Ubuntu is known for its user-friendly interface and robust performance, but over time, even the best operating systems can slow down due to accumulated temporary files, logs, cached data, and remnants of uninstalled applications, which take up valuable storage space and potentially affect performance.
In this article, we’ll explore 15 simple yet effective tips to help you get Ubuntu running at top speed. From small tweaks to system-wide optimizations, we’ve got you covered.
1. Choose the Right Ubuntu Flavor
Ubuntu comes in different flavors tailored to various needs. If you’re using Ubuntu Desktop, consider switching to a lighter version like Xubuntu or Lubuntu. These variants use lightweight desktop environments (XFCE and LXQt, respectively), which consume fewer resources, making them faster on older systems.
If you’re experiencing slowdowns, switching to a lighter desktop environment can make a huge difference.
sudo apt install xubuntu-desktop #XFCE sudo apt install lubuntu-desktop #LXQt
2. Upgrade to the Latest Version
Ubuntu constantly releases updates to improve performance, fix bugs, and patch security vulnerabilities. Running an outdated version can cause slowdowns due to missing optimizations or software compatibility issues.
Regularly check for updates by running the following commands, which will keep your system up-to-date.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Upgrading to a new LTS (Long Term Support) release can also help with speed and security.
sudo do-release-upgrade
For the best long-term performance and support, consider upgrading to the latest LTS (Long Term Support) release, which is stable and receives updates for five years.
3. Disable Unnecessary Startup Applications
Every time you boot up your Ubuntu system, several applications automatically start in the background. While some are necessary, many are not. These unnecessary applications consume CPU and memory resources, slowing down your system.
Open the Startup Applications tool (gnome-session-properties) and disable programs you don’t need to start automatically. Focus on the essentials and turn off non-essential apps like messaging clients, auto-updaters, or media players.
4. Reduce Swappiness
Ubuntu uses a concept called swapping to manage memory. When the RAM is full, it writes data to the swap space on your disk, which is much slower than using actual RAM. By default, Ubuntu has a swappiness value of 60, meaning it starts swapping relatively early.
Reducing the swappiness value can help speed up your system. Set it to a lower number, like 10, by editing the /etc/sysctl.conf file and adding this line:
vm.swappiness=10
After saving the file, run the following command to apply the changes.
sudo sysctl -p
5. Use Lighter Alternatives for Applications
Heavy applications like web browsers, email clients, and office suites can slow down your system, especially if you’re using older hardware.
Consider using lightweight alternatives that consume fewer resources, such as:
- Web Browsers: Use Falkon or Midori instead of Google Chrome or Firefox.
- Text Editors: Use Geany or Pluma instead of Gedit.
- Email Clients: Use Trojitá instead of Thunderbird.
- Office Suites: Use LibreOffice or OnlyOffice (both are relatively full-featured; for a truly lightweight experience, you might use AbiWord for word processing and Gnumeric for spreadsheets, but these are not complete suites).
Note: LibreOffice and OnlyOffice are both robust and popular, but not the lightest options. OnlyOffice is known for its MS Office-like interface, while LibreOffice is praised for its extensive features.
For the lightest possible office tools, consider using AbiWord and Gnumeric instead.
| Application Type | Heavy Option | Lightweight Alternative(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Web Browser | Chrome, Firefox | Falkon, Midori |
| Text Editor | Gedit | Geany, Pluma |
| Email Client | Thunderbird | Trojitá |
| Office Suite | LibreOffice, OnlyOffice | AbiWord (word), Gnumeric (spreadsheet) |
6. Install Preload for Faster App Loading
Preload is a daemon that runs in the background and tracks which programs you use most often. It preloads these applications into memory, so they open faster when you need them.
To install Preload, run:
sudo apt install preload
After installation, Preload will automatically start optimizing the applications you use most.
7. Use a Lightweight Window Manager
If you’re looking for an even more minimal setup, consider switching to a lightweight window manager instead of a full desktop environment. Window managers like i3 or Openbox use far fewer resources than traditional desktop environments like GNOME or KDE.
Try switching to a window manager if you’re comfortable with a more minimal, keyboard-driven workflow, which can make your system feel snappier with minimal memory usage.
sudo apt install i3 OR sudo apt install openbox
8. Disable Animations
Ubuntu comes with graphical animations that can look appealing but can also drain system resources, especially on older hardware. Disabling these animations can improve system responsiveness.
To disable animations in GNOME, open Settings, go to Accessibility, and turn off Animations. For other desktop environments, check their respective settings for animation controls.
9. Clean Up Unnecessary Files
Over time, your system accumulates temporary files, logs, and cached data that can slow it down. Cleaning up these files regularly can free up space and speed up your system.
Use BleachBit to clean up unnecessary files.
To install it, run:
sudo apt install bleachbit
Launch it and run cleanup tasks like removing old cache files, temporary internet files, and unused system logs.
10. Remove Unused Software
Ubuntu installs a lot of software by default, but not all of it may be useful to you. Removing unnecessary programs can free up both storage space and system resources.
For example:
sudo apt remove --purge libreoffice*
This will remove LibreOffice and free up space. Make sure to only remove apps you don’t need.
11. Enable Trim for SSDs
If you’re using an SSD, it’s important to regularly trim it to prevent performance degradation. SSDs require periodic trimming of unused blocks to maintain optimal performance.
Ubuntu has automatic trimming enabled by default, but you can ensure it’s active by checking or installing the fstrim utility:
sudo apt install fstrim sudo fstrim /
12. Optimize Your System’s Power Settings
Ubuntu’s power settings may be optimized for power saving rather than performance. By adjusting these settings, you can improve the performance of your system.
Install TLP (a power management tool) for better battery life and performance:
sudo apt install tlp sudo tlp start
This tool optimizes CPU frequencies, power consumption, and system behavior based on your hardware.
13. Switch to a Faster DNS Provider
The Domain Name System (DNS) is responsible for translating web addresses into IP addresses. Using a slow DNS server can result in slower website loading times. Switching to a faster DNS provider can make browsing and online activities faster.
Change your DNS provider to Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS:
- Google DNS:
8.8.8.8and8.8.4.4 - Cloudflare DNS:
1.1.1.1and1.0.0.1
To change your DNS, go to Network Settings, select your connection, and update the DNS servers.
14. Optimize Your Swapping Behavior
If you have a lot of RAM, your system can benefit from reducing the reliance on swap. You can configure your system to rely more on RAM than on swapping.
Edit /etc/fstab to disable swap if you have plenty of RAM:
sudo swapoff -a sudo nano /etc/fstab
Find and comment out the swap entry (adding a # at the start of the line) and save the file.
15. Use a Lighter Kernel
Sometimes, the default kernel in Ubuntu may not be the most optimized for your hardware. Using a custom or lighter kernel can potentially improve performance.
You can install a different, lighter kernel (like the Liquorix kernel) to improve performance, especially for gaming or high-performance tasks:
curl -s 'https://liquorix.net/install-liquorix.sh' | sudo bash
Final Thoughts
With these 15 tips, you can boost Ubuntu’s speed and make it run smoother, whether you’re on an older laptop, a powerful server, or just want a quicker desktop experience. Remember that some optimizations may be more effective than others depending on your hardware, so feel free to experiment and tailor these tips to your needs.
Ubuntu is a flexible and customizable operating system, and with a bit of fine-tuning, you can get it to run lightning fast. Don’t forget to back up your system before making any major changes, and always keep your software up to date to ensure optimal performance and security.
This is the one time the author could have generalized and used ‘Linux’ in the title instead of ‘Ubuntu’. These 15 tips will work on a vast majority of distros, not just Ubuntu.
“7. Use a Lightweight Window Manager”
While that may speed up the distro, it will slow down your workflow since going from a Desktop Environment to a Windows Manager could entail a steep learning curve.
“9. Clean Up Unnecessary Files”
That should be done on a regular basis, not just when a speed up is desired or when the system runs out of space. One should set up a cron job to run regularly and clean out all the junk on the system. For heavy system users, cron should be scheduled weekly, if not not daily. For casual users, cron should be scheduled monthly.
“13. Switch to a Faster DNS Provider”
Google and CloudFlare are not always the fastest or best DNS Providers. NameBench is an open-source Domain Name System benchmark utility. I suggest running it occasionally to check for the fastest DNS Providers available at the time and changing your DNS settings accordingly. I run it at least once a month.
NameBench is available in most distro repositories.
To install it:
@draonmouth,
You’re absolutely right — the title should’ve said “Linux” instead of “Ubuntu” since the tips work on most distros, not just Ubuntu.
Good point about lightweight window managers too. They can boost speed but might slow you down if you’re not used to them. That should have been explained better.
Regularly cleaning files with a cron job is a smart habit, not just something to do when the system slows down. That was a missed opportunity in the article.
And yes, Google and Cloudflare aren’t always the best DNS options. Using NameBench to find the fastest provider is a great tip we should’ve included.
Thanks again for your helpful feedback! Would you like to see a revised version with your suggestions added?
Release notes show up blank for some reason. I press ‘Upgrade’ and it does nothing. Anyone have an idea why?
I upgraded from 13.10 to 14.04, After reboot, system got stuck after
1. starting apache2 webserver and
2. Applying battery power settings
even networking is disabled. Not able to connect with internet even with Lan wire. What Should I do ( I have taken backup by logging into terminal tty1).
According to the Ubuntu documentation, if you use update-manager -d you get the devel-release what has the next warning:
‘Development releases often suffer from package breakages and other problems. Only install a development release if you are prepared to attempt to fix these problems for yourself.’
In order to upgrade from 13.10 to 14.04 in my case using Xubuntu it is best to just enable, check for all distro updates and follow the normal procedure to check if any update is required as detailed in the documentation
This will lead you to the LTS release for normal use, not the development release
Good point Raul!!
We have also mentioned in post that “-d” will check for development release :).
“Step 2: After your system got updated. Press “Alt+F2“ and type ”update-manager -d”. Here, “-d” is for checking development release. This will launch the software updater.”
Thanks!!
Hi Aniket,
Are you asking about upgrade process from 13.10 to 14.04 or about the fresh installation?
For Upgrade, it all depends on your internet speed :). If you have high speed internet, then it will take minimum 30 min or more than that. For fresh installation, all will take around 30 min.
Thanks!
Kuldeep
Kuldip bhai I m a bit new @ using Linux so during the system config the cursor stopped so mah ques is he long will it take in general to get installed in a new laptop???
I did the update from 13.10 to 14.04 yesterday on my moms computer…however I did it all through terminal, none of it went through a pop up screen. The download displayed everything as if everything was running smooth through the terminal window. Then it asked me to reboot (yn) to which I hit y then enter. NOW… it boots to the login screen, sits for about 5 to 7 seconds, then the screen scrambles rendering the machine useless. Is there anyway to revert to the previous version of Ubuntu at all or do I have to reimage the machine again?
Hi Kuldeep,
thanks for the help, but unfortunately it didn’t work.
Cheers,
Giuseppe
I think there may be some issue with your source.list file or with the server from which it is fetching updates.
Let us try once more :).
Please take backup of your source.list and generate new one from http://repogen.simplylinux.ch/index.php.
Hope this may help :).
Thanks!
Kuldeep
Hi Kuldeep,
thanks for your help,
I get this error after I ran apt-get update
W: Failed to fetch bzip2:/var/lib/apt/lists/partial/it.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_saucy-updates_main_binary-amd64_Packages Hash Sum mismatch
W: Failed to fetch bzip2:/var/lib/apt/lists/partial/it.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_saucy-updates_universe_binary-amd64_Packages Hash Sum mismatch
E: Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
Try below steps and check if it help..
cd /var/lib/apt
sudo mv lists lists.old
sudo mkdir -p lists/partial
sudo apt-get update
This will rebuild the cache.
Thanks!
Kuldeep
Fixed the installer, but now I get this error:
W:Failed to fetch bzip2:/var/lib/apt/lists/partial/it.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_trusty-updates_main_binary-amd64_Packages Hash Sum mismatch
, W:Failed to fetch bzip2:/var/lib/apt/lists/partial/it.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_trusty-updates_universe_binary-amd64_Packages Hash Sum mismatch
, E:Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
Hi Kuldeep,
it was clear since the beginning that there was a library conflict, but it is pretty tough to fix it.
I am wondering why it is so complicate and contorted to update Ubuntu…
Cheers,
Giuseppe
Well, when I run update-manager -d I get this error:
/usr/bin/python3: symbol lookup error: /usr/bin/python3: undefined symbol: XML_SetHashSalt
Thanks
This seems that there is some library conflicts. Please through the below link for more details:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2094005
Thanks!
Hi,
I have issue to update my Ubuntu:
Could not calculate the upgrade and bla bla bla
I have screenshot of the error, where can I show it?
Do you know why?
Thanks,
Giuseppe
Hi,
I get this error when I try to upgrade:
W:Failed to fetch bzip2:/var/lib/apt/lists/partial/it.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_trusty-updates_universe_source_Sources Hash Sum mismatch
, E:Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead
Use the following command to fix this error.
Thanks Ravi,
before to update Ubuntu I ran apt-get update, of course.
But it doesnt work
Thanks
You can use any online image uploader to upload screenshot and insert the image link here.
Hi, after the upgrade the system doesn’t run, a message say “critical errors on hdd, tmp not detected” i will appreciate any help. thanks in advance
Followed exactly these instructions in my laptop with Windows8 and Ubuntu 13.10 (with UEFI)… result> corrupted my MBR and had to re-install everything from scratch… THANKS for ruining my week!!
As an advice from other users who may be tempted to do this upgrade… You’d better get a live linuxin a usb stick and upgrade using it. This way the linux installer in the live version allows you to install the new ubuntu version without having to remove the old one. I wonder if I had followed that simple ruled I would have save myself from tons of headaches.
Had to set Lubuntu to check for all new versions (not LTS only) for it to discover 14.04 as an upgrade.
Will be interesting to see how this will work. Have usually done a fresh install.
When I upgrade, it fails to load repositories, and immediately stops upgrading. What should I do. Please help me.
There may be issue with your internet connection. Make sure you have internet connection with good speed. Please try again and then check again. Hope it’ll work :).
Same issue here. SEVERAL errors in GETing files and/or comparing checksums. I’ve removed all 3rd party sources and still get the errors. Still trying to identify the cause(s) and/or locate others who have overcome this. It sure looks to be a simple process; however, it is not proving so in practice.
This is the specific point of error — in all cases this error is encountered.
W:Failed to fetch gzip:/var/lib/apt/lists/partial/ubuntu.cs.utah.edu_ubuntu_dists_trusty_universe_binary-i386_Packages
Hash Sum mismatch, E:Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
There seems some issues with your source list. Please take backup of your current source list.
Go to http://repogen.simplylinux.ch/, choose your country, release, branch and required updates and then create a new source list.
After this open command line and fire “sudo do-release-upgrade”
Hope this will help!!
I’m running 13.10 with XFCE on Samsung ARM Chromebook…Crouton. Basically a newbie to the Linux world. Does 14.04 work on the Samsung Chromebook? Will the above instructions work? Or should I start over, downloading image, put in developer mode, etc.?
Hi Fergie,
Honestly, Not sure about the upgrade process on Samsung ARM Chromebook. I’ll definitely share if found something on this :).
Thanks!
I “upgraded” (L)ubuntu from 13.10 to 14.04 using the update-manager.
When I reboot, I am asked for a password, but once the display manager starts, nothing else works: no menu, no panel, no response to alt-F2.
I think I got some gtk issues– when I ran the update-manager from a consol session (cntrol-alt-F1) I see some errors related to gtk (assertion failed, etc.).
Any idea how to fix it? Should I reformat and start from scratch?
Same Problem when upgrading from 13.10 to 14.04: xsession cannot start because it tries to start “ubuntu” session wich is not available… dont know what to do…
@venik212, I have the same problem, any clue as to how to fix it?
Its weird.
Can you please share some screen shot, so that we can have a look?
how to install the final trusty if i have install the beta 2?
Nothing much!
Please use same process and it will update to new one :).
Enjoy!!
I want to ask you wether the upgrading from Ubuntu 13.10 to 14.04 via the Update Manager will remove my data on the local drive?
Upgrade will modify your system config file only which usually reside in /(root) partition if you are not using different partition for boot,home or other custom partition.
Note : Tecmint is not responsible for any data loss. Follow the things at own your own Risk.
Thanks! That worked like a charm, didn’t even need to stop working. Installation looks good, no errors at startup
What is the difference between xx.04 OSs and xx.10 OSs besides the xx.04 being LTS?
Hi John,
Along with LTS of 5 years,others changes are as below :
1.) Number of Packages have been Updated.
2.) Ubuntu 14.04 includes the 3.13.0-19.39 Ubuntu Linux kernel which was based on the v3.13.6 upstream Linux kernel.
3.) Python 3.4
4.) 14.04 will characterized by “performance, refinement, maintainability, technical debt”.
5.) Development focused on tablet interface mainly for Nexus 7 and Nexus 10.
Thanks!
Kuldeep
Nothing difference. I read this interesting news somewhere on the web. Ubuntu team follows an interesting naming methodology.
The version number of a particular Ubuntu release represents the release year and month. For example, let us take the latest Ubuntu 14.04 version. This version is released in the year 2014, so they take the number “14”. And it is released on April month(4th month of the 2014), so they pick 04. So latest version is Ubuntu 14.04. Clear?
Also, the Ubuntu developers name the distributions in an alphabetical order. The code name is the combination of an adjective and an animal name with the same first letter. For example, Ubuntu 14.04 code name is Trusty Tahr. Here, Trusty is an adjective, Tahr is an animal (Goat), and both words contain the same first letter i.e “T”.
Ubuntu developers releases new versions at every six month, and every fourth release becomes a long-term-support (LTS) version.
For more, details look at the below link:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases
Hope you understand now.
Not all .04 releases are LTS. Only once in every two years, Ubuntu releases an LTS. The previous one was 12.04 (released in April, ’12), the current one is 14.04 (released on April, ’14) and the next one will be 16.04 (should release on April, ’16).