desktop instructions for a desktop installation. Ubuntu Server has different defaults and its firewall guide covers a different job.

Before using a command or menu path written for a particular release, check the version installed on your machine. The Description and Release lines identify which Ubuntu documentation to follow.

lsb_release -a

Complete the first checks in this order

Complete the routine checks before adding optional packages. This order catches pending updates and device issues, then protects your files before you install more software.

Order	Task	Check before moving on
1	Install pending updates	Restart if prompted
2	Check device support	Change a driver only for a missing feature or device problem
3	Back up personal files	Restore a test file
4	Install needed apps	Confirm the publisher and package source

1. Install pending system updates

Open Activities, search for Software Updater, install available updates, and restart if Ubuntu prompts you so kernel and system-library changes take effect.

Ubuntu Desktop’s installation guide points to Software Updater after setup. App Center handles application installs separately, so updating the system does not update every app.

2. Check drivers only when a device needs attention

Test Wi-Fi, sound, display output, Bluetooth, and the graphics feature you rely on, then leave working drivers alone.

If an NVIDIA feature is missing, follow Ubuntu’s NVIDIA driver instructions for your release and check whether Additional Drivers is installed on the desktop. If the app is absent, the guide says to install software-properties-gtk and recommends the newest proprietary, tested driver for desktop and gaming use.

Restart after installing a driver and test the device, rather than copying a command for one model to another.

3. Back up files before installing apps

Copy documents, photos, and project files to a separate drive or an off-site backup destination. Ubuntu’s desktop backup guide points to Déjà Dup or another backup application and recommends keeping copies on a different device from the original.

Restore a small test file to another folder, then open the copy and confirm the original remains untouched.

4. Install the applications your work needs

Search App Center for the browser or development tools your work needs, then check who publishes them before installing. Ubuntu’s application install guide describes this flow.

Ubuntu Desktop lists Snap and Debian packages in App Center, and some apps appear in both formats. Compare the publisher, update path, and permissions before you choose, using Ubuntu’s package comparison for their update and access differences.

Snaps update automatically by default, while Debian security updates are automatic and other package updates go through Software Updater. Ubuntu recommends Snap when a third-party app appears in both formats because it usually offers a newer version and stronger security.

A Debian installer from a third-party site can add a software repository and have broad access to system resources. Use one only when you trust its publisher and need that package.

Review privacy and power settings for your device

Ubuntu’s Settings app already covers the common changes people make after installation. Open Privacy & Security and Power, then adjust only the controls that match how you use the computer, following the privacy settings and power and battery documentation.

Set a screen-lock timeout if other people can reach the device.
Review location services and recent-file history, and clear temporary files if you want those records limited.
On a laptop, check screen blanking and power behavior before installing a separate battery-management tool.

Use the built-in Settings controls for appearance first. If those controls do not cover a change you need, the optional GNOME Tweaks guide on LinuxForDevices explains what the extra tool changes.

Add extras only when Ubuntu’s defaults do not solve the task

Codecs, another package format, a firewall, or an extra desktop tool can solve a specific problem, but none is a required first step for every Ubuntu desktop. Match the addition to the task and check the instructions for your installed release.

Extra	Add it when	Check first
Media codecs	A file you need will not play	Use Ubuntu-supported sources and install only the format support your app needs
Flatpak	An application you need is distributed through Flathub and not available from your chosen source	It adds another app source to manage. Ubuntu’s App Center already supports Snaps and Debian packages
Third-party repository	The software publisher’s maintained instructions require it	Trust the publisher and confirm the repository supports your Ubuntu release
UFW firewall	You run a service that accepts incoming network connections	Read the Ubuntu firewall instructions and allow the access you need before enabling rules
GNOME Tweaks	A desktop setting you want is missing from Settings	It is an optional customization tool, not a prerequisite

Ubuntu’s App Center already manages Snap and Debian app installs, so a separate “Snap Store” or Synaptic is not a standard setup requirement. Ubuntu’s UFW firewall documentation focuses on servers, so do not copy a server command onto a desktop without checking which incoming connections you need.

A backup is only useful after a restore test

A backup plan is not complete until you can restore a file from it.

Restore one small file to a different folder and confirm that the copy opens while the original remains untouched.
Keep regular backup copies on storage separate from the Ubuntu system disk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do first after installing Ubuntu?

Install pending updates with Software Updater, restart if prompted, and check that the hardware you need works. Set up a separate backup before storing the only copy of important files.

Do I need to install Ubuntu codecs right away?

No. Add codec support when a media file or application you use needs it, and use a package source you trust for your Ubuntu release.

Should I install GNOME Tweaks on every Ubuntu system?

No. Ubuntu Settings covers common appearance and device choices. Add GNOME Tweaks only when you need a GNOME setting that the built-in Settings app does not provide.