How to Install Ubuntu on Your PC

Installing Ubuntu on your PC is a straightforward process that takes around 20–30 minutes. This guide walks you through every step from downloading Ubuntu to completing the installation — no prior Linux experience needed.

What You Need

• A USB drive (8GB or larger)
• A PC to install Ubuntu on (or a spare PC you can use)
• An internet connection for downloading Ubuntu
• Rufus (Windows) or Etcher (Windows/Mac/Linux) — free USB writing tools

Important: Installing Ubuntu will erase everything on the drive you install it to. If you are replacing Windows, back up your files to an external drive or cloud storage first.

If you want to keep Windows and run Ubuntu alongside it (dual boot), see our guide: How to Dual Boot Windows and Linux.

Step 1 — Download Ubuntu

1. Go to the official Ubuntu website (ubuntu.com)
2. Click Download
3. Choose Ubuntu Desktop (the version for personal computers)
4. Download the current LTS (Long-Term Support) version — this is the most stable and best-supported release. As of 2026, this is Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.
5. The download is an ISO file of around 5GB

If you are installing on a very old or low-spec PC (less than 4GB RAM), consider downloading Xubuntu or Lubuntu instead — these are official Ubuntu variants with lighter desktop environments that run more smoothly on older hardware.

Step 2 — Create a Bootable USB Drive

You need to write the Ubuntu ISO to a USB drive so your PC can boot from it. The easiest tool for this is Rufus (Windows) or balenaEtcher (Windows, Mac and Linux).

Using Rufus (Windows)

1. Download Rufus from rufus.ie and run it
2. Insert your USB drive (8GB minimum)
3. In Rufus, under Device, select your USB drive
4. Under Boot selection, click SELECT and choose the Ubuntu ISO file you downloaded
5. Leave other settings at defaults
6. Click START
7. If prompted about writing in ISO Image mode vs DD Image mode, choose Write in ISO Image mode
8. Confirm the warning that your USB drive will be erased, then wait for Rufus to complete

Using balenaEtcher

1. Download and install balenaEtcher from etcher.balena.io
2. Click Flash from file and select the Ubuntu ISO
3. Click Select target and choose your USB drive
4. Click Flash! and wait for the process to complete

Step 3 — Boot from the USB Drive

To install Ubuntu, you need to boot your PC from the USB drive instead of the internal hard drive.

1. Plug the USB drive into the PC you want to install Ubuntu on
2. Restart the PC
3. As the PC starts up, press the boot menu key — this is usually F12, F2, F10 or Esc depending on your manufacturer. Look for a brief message on the screen during startup (e.g. “Press F12 for boot menu”)
4. In the boot menu, select your USB drive
5. Ubuntu will start loading

If you cannot find the boot menu key, search online for your PC or motherboard model + “boot menu key”.

Step 4 — Try or Install Ubuntu

Ubuntu will load to a welcome screen with two options:

• Try Ubuntu — runs Ubuntu from the USB drive without installing anything. This is a good way to test hardware compatibility before committing.
• Install Ubuntu — proceeds with the full installation.

Click Install Ubuntu to proceed.

Step 5 — Work Through the Installer

Language and keyboard

Select your language and keyboard layout. For UK users, choose English (UK) for keyboard layout.

Installation type

The installer will ask what kind of installation you want:

• Normal installation — recommended for most users. Includes a web browser, office software, games and media players.
• Minimal installation — just the browser and basic utilities. You can install additional software afterwards.

Also tick:

• Download updates while installing (if connected to the internet)
• Install third-party software — includes drivers for graphics, Wi-Fi and media codecs. Strongly recommended.

Where to install

If you are replacing Windows entirely, choose Erase disk and install Ubuntu. This will delete everything on the drive and install Ubuntu fresh.

If you are dual booting with Windows, choose Install Ubuntu alongside Windows (this option only appears if Windows is detected on the drive).

Time zone

The installer will detect your time zone automatically if you are online. Confirm it is correct.

Create your account

Enter your name, a username (used for logging in) and a password. Choose a strong password — you will need it to install software and make system changes.

Step 6 — Wait for Installation to Complete

The installation copies files to your hard drive. This typically takes 10–20 minutes depending on your hardware. A progress bar will be shown. When complete, you will be prompted to restart.

1. Click Restart now
2. When prompted, remove the USB drive and press Enter
3. Your PC will restart and boot into Ubuntu

After Installation — First Steps

Once you are in Ubuntu:

1. Run updates: Open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade, or use the Software Updater app
2. Install additional drivers: Open Software & Updates and go to the Additional Drivers tab to install any graphics or Wi-Fi drivers found
3. Install your apps: Open the Ubuntu Software app to browse and install applications

Related Guides

• What is Linux? A Plain-English Guide
• Best Linux Distros for Beginners
• Linux vs Windows: Which Should You Use?
• Windows 10 End of Life: What It Means for You