Ubuntu Settings That Improve Your Experience: 7 Key Changes!
Every time I install Ubuntu, whether it's a fresh install or an upgrade, I follow a list of tweaks that I immediately apply. These are changes I always make to ensure the system feels comfortable, familiar, and efficient for me. 😌
Before we go any further, I want to clarify: this is not a list of "This You must Make.” While these settings work perfectly for my workflow, your preferences may be different. Maybe you'll find inspiration, or maybe you'll totally hate it—and that's okay! Linux, especially Ubuntu, is all about customization. 🐧
1. Update My System
The first thing I do before anything else is update everything. Why do I prioritize this? Because those updates come with security fixes, bug fixes, and sometimes even shiny new features! ✨
Additionally, sometimes, between the time the installation image is created and the time I actually install it, new updates have been released. So, running the update not only ensures I have the latest features, but also keeps my system secure. 🛡️
Can update your system easily through from the graphical Software Update tool, which often appears automatically. If not, or if you prefer the command line, run this in your terminal:
sudo apt update -y sudo apt upgrade -y
Here, apt update updates the list of available packages, and apt upgrade installs the new versions. The option -and just automatically says "yes" to notifications. 👍
Could I skip this? Sure. But those notification bubbles reminding me to update would just nag me until I did anyway. 🏃♂️💨
2. Customize the Appearance
Ubuntu's default theme is pleasant and professional, but I still prefer to customize my environment to make it more comfortable and familiar. For example, I stare at my screen for over 8 hours a day, so having a visually appealing environment isn't just about aesthetics: it also helps reduce eye strain and makes my workplace more pleasant. 🌈
Here's how I get started: I immediately go to the Appearance settings to change the wallpaper, opt for dark mode, and adjust the accent colors, but that's just the beginning. For deeper customization, I sometimes install themes and icon packs, which requires installing GNOME Tweaks (more on that later). I typically prefer the dark theme because it's easier on my eyes, and the colorful icons offer just the right visual contrast to make navigation intuitive. 👀
3. Install GNOME Tweaks and Extensions
Want to unlock a new level of customization? Try installing GNOME Tweaks and the GNOME Extensions Manager. GNOME Tweaks is a separate application you'll need for the GNOME desktop environment that Ubuntu uses. I use it to change fonts (system-wide or for specific elements), add minimize/maximize buttons back to window title bars, and tweak appearance settings.
You can get it immediately from the Ubuntu Software Store or via the terminal with this command:
sudo apt install gnome-tweaks
Similarly, the GNOME Extensions Manager lets you manage GNOME Shell extensions. These extensions are like little add-ons for your desktop. You can find some that add weather forecasts, system monitors, alternative application menus, advanced window management, and much more. I also often download the Background Changer extension to switch between my favorite images throughout the day.
Get the Extension Manager application with this command:
sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-manager
You can now install, manage, and explore any GNOME extension directly within the application. After installation, navigate to the Installed tab to activate any recently added extensions.
My must-have extensions include Dash to Dock, which transforms your sidebar into a persistent dock for quick app access, and a System Monitor extension to track your system's performance. use of resources. 🚀
While extensions add great functionality, using too many or one that isn't well-maintained can cause instability. So, it's best to stick with a slim, well-considered selection. ⚠️
4. Install multimedia codecs
Have you ever downloaded a video file or tried to play an MP3 and found that Ubuntu simply can't play it? That's usually because it's missing the necessary codecs: small bits of software that decode various audio and video formats.
The Ubuntu installer asks you if you want to install codecs during setup, and you can check a box to install them immediately. However, most of the time the installer doesn't include many video codecs by default due to licensing restrictions. Therefore, we often install them afterward by adding the ubuntu-restricted-extras package via the Multiverse repository.
To do this, simply open a terminal and run:
sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras
This package bundles many common codecs (such as MP3, MP4, AVI) and useful extras like Microsoft fonts. It just makes life easier when dealing with multimedia files. 🎶
An easier way is to simply download and install the VLC media player on your Ubuntu system. VLC has most of the multimedia codecs you need to play videos smoothly. 🎥
5. Disable Characters in GNOME Search
Okay, this is a rather personal—maybe even a little specific—issue, but it bugs me! When I search in GNOME, emoji and special characters appear by default. Why do I need emojis filling up my search results when I'm just trying to find Firefox? So I go to Settings > Search and disable Characters. 🤦♂️
Now I can search for settings or anything else without getting irrelevant characters in the search results. 🔍
Beyond disabling characters in search, I also tweak the file search locations. By default, Ubuntu searches everywhere, which can slow things down and show results from folders I rarely use. I go to Settings > Search > Locations and uncheck directories like Pictures and Music, since I rarely search for media files by name.
6. Configure the Firewall
Ubuntu comes with a firewall tool called UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall), but it is generally not enabled by default on desktop installations.
For most people, leaving the firewall disabled is fine. However, if you're like me and occasionally run specific services like SSH or a web server, you'll need to open ports, which can expose you to malicious actors. In that case, you should enable and manage the firewall. 🔐
Activating it is super simple. Just open a terminal and run:
sudo ufw enable
That's usually all there is to it—set sensible defaults. You can check their status at any time with:
sudo ufw status
7. Install Backup Software
Backing up your stuff isn't exactly a configuration tweak, but installing and configuring backup software is absolutely on my list of essential post-installation tasks. As with any other operating system, it's crucial to protect against hardware failure, user error, cyber threats, and system-specific issues. 🔄
Ubuntu comes with a built-in backup tool called Backups. It's simple, integrates well, and can back up your important files from your home folder to an external drive or cloud storage (like Google Drive). ☁️
However, after testing numerous backup solutions, I prefer Timeshift for system backups. It offers a clean interface while using rsync under the hood when operating in RSYNC mode. To install Timeshift, run:
sudo apt install timeshift
Timeshift is different from tools that only back up your personal files. It primarily backs up your system settings and important system files. This is especially useful if you want to experiment with your system or install updates that might cause problems. 💾
Conclusion
These seven settings are small investments of time that pay off in big ways: keeping your system up-to-date and secure 🔒, tweaking the look and feel of your desktop to reduce fatigue and increase efficiency ⚙️, adding only the extensions you need, enabling multimedia codecs when you need them 🎧, and ensuring reliable backups so you can experiment without fear 🛡️.
Ubuntu shines precisely for its ability to be customizable: try out the options, keep what works for you, and discard what doesn't. ✨ If you want to continue exploring what else Ubuntu has to offer or look for additional ideas on uses and adaptations, there are good readings and communities that explain it in detail—and it's a good idea to document and present this information with good HTML and semantic tags to improve visibility in search engines.
And if you're interested in integrating Android apps or experimenting with Linux systems on mobile devices, there are also resources on those lines of work, as well as mobile Linux projects like Ubuntu Touch or postmarketOS 📱.
In short: configure to protect yourself, customize to work better, and back up your data to sleep soundly 😴.
