How to Install Ubuntu 26.04 LTS Step by Step — A Complete Beginner's Guide

What You'll Learn

  • What Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is and why you should use it
  • How to download Ubuntu for free
  • How to create a bootable USB drive
  • How to install Ubuntu 26.04 step by step (with screenshots)
  • What to do right after installation

What Is Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is the most popular version of Linux for beginners. It's a free operating system that can replace Windows or macOS on your computer. Think of it like this: Windows costs money, macOS only runs on Apple hardware, but Ubuntu is free and runs on almost any computer.

What does "LTS" mean? LTS stands for Long Term Support. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will receive free security updates until 2031. That's five years of peace of mind.

What You'll Need

Before we start, gather these three things:

  1. A USB flash drive — 8GB or larger (warning: everything on it will be erased)
  2. A computer — the one you want to install Ubuntu on
  3. Another working computer — to download Ubuntu and create the USB drive (the one you're reading this on works fine)

Step 1: Download Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

First, download the Ubuntu ISO file. An ISO is like a digital DVD — it contains the entire operating system.

  1. Go to ubuntu.com/download
  2. Click the green Download button under Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
  3. Wait for the download to finish — the file is about 5.5 GB
# If you prefer the terminal (optional):
wget https://releases.ubuntu.com/26.04/ubuntu-26.04-desktop-amd64.iso

Step 2: Create a Bootable USB Drive

You can't just copy the ISO file to the USB drive. You need a special tool to make it bootable.

On Windows: Use Rufus

  1. Download Rufus from rufus.ie (it's free)
  2. Insert your USB drive
  3. Open Rufus — it should automatically detect your USB drive
  4. Click SELECT and choose the Ubuntu ISO file you downloaded
  5. Leave all settings at their defaults
  6. Click START
  7. When asked "Write in ISO Image mode or DD Image mode?", choose Write in ISO Image mode and click OK
  8. Wait about 5-10 minutes for Rufus to finish

On Linux: Use Startup Disk Creator

Ubuntu already has a built-in tool:

# Or use the terminal with dd:
sudo dd if=ubuntu-26.04-desktop-amd64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress

Replace /dev/sdX with your actual USB drive (use lsblk to find it). Be very careful — choosing the wrong drive will erase your data.

On macOS: Use balenaEtcher

Download balenaEtcher from balena.io/etcher, select the ISO, select your USB drive, and click Flash.

Step 3: Boot from the USB Drive

Now you need to tell your computer to start from the USB drive instead of the internal hard drive.

  1. Plug the USB drive into the computer where you want to install Ubuntu
  2. Restart the computer
  3. Immediately start pressing the boot menu key repeatedly:
Computer Brand Boot Menu Key
Dell F12
HP F9
Lenovo F12 (or Fn + F12)
ASUS F8 or Esc
Acer F12
Custom PC F8, F11, or F12

If you see the Windows logo, you missed it. Restart and try again.

  1. From the boot menu, select your USB drive (it usually says "UEFI: [USB brand name]")
  2. Press Enter

You should now see the Ubuntu welcome screen.

Step 4: Try Ubuntu First (Optional)

The welcome screen gives you two options:

  • Try Ubuntu — runs Ubuntu from the USB without changing anything on your computer
  • Install Ubuntu — installs Ubuntu permanently

I recommend clicking Try Ubuntu first. Make sure your Wi-Fi, keyboard, touchpad, and screen resolution all work. If something doesn't work, you might need to install additional drivers later.

When you're ready, double-click the Install Ubuntu 26.04 LTS icon on the desktop.

Step 5: Choose Your Language

Select your language from the list and click Continue.

Step 6: Accessibility Options

Ubuntu will ask about accessibility settings. If you need a screen reader, high contrast, or sticky keys, enable them now. Otherwise, click Continue.

Step 7: Keyboard Layout

Choose your keyboard layout. For most users, the default is correct. Type in the test box to make sure special characters like @, #, and / work as expected. Click Continue.

Step 8: Connect to Wi-Fi

If you're using a wired connection, you can skip this. If you're on Wi-Fi:

  1. Select your network from the list
  2. Enter your password
  3. Click Connect

Being online during installation lets Ubuntu download updates and third-party drivers automatically.

Step 9: Choose Installation Type

This is the most important screen. You have three options:

Option What It Does Best For
Install Ubuntu alongside Windows Keeps Windows, adds Ubuntu. You choose which OS when you turn on the computer Most beginners
Erase disk and install Ubuntu Deletes EVERYTHING and installs only Ubuntu Clean start, Linux-only computers
Manual partitioning Full control over disk layout Advanced users only

If you want to keep Windows, choose the first option. A slider lets you decide how much space to give each operating system.

If you want to replace Windows completely, choose "Erase disk and install Ubuntu."

I recommend checking both boxes at the bottom: - ✅ Download updates while installing — saves time later - ✅ Install third-party software — gives you Wi-Fi drivers, media codecs, and graphics drivers

Click Continue. If you chose "Erase disk," Ubuntu will ask you to confirm. Read the warning carefully — this cannot be undone.

Step 10: Choose Your Location

Click on the map or type your city name. This sets your timezone. Click Continue.

Step 11: Create Your User Account

Fill in these fields:

  • Your name: This can be anything — it's for display purposes (e.g., "John Smith")
  • Your computer's name: This identifies your computer on the network (e.g., "johns-laptop")
  • Username: Your login name — lowercase, no spaces (e.g., "john")
  • Password: Choose a strong password you'll remember. You'll type this every time you log in.
  • Confirm your password: Type it again to make sure

I recommend: - ✅ Require my password to log in (more secure) - ✅ Leave "Use Active Directory" unchecked (you don't need this)

Click Continue.

Step 12: Wait for Installation

Ubuntu will now install. This takes 15-30 minutes depending on your computer speed and internet connection.

While you wait, Ubuntu shows you a slideshow about its features. Take a look — you might discover something useful.

Step 13: Restart

When the installation finishes, you'll see:

Installation Complete. You need to restart the computer to use the new installation.

Click Restart Now.

When the screen goes black, you'll see a message: "Please remove the installation medium, then press ENTER."

  1. Pull out your USB drive
  2. Press Enter

Your computer will restart into Ubuntu 26.04!

After Installation: First 5 Things to Do

1. Update Everything

Open the terminal (press Ctrl + Alt + T) and run:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This downloads the latest security patches and software updates.

2. Enable the Firewall

sudo ufw enable

Ubuntu's firewall is built-in but not activated by default. This command turns it on.

3. Install Ubuntu Restricted Extras

sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras -y

This installs media codecs for playing MP3, MP4, and DVD files, plus Microsoft fonts like Times New Roman and Arial.

4. Set Up Timeshift for Backups

sudo apt install timeshift -y

Timeshift takes snapshots of your system. If an update breaks something, you can roll back. Think of it like Windows System Restore, but better.

5. Explore the Ubuntu App Center

Click the orange shopping bag icon in the dock. This is where you install new apps — all free, all safe. Search for:

  • VLC — the best video player
  • GIMP — like Photoshop, but free
  • VS Code — the most popular code editor
  • Firefox — already installed, but check for updates

Common Problems and Fixes

"No bootable device found" after restart

This happens when your computer tries to boot from the wrong drive. Enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually F2 or Del at startup) and change the boot order so your internal drive comes first.

Wi-Fi doesn't work after installation

Some Wi-Fi chips need additional drivers. Connect to the internet with an Ethernet cable, then:

sudo apt update
sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall
sudo apt install bcmwl-kernel-source  # For Broadcom Wi-Fi chips

Screen resolution is wrong or graphics are glitchy

sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

This installs the best graphics driver for your hardware. Restart after it finishes.

"You need to load the kernel first" error

This usually means Secure Boot is blocking Ubuntu. Enter your BIOS (F2/Del at startup), find Secure Boot, and disable it.

Next Steps

Now that Ubuntu is installed, here's where to go next:

  • Learn the 10 essential terminal commands every beginner should know
  • Set up Python and write your first automation script
  • Install VS Code and set up your coding environment

Welcome to Linux! It gets easier every day — and soon you'll wonder how you ever used anything else.