20 Things to Do After Installing Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Focal Fossa)

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Focal Fossa) is latest long-term support release of Ubuntu, which means that it will be supported for five years with security updates and bug fixes. If you have just installed Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, congratulations! You are now ready to explore world of Ubuntu and take advantage of its many features and tools.

In this article, we will discuss 20 things that you can do after installing Ubuntu 22.04 LTS to make most of your new operating system. These include customizing your desktop, installing new software, configuring your system settings, and more.

Update Your System

The first thing you should do after installing Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is to update your system to ensure that you have latest security patches and bug fixes. To do this, open terminal and type −

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Install GNOME Tweaks

GNOME Tweaks is a powerful tool that allows you to customize look and feel of your desktop environment. With GNOME Tweaks, you can change your desktop theme, icons, fonts, and more. To install GNOME Tweaks, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install gnome-tweaks

Install Your Favorite Browser

Ubuntu comes with Firefox web browser installed by default, but you can install your favorite browser if you prefer. Some popular browsers include Google Chrome, Chromium, and Opera. To install Google Chrome, open terminal and type −

wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

Install Multimedia Codecs

Ubuntu does not come with support for some proprietary multimedia codecs out of box, such as MP3 and DVD playback. To install these codecs, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Install VLC Media Player

VLC media player is a popular multimedia player that supports a wide variety of formats. To install VLC, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install vlc

Install GIMP

GIMP is a powerful open-source image editor that can be used for a wide variety of tasks, such as photo retouching, image composition, and graphic design. To install GIMP, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install gimp

Install LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a free and open-source office suite that includes a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation software. To install LibreOffice, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install libreoffice

Install a Code Editor

If you are a programmer, you may want to install a code editor to help you write code more efficiently. Some popular code editors include Visual Studio Code, Atom, and Sublime Text. To install Visual Studio Code, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install code

Install Steam

If you are a gamer, you may want to install Steam to access a wide variety of games. To install Steam, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install steam

Install Wine

Wine is a compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows applications on Ubuntu. To install Wine, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install wine

Install Synaptic Package Manager

Synaptic Package Manager is a graphical package manager that allows you to browse and install packages from Ubuntu repositories. To install Synaptic, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install synaptic

Install htop

htop is a process monitoring tool that allows you to view and manage your system's processes in real-time. To install htop, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install htop

Configure Your System Settings

Ubuntu offers a variety of system settings that you can configure to customize your system to your liking. You can access system settings by clicking on gear icon in top-right corner of screen and selecting "Settings." Some settings you may want to customize include −

• Display settings − You can adjust your display resolution, scaling, and orientation.

• Sound settings − You can adjust your system's volume, input/output devices, and sound effects.

• Power settings − You can adjust your power settings, such as when your screen turns off and when your computer goes into sleep mode.

• Keyboard shortcuts − You can customize keyboard shortcuts for various system functions.

Customize Your Desktop Environment

Ubuntu offers a variety of desktop environments that you can choose from, such as GNOME, KDE, and Xfce. Each desktop environment offers a different look and feel and may be better suited for certain tasks or preferences. To install a different desktop environment, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop # for KDE
sudo apt install xubuntu-desktop # for Xfce

Install Snap Packages

Snap packages are a new packaging format for Linux applications that make it easier to install and update software. To install Snap packages, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install snapd

You can then search for Snap packages in Ubuntu Software Center or install them from command line using "snap" command.

Install Flatpak Packages

Flatpak packages are another packaging format for Linux applications that make it easier to install and update software. To install Flatpak packages, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install flatpak

You can then search for Flatpak packages in Ubuntu Software Center or install them from command line using "flatpak" command.

Configure Your Firewall

Ubuntu comes with a firewall called "ufw" (Uncomplicated Firewall) installed by default, but it is not enabled by default. To enable firewall, open terminal and type −

sudo ufw enable

You can then configure your firewall rules to allow or block incoming and outgoing connections as needed.

Backup Your System

It is always a good idea to backup your system to protect your data and settings in case of a hardware failure or other issue. Ubuntu comes with a backup tool called "Deja Dup" installed by default. To use Deja Dup, open "Activities" overview and search for "Backup" to launch tool.

Install a Virtual Machine

If you need to run other operating systems or test software in a different environment, you can install a virtual machine such as VirtualBox or VMware. To install VirtualBox, open terminal and type −

sudo apt install virtualbox

Join Ubuntu Community

Ubuntu has a large and active community of users and developers who can help you learn more about Ubuntu, troubleshoot issues, and contribute to development of operating system. You can join Ubuntu community by visiting Ubuntu website, joining Ubuntu forums, or contributing to Ubuntu projects on GitHub.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Focal Fossa) is a powerful and versatile operating system that offers a wide range of features and tools. By following these 20 tips, you can customize your Ubuntu installation to suit your needs and take full advantage of everything Ubuntu has to offer.