To configure Elementary OS after install

06.10.2025 Rork

The platform is Elementary OS based on Ubuntu and uses the default graphical shell of the Pantheon. The latest version 5.0 was released almost immediately after the last updates of Ubuntu and provides a number of advanced features. Today, however, we are not talking about the advantages and disadvantages of this operating system, and the procedure of its initial configuration after installation. This process should be given special attention, since a proper configuration and allows you to fully enjoy the comfortable work at the computer.

Custom Elementary OS after install

The minimum that needs to be done immediately after the first launch of Elementary OS to install the necessary software Suite. Next, you configure the already all present components for optimal engagement. The more detailed will be the primary setting, the less additional steps have to be performed during full operation with this platform. We split the current task into several steps to simplify the understanding of the operation for novice users.

Update system components

Usually computer clean installed the release version, which does not include all future updates. So the first thing you want to add all the innovations released during the lifetime of the Assembly.These actions are performed through the management console and is as follows:

Open a standard console in any convenient way, for example, via the application menu or pressing key combination Ctrl + Alt + T. Here, enter the first command sudo apt-get update.

Confirm by entering the password from an administrator account. In Elementary OS, unlike other distributions, enter the password characters appear as asterisks.

For performing updates you need an active Internet connection, the benefit of it is configured automatically. Wait for it to complete adding new libraries.

Apply all installed components via sudo apt-get upgrade.

When prompted about downloading and confirm it by selecting option D.

If you are a supporter of the GUI, the same action can be done via the applications menu. Using search start “AppCenter”.

Click on “operating system Upgrade” and wait until installation innovations.

It is important not to skip this step, because only if all the new components in the system number of errors when performing other operations is significantly reduced, because most of them are associated with the absence of important libraries.

Install GDEBI

Ubuntu users are already faced with the fact that installing DEB packages not available only through the Terminal, but via the file Manager. It is enough just to double click on a directory, it immediately starts using the standard application will begin the installation process. The default in the current OS installation files to the DEB format is only possible through the console, but installing a simple program GDEBI will do it through the GUI.

Insert “Terminal” string sudo apt install gdebi and press Enter.

Activate root access.

Confirm the query about adding a new file when it appears.

Now in the case of DEB packages, they can just run, and then a new window opens and you are prompted to start the installation operation of the software.

The inclusion of the PPA repositories and install Tweaks

We decided to combine the activation procedure support custom repositories and install Tweaks — tool to customize the appearance, because these two processes are interrelated. If you have no desire to engage in appearance settings, simply activate the repository, and the part with the addition of configuration utilities miss.

PPA activation occurs via the command sudo apt-get install software-properties-common.

Further from the user repository the components are loaded Elementary Tweaks by typing sudo add-apt-repository ppa:philip.scott/elementary-tweaks.

Confirm adding the repository by clicking on Enter.

Update system libraries already familiar expression update sudo apt.

Finish the installation tool sudo apt install elementary-tweaks.

Now you can open the menu and go to “system Settings”.

There will be a new menu “Tweaks”.

It has a lot of customization options design fonts, animations, files, and some Windows.

Specific recommendations on the configuration, we will not give, as each parameter is edited individually. I would like only to note that the management of this tool is intuitive and will deal with it even novice user.

Setting browsers

Now many developers of web browsers create a version of their products for operating systems based on Linux, especially when browsers made in the open Chromium, as it greatly simplifies the process of adaptation. In a separate article in the following link you can see a list of the best browsers for this platform, and now we will touch the topic of the installation of the most popular web browser for Linux — Mozilla Firefox.

In the console, write the command sudo apt install firefox.

Enter the password to enable root permissions.

Confirm addition of new system components. When the installation is complete your browser will automatically be the primary and will be accessed via applications menu.

If you wish to install Chromium, you can do this by typing sudo apt install chromium-browser. Instructions on how to install other popular browsers search for in separate articles on.

See Also: Installing Yandex.Browser / Google Chrome on Linux

Adding codecs and media player

Users of Elementary OS is quite often facing the need to start video or audio on the computer. Unfortunately, the standard system does not include neither the player nor the necessary codecs, which need to be installed manually. To get started, add the codecs:

Write in the Terminal line of sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras libavcodec-extra ffmpeg and press Enter.

A window will appear install the package. Confirm the license agreement and follow simple instructions.

You only have to install the player. For example using the popular VLC. It is installed from the official repositories sudo apt install vlc.

Now all media files will be run through the default player and they should all be compatible, because we previously added the necessary codecs. As for video playback and opening different apps in the browser, here are the codecs and the player will be useless. Need to add Flash Player, and how to do it, read our other material on the following the link.

Disable guest session

By default, Elementary OS present a guest session, which allows you to log in without a password. Of course, access in this case is quite limited, but some actions, guest will be able to accomplish. In order to avoid such unauthorized authorizations it is recommended to disable the guest session, and this is done with a single command sudo sh-c “echo ‘allow-guest=false’ >> /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d/40-pantheon-greeter.conf”.

Then, when you login will display only the active account and will always need to enter a password to make a successful authorization.

Although distributions on the Linux kernel and considered to be the safest, some users are interested in providing additional security. It provides antivirus software. If you wish to install the software, read our next article.

Power management for laptops

Some users are considering installing the platform on laptops. In standard, there is no means to power management, i.e. to adjust the brightness or set the power saving mode will not work. However, add a tool for configuration of these parameters, called TLP, you can own.

Priority the system will add the custom repository using the command sudo add-apt-repository ppa:linrunner/tlp.

Confirm the addition by clicking on Enter.

Update system libraries: sudo apt update.

Install the tool using sudo apt install tlp tlp-rdw.

To open the additional settings window of the package. Follow the instructions.

Start with the command sudo tlp start. Now in the menu “system Settings” there was a separate section for battery configurations of the laptop.

Installing drivers for NVIDIA graphics cards

Usually any graphics driver after the OS is installed is detected automatically, but need additional installation IN the most often faced by owners of NVIDIA graphics cards. This problem arises due to differences in versions of official and custom repositories. Detailed guidance on this topic look for next.

Read more: Install drivers for NVIDIA on Linux

Install Java JRE / JDK

Java components in Elementary OS required to run many applications and web sites. By default, this element of the system is also missing, so you can add it manually. There are four available methods of installation, each of which will be most useful in certain situations. I advise you to read each of them and choose the most suitable.

See also: Installing Java JRE / JDK in Linux

Extra software

Programs and utilities are installed in Elementary OS are exactly the same as in Ubuntu, but the main format of DEB packages is considered. However, this does not negate the fact that even this type of packages can be installed by different methods, for example by downloading from the official repository or a custom repository. A detailed guide to the installation of the programs you’ll find in our other article on the link below, we would like to show a few commands to quickly add popular applications:

Video player MPV:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mc3man/mpv-tests
sudo apt update
sudo apt install mpv

Graphics editor Gimp:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
sudo apt update
sudo apt install gimp

The Telegram Messenger:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:atareao/telegram
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install telegram

Office Suite LibreOffice:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/libreoffice-prereleases
sudo apt update
sudo apt install libreoffice

Setting permissions

Upon completion of all procedures only need to create additional accounts if you have a computer with multiple users and set access rights for each of them. Thanks to the display of such rights, you will ensure the distribution of privileges and create a boundary between the system and user directories. So each user will only have access to the allotted file.

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