Switching to Linux is an exciting journey — it brings you freedom, customization, privacy, and often better performance than Windows or macOS. But once you’ve taken the big step and installed your chosen Linux distribution, you might be wondering: what now?
In this guide, we’ll walk through the key things you should do immediately after installing Linux on your PC. Whether you picked Fedora, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Bazzite, or any other distro — these essential steps will help ensure maximum compatibility, smoother gaming, hassle-free peripheral use, and a personalized Linux desktop experience.
Let’s dive into this journey together and set up your system right.
1. First Step: Update Your System Immediately
So you’ve just installed Linux. Before doing anything else, your top priority should be making sure your system is fully up to date.
Even if the installer gave you the latest ISO image, Linux is constantly being updated — especially for security patches, bug fixes, and hardware support. Here’s how to do it:
For Most Distros (GUI)
- Open the Software Updater or Update Manager from your app menu.
- Follow the prompts to install updates.
- Reboot your system if required.
For Terminal Users
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y # Debian/Ubuntu-based
sudo dnf update -y # Fedora-based
sudo pacman -Syu # Arch-based
If prompted to enable third-party repositories (such as for proprietary NVIDIA drivers or media codecs), say yes — it’s a good idea to avoid compatibility issues later.
2. Install Essential Software Tools
Now that your system is updated, let’s move on to installing the applications you’ll need daily. On Linux, most software can be installed through the built-in Software Center or via Flatpak, Snap, or native package managers.
Key Software You’ll Probably Want:
Before we go into each one, here’s a quick rundown:
- Web browser (Firefox, Chrome, or Microsoft Edge)
- Office suite (LibreOffice or OnlyOffice)
- Gaming platforms (Steam, Heroic, Bottles)
- Communication apps (Discord, Telegram, Zoom)
- Peripheral tools (for mouse, RGB, printers, etc.)
- Audio customization (EasyEffects)
Let’s go through these one by one.
a. Web Browsers
Even though most distros come with Firefox pre-installed, you might want to try others like:
- Microsoft Edge (surprisingly available on Linux): Install via Flatpak or download from Microsoft’s official Linux Edge page.
- Google Chrome: Download the
.debor.rpmfrom chrome.google.com.
You can uninstall these browsers easily — unlike Windows, Linux doesn’t force them on you.
b. Office Suites
- LibreOffice (default in many distros): Highly capable, compatible with Microsoft formats, and customizable UI.
- OnlyOffice: Better MS compatibility, but can have occasional sync bugs with network drives.
- Microsoft Office Online: Works great in any browser if you just need basic editing.
- Microsoft Office via Wine or Bottles: Possible, but only if you absolutely need the desktop version. Setup can be tricky.
3. Enable Auto-Mount for Drives
If your PC has multiple drives, Linux might ask for your password each time you try to access them. This is due to security settings. But don’t worry — you can auto-mount them at boot:
How to Auto-Mount Drives:
- Open the Disks utility (or “GNOME Disks”).
- Select the drive you want to mount automatically.
- Click the gear icon → Edit Mount Options.
- Turn off “User Session Defaults”.
- Set the mount point (e.g.,
/mnt/DataDrive). - Enable “Mount at system startup”.
This removes the annoying password prompt and ensures the drive is always ready to use.
4. Customize Your File Manager
Linux gives you the power to tweak the smallest things, like how your file browser behaves.
File Manager Settings to Consider:
- Sort folders before files
- Enable network thumbnails for remote/NAS drives
- Set default search behavior (contents vs. file names)
These can be adjusted in your file manager’s settings/preferences menu.
5. Gaming Setup: Steam and Beyond
So far, so good! Now let’s set up gaming — Linux gaming has come a long way thanks to Proton, Steam Deck, and a community of developers.
Installing Steam:
- On Fedora: Enable third-party repos → install via Software Center
- On Ubuntu/Linux Mint: Install via terminal or Software Center
sudo apt install steam
- Or install via Flatpak:
flatpak install flathub com.valvesoftware.Steam
Steam now includes Proton support by default, so most Windows games run smoothly on Linux. If you have a strong GPU, disable shader pre-caching for faster load times.
Installing Other Game Launchers
Linux supports Epic, GOG, Amazon Games, and more:
- Heroic Games Launcher: Best for Epic and GOG. heroicgameslauncher.com
- Lutris: One-click install of various game launchers and games.
- Bottles: Containerized environments for Windows apps/games. Great for customizing Wine/Proton setups.
You can even install older versions of Microsoft Office or niche games via Bottles if needed.
6. Peripheral Configuration (Mouse, RGB, Keyboards)
This is where Linux has limitations — but also impressive community solutions.
Tools to Know:
- Piper (Logitech mice): GUI config tool that saves settings to onboard memory.
- Solaar: For Logitech USB receivers and wireless peripherals.
- OpenRazer: Advanced configuration for Razer devices.
- OpenRGB: Universal RGB lighting controller. Ideal for cases, RAM, keyboards, and mice.
⚠️ Piper via Flatpak might not work correctly — use the native version if available in your distro.
7. Audio Enhancement with EasyEffects
If you’ve been missing advanced audio control like on Windows, rejoice — Linux has you covered.
Use EasyEffects (or PulseEffects)
- Add an equalizer for custom sound tuning
- Boost bass, mids, or treble
- Apply noise reduction to your mic
- Add compression and limiter for streaming/recording
EasyEffects works best with PipeWire audio systems, which are default in most modern distros like Fedora and Ubuntu 22.04+.
8. Setting Up Printers and Bluetooth Devices
This might surprise you — setting up printers and Bluetooth is often easier on Linux than Windows.
Printers:
- Open Printers from system settings
- Add new printer
- Most common printer drivers (HP, Epson, Canon) are detected automatically
Bluetooth:
- Open Bluetooth Settings
- Pair your device — that’s it
- Linux handles audio codecs and profiles better than before
Unless you have a very obscure printer or Bluetooth device, things usually work plug-and-play.
9. Explore Customization and Extensions
Now comes the fun part — making Linux your own. You can leave your desktop as-is or go wild with custom themes, layouts, and effects.
Things to Explore:
- GNOME Extensions (for GNOME users): extensions.gnome.org
- KDE Plasma Tweaks: Widgets, panels, blur effects, and global themes
- Custom cursors, icons, window borders
- Terminal customization (ZSH + Powerlevel10k)
There’s a huge community sharing setups on Reddit and GitHub — be inspired!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I run Microsoft Office natively on Linux?
A: Not natively. You can use Office Online in the browser or older versions via Bottles or Wine.
Q: Will all my games work on Linux?
A: Most will — especially those on Steam. Some with kernel-level anti-cheat may not work yet.
Q: Is Linux good for content creation?
A: Absolutely. With tools like Kdenlive, GIMP, Blender, and DaVinci Resolve (with extra setup), Linux is a great creative platform.
Q: What if I break something?
A: Linux is modular. You can usually fix problems without reinstalling. Keep Timeshift (system restore) or backup tools handy.
Final Thoughts: Welcome to the Linux World
Linux is not just a replacement for Windows — it’s a whole different philosophy. Once you set it up properly and learn your way around, it offers more power, customization, and peace of mind than mainstream operating systems.
You get a system that:
- Doesn’t force updates
- Doesn’t track you
- Doesn’t restrict your freedom
- Runs fast and light
- Looks and feels the way you want it to
So explore, break things, fix them, and enjoy the process. That’s the true Linux experience.
Tags: Linux setup, post-install checklist, Linux customization, gaming on Linux, Linux peripherals, Flatpak, open source tools
Hashtags: #LinuxSetup #OpenSource #LinuxGaming #LinuxCustomization #Flatpak #Ubuntu #Fedora #LinuxMint #LinuxTips
Disclaimer: While Linux offers powerful customization and control, not all hardware or software will behave identically across distributions. Make sure to back up important data and read official documentation when installing critical tools or changing system configurations.
