What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
After installing Ubuntu Desktop, start with ordinary software updates, then check drivers and media support only if your hardware or playback needs call for them. Next, install only the apps you need, establish a backup you can restore, review network services, and check how long your Ubuntu release is supported. Routine package updates do not change your Ubuntu release.
1. Install available system updates
A fresh installation may have package updates ready. You can use Ubuntu’s graphical updater or run the documented APT commands in a terminal. Canonical’s Ubuntu Desktop installation guide recommends updating after installation.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Method | What to do | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Software Updater | Open Software Updater and follow its prompts to check for and install updates. | If you prefer a graphical workflow and prompts. |
| APT in Terminal | Run sudo apt update, then sudo apt upgrade. |
If you are comfortable with the terminal and want a repeatable command sequence. |
sudo apt update refreshes the local package information; sudo apt upgrade applies available package upgrades. Restart if Ubuntu asks you to. These commands update packages within the installed release; they do not upgrade Ubuntu to a new release. For package-management details, see Canonical’s software management tutorial.
2. Check hardware support before installing drivers
If Wi-Fi, graphics, audio, touchpad, or another device is not working properly, inspect Ubuntu’s available driver options and the device maker’s support information. During installation, Ubuntu may offer third-party software that can improve hardware support, including NVIDIA graphics drivers. Whether to use an additional driver depends on the hardware, the driver already in use, and what you need the computer to do; installing a proprietary driver is not a universal setup requirement.
#1 Best Overall
Ubuntu’s certified-hardware listings can help indicate compatibility, but certification is not a guarantee for every configuration. If your hardware works as expected, there may be no reason to change its driver.
3. Add media support only if you need it
The installer offers an option for third-party software that can add support for additional media formats. This is useful when your playback needs require formats that are not supported by the software already installed. It is an optional convenience, not a required security or performance step. If you skipped the option and later find a format will not play, check Ubuntu’s software tools for suitable support rather than installing an unverified bundle.
4. Install applications from sources you trust
Ubuntu Desktop comes with a basic set of applications, and you can add others through App Center. Ubuntu supports both Debian packages (debs) and snaps; its desktop software guide explains installing, updating, and removing software.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11- Choose an app because you need it, rather than following a large “debloat” list that removes system components without explaining the consequences.
- When installing software from a third party, verify the publisher and that the download or repository is the source you intended.
- Keep installed applications updated using their normal Ubuntu software-management path.
5. Make a backup plan you can test
Decide 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 and also covers copying backups to another location over a network.
| Destination | Useful when | Trade-off to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Removable drive | You want a physical copy that can be disconnected and moved off-site. | It can be lost, damaged, or unavailable when needed; protect and store it accordingly. |
| Another location over a network | You want copies stored away from the computer that holds the original files. | Restoring depends on access to the network destination and the backup process you chose. |
An external hard drive is one optional way to make a removable backup; no particular make or model is required. After setting up a backup, try restoring a small selection of files to confirm the process works. A completed copy alone does not prove that recovery will succeed.
6. Review enabled network services and firewall access
Consider what can be reached over your network, especially if you enable services such as file sharing or remote desktop. Allow only the access you intend. Ubuntu’s desktop help notes that GNOME does not include a firewall interface by default and that you may need to install a firewall manager such as GUFW to manage access graphically. See Ubuntu’s firewall instructions for enabling or blocking access.
Rank #4
A firewall manager is not automatically a required step for every desktop. The practical question is whether services are enabled and which incoming access you want to permit.
7. Check the support window for your release
Ubuntu’s release-upgrade documentation states that LTS releases receive five years of standard support and security updates, while interim releases are supported for nine months. These durations describe support, not how fast a system runs. Check the lifecycle for your specific release before deciding when to move to another one.
Best Value
A release upgrade changes the Ubuntu version and is separate from installing ordinary package updates. Before a release upgrade, Ubuntu advises backing up your data and checking third-party repositories; follow the instructions for your installed release in Canonical’s release-upgrade guide.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
