Things to Do After Installing Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
sudo ubuntu-drivers install
sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras
sudo ufw enable
sudo reboot

1. Install updates and enable all repositories

The ISO is a snapshot; weeks of security fixes are waiting. Update first, reboot, then everything else installs on top of current packages.

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
sudo snap refresh
sudo reboot

Open Software & Updates and make sure main, universe, restricted and multiverse are enabled. From the terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository universe
sudo add-apt-repository multiverse
grep Components /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu.sources

Since 23.04 Ubuntu keeps its sources in the deb822 file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu.sources, not /etc/apt/sources.list. Old guides that tell you to edit sources.list are out of date. If apt cannot find a package, see E: Unable to locate package.

2. Install drivers

Open Software & Updates → Additional Drivers, or use the command line:

ubuntu-drivers devices
sudo ubuntu-drivers install
sudo reboot

For NVIDIA, Turing (RTX 20 / GTX 16) and newer GPUs get the open kernel modules by default; Pascal and older need the legacy proprietary branch. With Secure Boot on, you will be asked to set a password and enroll a MOK key at the next boot. The full walkthrough, including choosing a driver branch, is in install NVIDIA drivers on Ubuntu; if you end up at a black screen, use NVIDIA black screen fix.

Also install firmware updates for your laptop or motherboard where vendors support it:

fwupdmgr refresh
fwupdmgr get-updates
fwupdmgr update

3. Codecs, fonts and media

sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras

This pulls in MP3/H.264 codecs, Microsoft core fonts (you accept a licence screen with Tab and Enter) and unrar. If you ticked Install third-party software in the installer, most of it is already there. For video playback, VLC covers almost every format (sudo apt install vlc, see VLC on Linux).

4. Set up app stores: Snap, Flatpak and apt

Ubuntu's App Center installs Snaps by default, and Firefox is a Snap. That is fine for most people. If you want Flathub's catalogue as well:

sudo apt install flatpak gnome-software-plugin-flatpak
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
# log out and back in so Flatpak apps appear in the menu

gnome-software (with the Flatpak plugin) then shows Flathub apps alongside apt packages; the App Center continues to handle Snaps. If you prefer Firefox as a .deb from Mozilla's APT repository, follow Firefox on Linux.

Where to get common apps on 26.04:

5. Security: firewall, automatic updates and Ubuntu Pro

Turn on the firewall

sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw status verbose
# only if you run an SSH server
sudo ufw allow OpenSSH

UFW is installed but disabled by default. Enabling it blocks unsolicited incoming connections while leaving outgoing traffic alone, which is the right default for a desktop.

Attach Ubuntu Pro (free for personal use)

Ubuntu Pro adds security updates for the universe repository (thousands of packages the standard LTS support does not cover), kernel Livepatch, and the option of extended maintenance. It is free on up to five personal machines.

pro status
# get a token at ubuntu.com/pro, then:
sudo pro attach YOUR_TOKEN

You can also do this in Software & Updates → Ubuntu Pro.

Check automatic security updates

Ubuntu installs security updates automatically through unattended-upgrades. Confirm it is on, and choose how often Software Updater checks under Software & Updates → Updates:

cat /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/20auto-upgrades
# both lines should end in "1"; if not:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -plow unattended-upgrades
# see what it installed recently
less /var/log/unattended-upgrades/unattended-upgrades.log

6. Set up backups before you need them

• Your files: Déjà Dup (Backups) is preinstalled or available with sudo apt install deja-dup; point it at an external disk or network share. Or use the rsync home backup script.
• System snapshots: Timeshift (sudo apt install timeshift) takes snapshots of the system so a bad update can be undone. Exclude your home folder from it; that is what Déjà Dup is for.

7. Make GNOME 50 your own

Ubuntu 26.04 ships GNOME 50 with Ubuntu's dock and app-indicator extensions. A few common changes:

# show battery percentage
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface show-battery-percentage true
# minimise and maximise buttons (Ubuntu already enables these; vanilla GNOME does not)
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences button-layout 'appmenu:minimize,maximize,close'
# dark style
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface color-scheme 'prefer-dark'
# GNOME Tweaks and the Extension Manager
sudo apt install gnome-tweaks gnome-shell-extension-manager

Dock position, size and auto-hide are in Settings → Ubuntu Desktop. For extensions, fractional scaling and more, see GNOME customization.

Changes in 26.04 that trip people up

8. Optional: performance and laptop tweaks

• Power profiles: pick Power Saver, Balanced or Performance from the top-right menu. Don't install TLP alongside power-profiles-daemon; they conflict.
• Startup time: check with systemd-analyze blame; Ubuntu slow boot covers the common culprits.
• Swap: Ubuntu creates a swap file automatically; check with swapon --show.
• Remove what you don't use: sudo apt autoremove after uninstalling apps; snap list to see installed Snaps.

Something not working? Start at the Ubuntu troubleshooting hub. Specific hardware problems are covered in Ubuntu Wi-Fi fixes and Ubuntu Bluetooth fixes.

Frequently asked questions