Step 13 / 13
Set up the basic applications you need for everyday use.
You are installing the programs you will actually use. Linux does not always include everything by default. This step makes your system practical.
Most Linux systems already include:
Check what is already installed first. You may not need to install anything yet.
Two tools to know first
Before installing anything new, get familiar with the two built-in tools that manage software on your system.
This is your app store. Open it to browse, search, and install programs with one click.
On Linux Mint it is called Software Manager. On Ubuntu it is App Center. Older Ubuntu versions call it Ubuntu Software.
You do not need to download installers from websites the way you might on Windows or macOS.
This keeps your system and installed programs secure and current.
It checks for updates to the operating system and to everything you installed through the Software Manager, all in one place.
When it notifies you that updates are available, review them and apply them. Running updates regularly is the single most important habit for keeping your system safe.
Installing from the Software Manager is safer than downloading from random websites, because the programs come from trusted sources that the system already knows how to update.
Sometimes after a big update, your screen might look worse when you restart. Things can look bigger, blurrier, or the resolution can drop. This can happen on computers with Nvidia graphics cards.
Nvidia cards use a special driver to work properly. Updates can occasionally knock it out, and your computer switches to a backup driver that works but not as well.
It is not common, but it can happen. Two things to know:
| Windows | Linux | URL | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Chrome | https://www.google.com/chrome/ | Same app | Fully supported |
| Edge | Edge | https://www.microsoft.com/edge | Same app | Available on Linux |
| Firefox | Firefox | https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/ | Same app | Often preinstalled |
| Opera | Opera | https://www.opera.com/ | Same app | Available |
| Windows | Linux | URL | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Word | LibreOffice Writer | https://www.libreoffice.org/ | Alternative | Good general replacement |
| Excel | LibreOffice Calc | https://www.libreoffice.org/ | Alternative | Complex files may not match perfectly |
| PowerPoint | LibreOffice Impress | https://www.libreoffice.org/ | Alternative | Suitable for standard use |
| Office 365 | Microsoft 365 (web) | https://www.office.com/ | Browser | Best compatibility with MS formats |
| OneNote | Joplin | https://joplinapp.org/ | Alternative | No full equivalent |
| Notepad | Gedit | https://apps.gnome.org/Gedit/ | Alternative | Simple editor |
| Notepad++ | Notepadqq | https://notepadqq.com/ | Alternative | Partial replacement |
| Windows | Linux | URL | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outlook | Thunderbird | https://www.thunderbird.net/ | Alternative | Reliable email client |
| Gmail app | Gmail (web) | https://mail.google.com/ | Browser | Recommended |
| Windows | Linux | URL | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Reader | Okular | https://okular.kde.org/ | Alternative | Full-featured viewer |
| Adobe Reader | Evince | https://apps.gnome.org/Evince/ | Alternative | Lightweight viewer |
| Acrobat Pro | LibreOffice Draw | https://www.libreoffice.org/ | Alternative | Limited editing |
| Windows | Linux | URL | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paint | Pinta | https://www.pinta-project.com/ | Alternative | Simple drawing |
| Photoshop | GIMP | https://www.gimp.org/ | Alternative | Powerful but different workflow |
| Illustrator | Inkscape | https://inkscape.org/ | Alternative | Vector graphics |
| Lightroom | Darktable | https://www.darktable.org/ | Alternative | Photography workflow |
| Krita | Krita | https://krita.org/ | Same app | Digital painting |
| Windows | Linux | URL | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VLC | VLC | https://www.videolan.org/vlc/ | Same app | Recommended media player |
| Media Player | VLC | https://www.videolan.org/vlc/ | Alternative | Better format support |
| Audacity | Audacity | https://www.audacityteam.org/ | Same app | Audio editing |
| Premiere Pro | Kdenlive | https://kdenlive.org/ | Alternative | Good starting point |
| Premiere Pro | Shotcut | https://shotcut.org/ | Alternative | Beginner-friendly |
| DaVinci Resolve | DaVinci Resolve | https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/ | Same app | Hardware dependent |
| OBS | OBS Studio | https://obsproject.com/ | Same app | Recording/streaming |
| Windows | Linux | URL | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blender | Blender | https://www.blender.org/ | Same app | Full support |
| AutoCAD | FreeCAD | https://www.freecad.org/ | Alternative | Not identical |
| Fusion 360 | - | - | Limited | No proper Linux support |
| SketchUp | SketchUp (web) | https://app.sketchup.com/ | Browser | Works online |
| Cura | Cura | https://ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura/ | Same app | 3D printing |
| PrusaSlicer | PrusaSlicer | https://www.prusa3d.com/page/prusaslicer_424/ | Same app | 3D printing |
Some Windows software does not translate well to Linux:
If you depend heavily on these, plan carefully before switching.
You do not need to rebuild your entire Windows setup immediately.
