13 Essential Things to Do After Installing Linux (Complete Guide)

A fresh Linux install is just the starting canvas. Here is the exact day-one checklist to turn a bare desktop into a reliable, secure daily driver.

You just finished installing Linux, rebooted into your clean new desktop, and now you are staring at... not much. There is no Microsoft Office, video playback might fail on your favourite MP4 files, your laptop battery might drain faster than expected, and your firewall was likely never turned on by default. That slightly empty feeling is completely normal — modern distributions ship lean intentionally, leaving the final setup to you.

The real problem is that most "things to do after installing Linux" guides offer nothing more than a superficial top-5 app list. They tell you to grab a music player and a browser, leaving you to discover the hard way that Steam games won't launch, your cloud drive is disconnected, and you have zero system restore points when a driver update hiccups six months down the road. Over years of testing distros, setting up machines for family members, and configuring production workstations, I have refined this exact post-install checklist to prevent those headaches before they happen.

This guide is the complete day-one routine: critical updates, multimedia codecs, gaming via Proton, battery management for laptops, cloud drive mounting, package management, backups, and security settings. If you recently migrated from Microsoft's operating system, check out my companion guide on switching from Windows to Linux, which walks through the workflow adjustments this checklist builds upon.

I am Mostafa Amaan, and here on Valley4Techs, I create practical, field-tested technical guides for users who want reliable, high-performance computing. Let's get your Linux install configured properly.

The Day-One Linux Setup Checklist at a Glance

Before diving into individual terminal commands and settings, review the full routine in this quick reference table. You can prioritize steps based on your specific hardware and everyday workflow.

Step 0: Update Everything Before Installing Any Application

This is the foundational step that novice users often overlook. The ISO image you flashed to your USB drive was compiled weeks or months ago. Since that date, critical Linux kernel patches, Mesa graphics driver improvements, and security fixes have been published to official repositories. Installing new software on an unpatched base frequently causes dependency conflicts and exposes your desktop to bugs that were already solved upstream.

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh -y

Once the update process completes, perform a full reboot. This guarantees your system boots into the latest Linux kernel and initializes updated graphics drivers before you proceed with everyday software.

Install Media Codecs and Configure Dedicated GPU Drivers

A classic scenario that frustrates new Linux users: you download your favorite media player, open an MP4 video or an AAC audio file, and receive a black screen or missing codec error. Because many proprietary audio and video codecs cannot be bundled directly onto open-source install media due to patent licensing laws, you must enable them manually.

On Ubuntu and its derivatives, installing the restricted extras metapackage solves playback for MP3, MP4, H.264/H.265, and unrar archives in one command:

sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras -y

On Fedora Workstation, enable the free and non-free RPM Fusion repositories, followed by the multimedia group update:

sudo dnf install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm https://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm -y
sudo dnf groupupdate multimedia --setop="install_weak_deps=False" --exclude=PackageKit-gstreamer-plugin -y
sudo dnf groupupdate sound-and-video -y

Navigating to Additional Drivers on Ubuntu to enable proprietary NVIDIA graphics drivers for optimal hardware acceleration.

Pick a Secondary Chromium-Based Browser for Modern Web Apps

Mozilla Firefox is the default browser on most distributions. It is private, fast, independent, and an exceptional daily driver. However, in day-to-day productivity, certain modern web apps — including Google Meet video calls, Canva, Figma, and Notion — occasionally suffer from hardware acceleration bugs or rendering inconsistencies on Gecko-based engines under Wayland.

Having a Chromium-based secondary browser eliminates web compatibility roadblocks. If you prioritize privacy without Google telemetry, Brave or open-source Chromium are top choices:

# Using Flatpak ensures up-to-date sandbox binaries across all distros
flatpak install flathub org.chromium.Chromium -y
# Or install Brave Browser with built-in ad and tracker blocking
flatpak install flathub com.brave.Browser -y

Important package note for Ubuntu users: Running sudo apt install chromium-browser on Ubuntu installs a transitional package that pulls the Snap version behind the scenes. If you want native sandboxing with granular permissions, grabbing Brave or Chromium via Flathub is generally cleaner. If you frequently browse on public networks, combine your browser choice with our guide on VPN and browser privacy settings.

Office Productivity: OnlyOffice vs. LibreOffice

Almost every Linux desktop includes LibreOffice pre-installed. It is exceptionally capable, open-source, and ideal for standalone documents. However, if your job or academic work requires frequent collaboration on complex Microsoft Office files (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX), subtle layout shifts and broken table borders can occur.

OnlyOffice Desktop Editors uses Microsoft Office OpenXML formats as its native standard. As a result, formatting, fonts, page margins, and complex spreadsheet formulas match Microsoft Office with remarkable precision.

OnlyOffice Desktop Editors provides a native ribbon UI and high visual fidelity for Microsoft Office files.

flatpak install flathub org.onlyoffice.extra.DesktopEditors -y

Seamless Mobile-to-PC Syncing with KDE Connect & GSConnect

KDE Connect is one of the most powerful ecosystem integration tools available on any desktop. It links your smartphone and Linux computer over your local Wi-Fi network with end-to-end TLS encryption, providing Apple AirDrop and Windows Phone Link features without third-party cloud servers.

• Instant File Transfer: Right-click any document or photo and send it instantly to your phone.
• Shared Clipboard: Copy a link or text snippet on Android and paste it directly on Linux (and vice versa).
• Notification Mirroring & SMS: View phone notifications and reply to SMS messages from your desktop panel.
• Remote Input & Presentation Control: Use your phone touchscreen as a wireless mouse trackpad or media remote.

If you are running the KDE Plasma desktop, KDE Connect is pre-installed. For GNOME desktop users (Ubuntu, Fedora Workstation), install the native GSConnect extension, which integrates directly into GNOME Shell without pulling KDE background libraries:

sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension-gsconnect -y

Master Your Package Managers: Flatpak, Flathub, and Flatseal

Linux software distribution differs significantly from Windows. Instead of searching Google and downloading unverified .exe or .msi installers, you manage software through trusted package repositories. You will encounter three primary delivery mechanisms:

1. Native Repositories (APT, DNF, Pacman): Fast, lightweight, and deeply integrated with system libraries, but updated on the distribution's release cycle.
2. Flatpak (Flathub): The universal standard for desktop software. Applications run in isolated sandboxes with their own dependencies, ensuring you always get the latest upstream software version regardless of your distro base.
3. Snap: Canonical's containerized format, pre-configured on Ubuntu and tightly coupled with Canonical backend services.

# 1. Enable Flathub repository
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

# 2. Install Flatseal to control app permissions graphically
flatpak install flathub com.github.tchx84.Flatseal -y

# 3. (Optional) Install Bazaar app store for a dedicated Flatpak storefront
flatpak install flathub io.github.kolunmi.Bazaar -y

Flatseal lets you review and toggle filesystem, microphone, camera, and network permissions for sandboxed apps with a single click.

Optimize Laptop Battery Life & CPU Power Management

If you installed Linux on a laptop, you might notice that out-of-the-box battery life lags behind Windows. This happens because default Linux kernel governor profiles often run CPU cores at higher clock states during idle operations, and power-saving PCIe ASPM (Active State Power Management) states may not be automatically engaged on certain hardware models.

You do not have to accept poor battery runtime. By configuring an automated CPU frequency scaling daemon, you can dramatically reduce power draw and prevent fan noise without sacrificing responsiveness when demanding tasks start:

# Install auto-cpufreq directly via Snap or Git installer
sudo snap install auto-cpufreq

# Or run the live monitoring daemon to view dynamic CPU states
sudo auto-cpufreq --stats

For modern GNOME and KDE laptops that utilize power-profiles-daemon, you can switch between Power Saver, Balanced, and Performance modes directly from your system quick-settings panel. If your machine experiences unexpected battery drain, consult our in-depth diagnostic guide on diagnosing slow PC performance with free tools and our hardware breakdown on the best Linux distributions for laptops.

Turn Your Fresh Linux Install into a Gaming Machine with Proton

Gaming on Linux has undergone a massive transformation. Thanks to Valve's Proton compatibility layer (built on Wine and DXVK), thousands of Windows-only DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 games run natively with near-identical performance on Linux.

To enable gaming compatibility across your entire Steam library on day one:

1. Install Steam from your distribution's repository or via Flatpak (flatpak install flathub com.valvesoftware.Steam).
2. Open Steam, navigate to Steam > Settings > Compatibility.
3. Check "Enable Steam Play for supported titles" and "Enable Steam Play for all other titles".
4. Select Proton Experimental or the latest stable Proton release from the dropdown list.

Enabling Steam Play for all titles unlocks thousands of Windows games on your Linux desktop with one click.

For games outside Steam (Epic Games Store, GOG, Ubisoft Connect), install Heroic Games Launcher or Lutris. Both launchers automate Wine/Proton prefix creation, DirectX runtime dependencies, and cloud save syncing seamlessly:

flatpak install flathub com.heroicgameslauncher.hgl -y
flatpak install flathub net.lutris.Lutris -y

Sync Cloud Drives and Configure Password Management

One of the first pain points when migrating to a clean operating system is accessing stored files on Google Drive, Nextcloud, or Microsoft OneDrive. On modern Linux desktop environments, you don't need clunky third-party web synchronizers to access your cloud files.

GNOME and KDE Plasma feature native Online Accounts integration in the system settings:

• Google Drive Integration: Open Settings > Online Accounts, authenticate your Google account, and your Google Drive will mount directly inside the native Files (Nautilus/Dolphin) file manager like a network drive.
• Nextcloud & OwnCloud: Sync calendars, contacts, tasks, and files straight into native desktop apps.
• Password Security: Install a cross-platform password manager such as Bitwarden or KeePassXC to immediately regain access to your web logins without syncing plain-text browser databases.

flatpak install flathub com.bitwarden.desktop -y
flatpak install flathub org.keepassxc.KeePassXC -y

Customize Your Desktop Workflow Safely with Extension Manager

One of the major attractions of Linux is interface personalization. However, manually downloading random themes or injecting unverified shell scripts is the fastest way to cause desktop crashes during system upgrades.

If you are on Ubuntu or Fedora Workstation (GNOME desktop), the safest and cleanest way to customize your interface is using Extension Manager. It allows you to search, install, and update GNOME extensions without requiring browser plugins:

flatpak install flathub com.mattjakeman.ExtensionManager -y

Essential Day-One GNOME Extensions:

• AppIndicator and KStatusNotifierItem Support: Restores system tray icons for apps like Discord, Telegram, and Steam.
• Dash to Dock / Dash to Panel: Transforms the default overview dash into a customizable, permanent Windows/macOS style taskbar.
• Blur my Shell: Adds sleek modern frosted-glass effects across the top bar and application overviews.

Configure Automated Backups Before You Need Disaster Recovery

Setting up automated backups is the step most users postpone until the exact day they experience catastrophic data loss. A misconfigured system tweak or a corrupted kernel update can render a system unbootable. With snapshots in place, recovery takes under three minutes.

A robust Linux backup strategy uses two distinct tools for two distinct purposes:

• Timeshift (System Snapshots): Functions like Windows System Restore. It captures hourly/daily snapshots of system binaries, libraries, and configurations using RSYNC or Btrfs. If an update breaks your desktop, boot from a live USB or recovery shell and roll back in three clicks.
• Déjà Dup (Personal Documents): Dedicated exclusively to your /home/username directory (documents, pictures, projects). Supports encrypted incremental backups targeting external drives or cloud storage.

Configuring Timeshift with RSYNC or Btrfs snapshots creates reliable safety nets before performing heavy software installations.

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install timeshift deja-dup -y

# Fedora
sudo dnf install timeshift deja-dup -y

Verify and Enable Your Firewall (It Might Be Turned Off)

While Linux architecture is inherently robust, having an active packet-filtering firewall is non-negotiable on modern home and public Wi-Fi networks. Fedora Workstation enables firewalld out of the box. However, Ubuntu and many Ubuntu derivatives ship with UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) installed but disabled by default.

# 1. Enable firewall
sudo ufw enable

# 2. Check verbose status
sudo ufw status verbose

sudo firewall-cmd --state

By default, UFW applies a deny incoming, allow outgoing policy. This automatically shields your machine from unprompted network probes while allowing seamless web surfing, gaming, and media streaming. For advanced rule creation and port management, read our detailed comprehensive firewall and network security guide.

Monitor System Performance & Prevent Startup Bloat

To maintain the signature responsiveness of Linux over time, install a reliable task manager. While GNOME System Monitor provides basic CPU and memory metrics, power users frequently rely on btop (an interactive terminal resource viewer) or Stacer (a graphical system optimizer):

# Install btop resource monitor
sudo apt install btop -y    # Ubuntu/Debian
sudo dnf install btop -y    # Fedora

# Or install Stacer GUI system cleaner
flatpak install flathub com.github.oguzhaninan.Stacer -y

Use Stacer or your desktop's built-in Startup Applications menu to disable auto-launching apps that you only use occasionally. Keeping your startup registry clean prevents boot delays. If your PC begins to feel sluggish months later, our guide on why PCs get slower over time explains how software accumulation impacts performance.

7 Critical Mistakes New Linux Users Make in Their First Week

1. Installing software before updating system packages: Causes dependency mismatch errors that a quick apt update && apt full-upgrade would have prevented.
2. Assuming the firewall is automatically active: On Ubuntu-based systems, UFW remains dormant until you run sudo ufw enable.
3. Mixing multiple package formats for the exact same program: Installing Spotify via APT and again via Flatpak creates duplicate configs and wasted storage. Pick one source per application.
4. Postponing Timeshift setup: Trying to configure a system restore tool after an unbootable update occurs is too late. Create your initial snapshot on day one.
5. Downloading unverified packages from random web portals: Avoid downloading arbitrary .deb or .tar.gz files from unverified blogs. Stick to official repos and Flathub.
6. Overlooking laptop power scaling: Running a laptop without configuring power-profiles-daemon or auto-cpufreq leads to poor battery endurance and fan throttling.
7. Using sudo for everyday file operations: Never run graphical apps or standard text editors with sudo (e.g., sudo gedit), as this alters file ownership inside your home directory and causes permission lockouts.

Where to Take Your Linux Setup Next

With this checklist completed, your machine is secure, fully multimedia-ready, and configured for serious productivity and gaming. If you are still evaluating which distribution to install across your other devices, read our comprehensive roundup of the best Linux distributions for laptops. And if you are transitioning away from Windows due to lifecycle milestones, explore our breakdown of the Windows 10 ESU extension through 2027.

Final Thoughts

Configuring Linux isn't about running complex commands — it is about establishing a clean, structured workflow right after installation. By updating base packages, unlocking multimedia codecs, enabling Steam Play, optimizing laptop power draw, and securing your network with UFW, you turn a minimalist operating system into an empowering workstation that stays fast and stable for years.

Frequently Asked Questions