Table of Contents
Logging in for the First Time
After installation and reboot, you’ll usually see a login screen (graphical display manager) or a text login prompt, depending on your setup.
- Graphical login:
- Select your user if needed.
- Type your password created during installation.
- Press Enter to login to the desktop.
- Text login (TTY):
- At the
login:prompt, type your username and press Enter. - When asked for
Password:, type it and press Enter. (You will not see characters as you type.)
If login fails, double‑check:
- Keyboard layout (especially for special characters).
- Caps Lock status.
Completing Any Initial Wizard
Many desktop‑oriented distributions show a first‑run “welcome” or “setup” wizard.
Typical steps:
- Language confirmation: Confirm or adjust the display language.
- Time zone: Verify your region and city.
- Online accounts: You may be asked to connect Google, Microsoft, or similar accounts.
- You can skip this initially and add them later.
- Privacy options:
- Error reporting / crash reports.
- Location services.
Choose what you’re comfortable with; you can generally change this later.
If you don’t see a wizard, these settings are usually available in “Settings” or “System Settings” inside the desktop.
Setting Up System Locale, Time, and Keyboard
Basic regional settings affect how dates, numbers, and text input behave.
Time and Date
Most graphical environments have:
- Settings → Date & Time (name may vary).
Key options:
- Time zone: Select on a map or from a list.
- Automatic time (NTP):
- Option like “Set time automatically” or “Use network time”.
- Turn this on so your clock stays correct.
- Manual time:
- If you disable automatic time, you can set date and time manually.
On text systems, this is often managed by tools like timedatectl or distro‑specific utilities (covered elsewhere).
Keyboard Layout
If your keyboard layout is wrong, symbols may not match keys.
Graphically:
- Look under Settings → Keyboard, Region & Language, or similar.
- Add desired layout(s), then:
- Set the primary layout.
- Remove layouts you don’t need.
- Optionally enable layout switching (e.g., a shortcut like
Super+SpaceorAlt+Shift).
Ensure you test:
- Special characters (
@,#,$, etc.). - Numbers and symbols used in your password.
Locale (Language and Formats)
Locale controls things like:
- Language of menus and dialogs.
- Date, time, and number formats (e.g.,
12/31/2025vs31.12.2025). - Currency symbols.
Graphically:
- Look for Region & Language, Language & Region, or similar.
- Set:
- Display language.
- Formats (sometimes shown separately from language).
Some changes require logout/login or a reboot to fully apply.
Enabling and Checking Network Connectivity
Having a working network is important for updates and installing software later.
Wired (Ethernet)
Often works automatically:
- Plug in the network cable.
- Check the system tray / panel for a network icon that indicates connection.
- Try opening a web browser and visiting a site.
If no connection:
- Make sure the cable is firmly plugged into both the computer and router/switch.
- Some environments have a “Network” settings panel where you can enable/disable wired connections.
Wi‑Fi
On graphical desktops:
- Click the network icon (often in the top or bottom bar).
- Select your Wi‑Fi network (SSID).
- Enter the Wi‑Fi password (WPA key).
- Confirm and wait for connection.
Check for:
- Correct password.
- Airplane mode is off.
- Wireless is enabled in Settings.
On installations without a graphical environment, Wi‑Fi is usually configured using command‑line or text tools specific to your distribution, often done during or shortly after install.
Testing Connectivity
Basic tests from a terminal:
- Check IP address:
ip a- Check connection to the internet:
ping -c 3 8.8.8.8
ping -c 3 example.com
If ping 8.8.8.8 works but ping example.com fails, DNS configuration might be the issue (covered in networking chapters).
Creating or Adjusting User Accounts
Some installers create:
- A regular user (non‑root).
- Optionally, the root account with its own password or disabled by default.
For a single‑user desktop machine, one primary user is usually enough. For shared systems, you may want separate logins.
Graphically (varies by desktop):
- Open Settings → Users or Accounts.
- Unlock / authenticate (you may need to enter your password).
- Add a new user:
- Choose username and full name.
- Set account type (standard vs administrator).
- Set an initial password or generate one.
- Optionally change:
- Profile picture.
- Automatic login (only if you accept the security implications).
Log out and log back in as new users to verify accounts.
Basic Security and Privacy Adjustments
For a fresh system, make a few essential privacy and security decisions.
Screen Lock and Password on Wake
You want your session to lock when you’re away:
- Go to Settings → Privacy → Screen Lock (or similar).
- Enable:
- “Automatic screen lock”.
- “Lock screen on suspend”.
- Choose a reasonable idle time (e.g., 5–15 minutes).
Automatic Login
Automatic login skips the password at boot. For a shared or portable device, it’s generally not recommended.
If you enable it:
- Understand that anyone with physical access can use your account.
- Consider it only for low‑risk, always‑at‑home systems.
Error Reporting and Telemetry
Some distributions optionally send usage or crash data:
- Look under Privacy or Diagnostics & Feedback.
- Turn off or limit data sharing if you prefer more privacy.
These choices are personal; you can often change them later.
Installing Language Packs and Input Methods (Optional)
If you use multiple languages or need complex input methods (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indic scripts):
- In Region & Language or Language Support:
- Install additional language packs.
- Add new input sources.
- Switch input methods using a keyboard shortcut or language indicator in the panel.
This is particularly important if the installer only installed partial language support.
Setting Up Basic Power and Battery Options
For laptops, correct power settings improve battery life and convenience.
In Settings → Power (names vary):
- Suspend when inactive: Choose how long before the system sleeps.
- When lid is closed:
- Choose what happens on battery vs plugged in.
- Options often include: Suspend, Hibernate (if enabled), Do nothing.
- Screen brightness:
- Reduce brightness to save battery.
- Automatic suspend:
- Configure for “On battery” and “Plugged in” separately.
Ensure behavior matches your expectations to avoid data loss (e.g., laptop powering off in a bag).
Basic Appearance and Usability Settings
Minor adjustments now can make the system more comfortable to use.
Common tweaks (locations differ by desktop):
- Theme and colors:
- Choose light or dark mode.
- Adjust accent colors if available.
- Font size / scaling:
- Increase if text is too small, especially on high‑DPI displays.
- Panel / dock behavior:
- Auto‑hide or fixed.
- Position (bottom, top, left, right).
- Workspace / virtual desktops:
- Enable additional workspaces if you like organizing apps this way.
- Mouse / touchpad:
- Pointer speed.
- Tap‑to‑click.
- Natural vs traditional scrolling.
All of these are reversible, so experiment to see what suits you.
Enabling Basic Hardware Support
Drivers and firmware are addressed in more detail elsewhere; here you just verify basic hardware works.
Check:
- Display:
- Correct resolution under Settings → Displays.
- Multi‑monitor arrangement if relevant.
- Sound:
- Open Sound settings.
- Ensure the correct output device is chosen (speakers, HDMI, headphones).
- Test audio playback.
- Touchpad / mouse:
- Confirm scrolling, clicking, and gestures behave as expected.
- Printer / scanner (if needed immediately):
- Connect and see if it’s auto‑detected.
- Use “Printers” utility to add and test.
If something is missing or misbehaving, dedicated driver configuration steps will come later, but note any problems you see now.
Getting Comfortable With the Desktop
You’ll learn desktop environments in detail in another chapter, but for first‑time setup:
- Find and open:
- Application menu (start icon, grid, or launcher).
- File manager.
- Terminal application.
- Pin or favorite frequently used apps to the panel/dock.
- Learn basic window actions:
- Maximize, minimize, move, close.
- Switch windows (often
Alt+Tab).
This minimal orientation makes further learning much smoother.
Creating a Simple Restore Point (Where Available)
Some distributions provide built‑in snapshot or restore tools (e.g., Timeshift, Btrfs snapshots). If yours does:
- Open the snapshot/backup tool in the menu.
- Configure:
- Location to store snapshots (e.g., another partition or disk).
- Snapshot schedule (daily/weekly).
- Create an initial snapshot of your fresh system.
If your system doesn’t include such a tool by default, you can set up backups later, once you’re more familiar with Linux.
Summary: A Minimal First-Time Checklist
For a fresh install, aim to complete at least:
- Login successfully.
- Confirm time, date, and time zone.
- Set keyboard layout and language/locale correctly.
- Ensure network connectivity works (wired or Wi‑Fi).
- Verify your user account and screen lock settings.
- Adjust basic power and display options.
- Quickly test sound and basic hardware.
- Familiarize yourself with the desktop, file manager, and terminal.
Once these are done, you’re ready for the later chapters on updating the system, installing software, and configuring drivers in more depth.