How to Install Ubuntu on Your Computer

Ubuntu installation means downloading the operating system, writing it to a USB drive or DVD, booting from that drive, and walking through the setup screens

You will need a USB drive with at least 4 GB of space (the data on it will be erased), or a blank DVD. You will also need another computer to download Ubuntu and prepare the drive. The whole process takes 20 to 45 minutes depending on your internet speed and how familiar you are with the steps.

Ubuntu runs on most computers made in the last ten years. If your machine is older or uses very new hardware, you may run into driver issues, but the installation itself works the same way. The steps below cover the standard path: downloading Ubuntu, creating a bootable drive, and installing it on your computer.

Key Takeaways

Download Ubuntu from ubuntu.com on a different computer, then use Balena Etcher or a similar tool to write it to a USB drive.
Restart your computer, press a key during startup (usually F12, Esc, or Del) to enter the boot menu, and select the USB drive.
The Ubuntu installer will walk you through language, keyboard, network, and storage choices; you can choose to erase your entire disk or install alongside Windows.
Installation takes 5 to 15 minutes once you confirm your choices, and you will be prompted to remove the USB drive and restart when finished.
After restart, Ubuntu will ask you to create a user account and set a password before you can log in.

Download Ubuntu and prepare your USB drive

Go to ubuntu.com on a computer that already has an operating system (Windows, macOS, or another Linux). Click the download button and choose the latest long-term support (LTS) version — currently Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. This is the most stable choice for most users. The file is about 3 GB, so it may take 10 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed.

Once the download finishes, you need to write it to your USB drive. Download and install Balena Etcher (balena.io/etcher), which works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Insert your USB drive, open Balena Etcher, click "Select image", choose the Ubuntu file you just downloaded, click "Select target", choose your USB drive, and click "Flash". The tool will erase the drive and write Ubuntu to it. This takes 3 to 10 minutes.

Do not unplug the USB drive when the flash is complete. You will use it immediately on the computer where you want to install Ubuntu.

Boot from the USB drive and start the installer

Shut down the computer where you want to install Ubuntu. Plug in the USB drive you just prepared. Turn the computer back on and watch the screen carefully — as soon as you see the manufacturer's logo (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.), press a key to enter the boot menu. The key varies by manufacturer: common ones are F12, Esc, Del, or F2. If you are not sure, look up your computer model and "boot menu key" online, or try pressing each one a few times.

The boot menu will show a list of devices. Select your USB drive — it may be labeled "USB" or show the drive's brand name. The computer will restart and load Ubuntu from the drive. You will see a purple screen with the Ubuntu logo and a prompt to "Try or Install Ubuntu". Click "Install Ubuntu".

Choose your language, keyboard, and network

The installer will ask you to select your language and keyboard layout. Choose the options that match your setup. Next, it will ask about internet connection — you can connect to Wi-Fi now or skip this step and connect later. If you skip it, Ubuntu will still install, but some setup steps may take longer.

The installer will then ask whether you want to install updates and third-party software during installation. Checking both boxes is usually fine; it means Ubuntu will download drivers and codecs as it installs, which can save time later.

Choose how to use your disk

This is the most important choice in the installation. The installer will show you your disk and ask how you want to proceed. You have three main options:

Erase disk and install Ubuntu: This wipes everything on your disk and installs only Ubuntu. Choose this if the computer is new, if you do not need Windows or another operating system, or if you are comfortable losing all existing data.
Install Ubuntu alongside Windows (or another OS): If Windows is already on your disk, the installer can shrink the Windows partition and install Ubuntu next to it. You will see a slider showing how much space to give each system. This is called dual-boot. Choose this if you want to keep Windows and switch between systems at startup.
Something else: This option lets you manually partition your disk. Only choose this if you understand disk partitioning; most users do not need it.

If you choose to erase the disk or install alongside Windows, the installer will show you a summary of what will happen. Read it carefully. Once you click "Install", the changes are permanent.

Wait for installation to complete and create your account

After you confirm your disk choice, Ubuntu will begin copying files to your disk. This takes 5 to 15 minutes. You will see a progress bar and some information about Ubuntu features. Do not turn off the computer or unplug the USB drive during this time.

When the copy is complete, the installer will ask you to remove the USB drive and press Enter to restart. Do this — the computer will reboot into the newly installed Ubuntu system. You will see a setup screen asking you to create a user account. Enter a name, a computer name, a username, and a password. This password is what you will use to log in and to run system commands later, so make it something you can remember.

Click "Done" and Ubuntu will finish setting up. This may take another 2 to 5 minutes. When it is complete, you will see the login screen. Enter your username and password, and you will be logged into your new Ubuntu desktop.

Troubleshooting common installation problems

If the computer does not boot from the USB drive, you may have selected the wrong device in the boot menu, or the USB drive was not written correctly. Restart the computer, enter the boot menu again, and look for an entry that clearly says "USB" or shows your drive's brand. If you still cannot find it, the Balena Etcher flash may have failed — try downloading Ubuntu again and re-flashing the drive.

If the installer crashes or freezes during the file copy, this usually means a hardware problem with the USB drive or a bad download. Restart the computer, re-flash the USB drive with a fresh Ubuntu download, and try again. If it crashes a second time in the same place, your computer may have a failing disk or memory, which is a hardware issue beyond the scope of installation.

If you installed Ubuntu alongside Windows and the computer boots straight into Ubuntu without showing a menu, the boot order may need adjustment. Restart, enter the boot menu, and look for an option to change the boot order. Move Ubuntu or Windows to the top depending on which you want to start by default. You can also hold down a key during startup (usually Shift) to see the boot menu every time.

What to do after installation

Once you are logged in, open the Software app (it looks like a grid of dots) to browse and install programs. Ubuntu comes with Firefox for web browsing, LibreOffice for documents and spreadsheets, and GIMP for image editing. You can also open a terminal (search for "Terminal") and use the command line to install software with apt, though that is optional for most users.

Check for updates by opening Settings, clicking "About", and looking for an "Updates" or "Software Updates" button. Installing updates keeps your system secure and stable. After that, Ubuntu is ready to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install Ubuntu on a computer that already has Windows?

Yes. During installation, choose "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows" and use the slider to decide how much disk space each system gets. Your computer will show a menu at startup letting you choose which system to boot into. This is called dual-boot.

What if I want to remove Ubuntu and go back to Windows?

If you dual-booted, restart your computer and select Windows from the boot menu. To remove Ubuntu entirely, you will need to use Windows disk tools to delete the Ubuntu partition and expand the Windows partition back to full size. This is a manual process; search for "remove Ubuntu partition Windows" for step-by-step guides specific to your Windows version.

Do I need a product key or license to install Ubuntu?

No. Ubuntu is free and open-source. You do not need to pay for it or enter a license key. You can install it on as many computers as you want.

Can I install Ubuntu on a Mac?

Yes, but the process is different because Macs use a different boot system (EFI instead of BIOS). The steps are similar — download Ubuntu, write it to a USB drive, and boot from the drive — but you may need to disable security features in Mac settings first. Search for "install Ubuntu on Mac" for your specific Mac model, as the exact steps vary.

What if my computer is very old or very new?

Ubuntu usually works on computers from the last ten years. Very old machines may lack drivers for network or graphics hardware, and very new machines may have hardware that Ubuntu does not yet support. The installation will still work, but you may need to install drivers afterward or use an older Ubuntu version. If installation fails, search for your specific hardware model and "Ubuntu support" to see if others have had success.

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