Ubuntu 26.04 is releasing today. It is natural to have questions about a new release, specially for beginners.

I have tried to answer those frequently asked questions about Ubuntu 26.04 here. I hope it helps clear your doubts if you had any. And if you still have questions, feel free to ask in the comment section below.

What are the system requirements for Ubuntu 26.04?

Ubuntu 26.04 requires a 2 GHz dual core processor or better, a minimum of 6 GB RAM and at least 25 GB of free disk space. These stats for the default GNOME version. KDE and Xfce flavors may work with 4 GB RAM.

If you are dual booting it with Windows, you should at least give it 50 GB or even 100 GB. 25 GB will be filled way too soon.

How long will Ubuntu 26.04 be supported?

It is a long-term support (LTS) release and like any LTS release, it will be supported for five years. Which means that Ubuntu 26.04 will get security and maintenance updates until April 2031. Flavors get supported for three years only.

You can enable Ubuntu Pro, free for personal use, and get extended support for five more years. This will give you just security and maintenance updates; new features and software versions will mostly not be available.

There is also the option for legacy add-on for Ubuntu Pro that will add five more years to extend the life.

These extensions are suitable for people who do not seek new features as much and happy to have a computer that works for most of their day to day need of browsing internet, manage photos and document etc.

There are other options in "Ubuntu 26.04"?

Ubuntu has various flavors based on the desktop environments they provide. Kubuntu is with KDE, Lubuntu is with LXQt, Xubuntu is with Xfce desktop. I hope you are familiar with the concept of desktop environments. This is what determines how your Linux system looks by default.

Where can I download Ubuntu 26.04?

You can get the ISO image of Ubuntu 26.04 GNOME from its website. You have both direct download and torrent options. Other official flavors will be available on their official websites.

Note: if you don't see the option to download Ubuntu 26.04, you can get it from the daily build page.

Can I download Ubuntu 26.04 via torrent?

Yes. you can. If you have an inconsistent or slow internet, you can download Ubuntu ISO image via torrent as well. Just go to the Ubuntu download page and look for alternative downloads. Scroll down a bit and you’ll see the torrent options.

How can I install Ubuntu 26.04?

Just like any other version. You download the ISO, make a live USB and use it to install Ubuntu on your system. You can dual boot it as well. The detailed steps are demonstrated in our Ubuntu installation guide.

Can I install KDE or some other desktop environment on Ubuntu 26.04?

Yes, you can. Linux gives you the flexibility to install the desktop environment of your choice. However, I recommend that if you have a fresh Ubuntu install where you don't have important data, it is better to install the official flavor instead. This is because some times, desktop environment elements conflict with each other. So if you want KDE, go for Kubuntu.

I am already using Ubuntu. Can I upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04?

Yes. Ubuntu allows you to upgrade from one version to the next or one long-term support (LTS) version to next. If you are already using Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or 25.10, you will have the option to upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.

If you are using Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, you'll have to upgrade to 24.04 LTS first and then upgrade to 26.04.

Please check your Ubuntu version. If you are using any version other than 22.04, 24.04 or 25.10, chances are that it has reached end of life. A fresh install will make more sense.

Why don't I see the upgrade to 26.04 option?

A new Ubuntu release is gradually rolled out to users. You'll see it eventually, just keep your system upgraded.

If you cannot wait, you can force update manager to look for "development release" and that should give you the option to upgrade to 26.04 immediately.

Should I wait or upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04 right away?

In my experience, a new Ubuntu release often brings up bugs and issues that have gone unnoticed in the testing phase. If you easily get annoyed and don't want to troubleshoot, I would advise upgrading for a few week from the release. If you want to take it even more slow and comfortable, you can wait till the first point release of Ubuntu 26.04.1. Most of the discovered bugs are fixed by then.

Do I need to back up before upgrade?

Upgrading from existing Ubuntu version to new version is generally safe. In my 17 years of Ubuntu usage, I have never experienced a broken system while upgrading it.

That said, it is not impossible to encounter issues. It's rare but rare events do happen. So, if you have important data, make a backup with timeshift or simply copy the data on an external disk.

Before upgrading, if these things have not been backed up, I copy most of the contents from the home directory to my SanDisk external SSD (partner Amazon link) shown in the picture below. SSD with USB 3 or Thunderbolt have very good copying speed.

Should I upgrade to 26.04 or do a fresh install?

That is up to your technical abilities and convenience. Personally, I feel that a fresh install works better, specially if you have been upgrading to newer versions for the past several versions. Still try the upgrade first and if you feel it is sluggish, you can go for a fresh install.

Remember that you'll lose your data on the disk if you go for a fresh install. So, please make a backup of your important data on an external disk.

If I upgrade to Ubuntu 26.04 can I downgrade to 25.10 or 24.04?

No, you cannot. While upgrading to the newer version is easy, there is no option to downgrade. If you want to go back to Ubuntu 24.04 or 25.10, you’ll have to do a fresh install of the desired version.

Should I be concerned about Wayland only Ubuntu 26.04?

That is really up to you. If you are using a software that is important to your workflow and that software does not support Wayland, then you will have issues.

While it is still possible to install the legacy Xorg display server on KDE, GNOME 50 has completely removed Xorg support. As far as I know, you cannot use Xorg on GNOME 50 or higher anymore.

So, please check which applications are essential for your workflow and then check from their website or forum to verify if they support Wayland or not. Make a decision accordingly if you have to keep on using 24.04 or switch to 26.04.

How do I know if Ubuntu 26.04 supports all my wifi and printer drivers?

While a newer version brings newer kernel that supports more hardware, it is not unheard to encounter wifi connectivity issues.

More questions?

I have tried to answer the common doubts an Ubuntu beginner usually have about a new release. This is coming from seventeen years of using Ubuntu and fourteen years of running this website. But then I am not a beginner anymore and I may not be able to think of all the questions a new Ubuntu user might have. So, if you still have doubts, please ask them in the comments and I'll try to help you out.

If you’ve ever installed Ubuntu or another Linux distro on your MacBook, MacBook Pro, or iMac, you’ve probably run into one persistent frustration: the Apple Magic Mouse and Trackpad just don’t behave like they do when running macOS, but normal ‘Windows” mice work fine.

After pairing via Bluetooth, you might notice that the right-click (secondary click) doesn’t work, the left-click only registers on the far edge, and scrolling or gestures are unreliable at best, if not have a complete mind of their own!

For devices that feel magical on macOS, they can seem downright clunky on Linux. But don’t worry there s a clean, open source solution that fixes everything, its called ‘Magic Mouse HID driver for Linux’ by Ricardo Rodrigues. This lightweight driver re-enables full Apple-style functionality for both the Magic Mouse and the Magic Trackpad under Ubuntu all in under ten minutes.

The Problem: Apple Magic Mouse on Ubuntu

When you connect your Magic Mouse or Trackpad to Ubuntu, it’s recognized as a generic HID (Human Interface Device). The Linux kernel includes a basic driver (hid_magicmouse), but it lacks the full Apple-specific support you’re used to, as you’ll know from using a Windows mouse with macOS there is something different about these magic mice and that’s why they don’t work like they should. It’s frustrating because the Magic Mouse hardware itself is excellent it just needs the right software layer.

Typical issues include:

• Right-click not working (or only works occasionally)

• Left-click zones inconsistent, requiring firm presses on the far left side

• No smooth scrolling or gestures

• Battery percentage not reported correctly

• Overall lag or stutter when using Bluetooth

The Solution: magicmouse-hid Driver

That’s where the Linux-Magic-Trackpad-2-Driver project comes in. Developer Ricardo E. P. Rodrigues created a modern replacement for the kernel’s built-in driver. His project, hosted on GitHub as Linux-Magic-Trackpad-2-Driver, adds proper gesture handling, right-click recognition, and full multitouch support for:

• Apple Magic Mouse (1st & 2nd Gen)

• Apple Magic Trackpad (1st & 2nd Gen)

The driver is distributed as a DKMS module (Dynamic Kernel Module Support), which means it automatically rebuilds itself whenever Ubuntu updates your kernel no need to reinstall it every time you upgrade.

How to Install the Magic Mouse / Trackpad Driver on Ubuntu

The process is simple and safe. It doesn’t modify your kernel permanently and can be uninstalled easily.

Step-by-Step Guide

Open your terminal and run the following commands one by one:

# 1. Install DKMS and Git
sudo apt install dkms git -y

# 2. Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/RicardoEPRodrigues/Linux-Magic-Trackpad-2-Driver.git

# 3. Move into the folder
cd Linux-Magic-Trackpad-2-Driver

# 4. Make the installer executable
chmod u+x install.sh

# 5. Install the driver
sudo ./install.sh

When the installer completes, reboot your machine or reload the module manually:

sudo modprobe hid_magicmouse

What Gets Fixed

Feature	Before	After Installing Driver
Right-Click	Broken or inconsistent	Works perfectly
Left-Click	Only far left edge	Works across full surface
Scrolling	Jerky, slow	Smooth, natural
Gestures	Limited or none	Supported (depending on model)
Battery	Not shown	Reported accurately in system settings

How to Uninstall

If you ever want to remove the driver, it’s easy:

cd Linux-Magic-Trackpad-2-Driver

./uninstall.sh

When I first paired my Apple Magic Mouse with Ubuntu on a MacBook Pro, it was nearly unusable. Right-click didn’t work, scrolling was jerky, and simple navigation felt broken.

After discovering Ricardo Rodrigues’s magicmouse-hid driver, the difference was night and day. It’s one of those small tweaks that completely changes your Linux experience on Apple hardware, we’re slowly getting to the point everything just works the way it should. (Shame the graphics card couldn’t hey!!), We’re also getting updates and security patches running modern Linux which includes a modern browser too.

If you’re running Ubuntu (or any Linux distro) on a Mac, this is an essential setup step. With just a few terminal commands, your Magic Mouse and Trackpad regain their “magic.”

Make sure you read the full page https://github.com/RicardoEPRodrigues/magicmouse-hid?tab=readme-ov-file which includes bug fixes for bluetooth issues or your mouse not reconnecting after a reboot.

As part of my never-ending mission to give my Ubuntu-powered MacBook Pro just a little more of that macOS polish without losing the Linux soul underneath I recently realised I was missing something very small but very useful: the “shake to find the cursor” feature.

If you’ve used macOS for any amount of time, you know the one. Lose your cursor across multiple screens? Give the mouse or trackpad a quick wiggle and the pointer grows dramatically, making it unmissable.

It turns out… I use that gesture a lot. And after moving my MacBook Pro fully onto Ubuntu (complete with one or two external monitors), I kept instinctively shaking the cursor only for nothing to happen. Not very Apple Geek friendly.

But good news: Linux has caught up.

Two GNOME extensions now bring the macOS cursor-jiggle behaviour straight to Ubuntu:

• Jiggle → For older Ubuntu releases

• Wiggle → For Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and newer

And honestly? They work brilliantly.

Why This Matters (Especially on Multi-Monitor Setups)

1. Lose your cursor on a dual-monitor desk setup?

2. Big hi-res display?

3. Dark wallpapers or themes?

It happens a lot more than you think.

On macOS, shaking the cursor to enlarge it is second nature you barely think about it. Using Ubuntu daily made me realise how ingrained that small UX delight had become. Re-adding it makes Ubuntu feel instantly more fluid and familiar on Mac hardware.

Wiggle vs Jiggle, Which One Do You Need?

Wiggle

For Ubuntu 24.04 LTS / GNOME 45+
👉 https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/6784/wiggle/

This is the modern, smooth, actively-supported version. It simply magnifies the cursor when you shake it just like macOS.

Jiggle

For Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04 LTS on older GNOME versions
Offers several effects (cursor scaling, spotlight, even fireworks). Fun, but not as clean.

Installing Wiggle (Ubuntu 24.04 LTS)

Before you install any GNOME extension through the browser, you need the connector package:

sudo apt install chrome-gnome-shell

Then:

1. Open the extension page here:
   Wiggle → https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/6784/wiggle/

2. Switch the toggle to ON

3. Approve the installation

4. Open Extensions (or GNOME Tweaks) to enable/configure it

Now give your trackpad or mouse a shake… and enjoy that familiar macOS moment.

This tiny tweak genuinely improves daily workflow especially when your MacBook running Ubuntu is hooked up to multiple external displays. It’s one of those micro-interactions you didn’t realise you’d miss until it’s gone.

If you’re aiming to blend the best bits of macOS with the power and flexibility of Linux (like I do here on The Apple Geek), Wiggle is an absolute must-install.

Preview Files Instantly on Linux with GNOME Sushi

If you’ve ever wished macOS-style Quick Look worked on Linux, there’s a neat little tool called GNOME Sushi that makes it possible. It’s fast, simple, and integrates seamlessly with the GNOME desktop.

What It Does

GNOME Sushi lets you preview files without opening them. Highlight a file in Files (Nautilus) and press Space just like Quick Look on a Mac. Images, PDFs, videos, and even text files pop up instantly in a floating window. No extra clicks, no heavy apps just speed.

Installing GNOME Sushi

Installation is ridiculously easy. Open a terminal and type:

sudo apt install gnome-sushi

It’ll pull in the package and all the dependencies. Once installed, just highlight a file in Nautilus and press Space. Boom preview mode activated.

Why It’s Handy

• Fast previews: No waiting for apps to load.

• Supports many file types: From PDFs and images to videos and plain text.

• Lightweight: Doesn’t hog resources like full applications.

Extra Tips

One thing I love about GNOME Sushi is how it handles video and image files. Hover over a video, hit Space, and you get a mini player without opening VLC or any other media app. Images zoom smoothly, and PDFs scroll instantly perfect for when you’re skimming through documents.

It’s also a real workflow booster. Need to check ten files quickly? Highlight, Space, glance, close, repeat. That’s it. No bouncing between apps, no accidental edits just pure preview bliss. For anyone switching from macOS or just wanting more efficiency on Linux, GNOME Sushi is one of those small tweaks that makes daily file management feel a little more magical.

Learn More

You can check out the source code or contribute to the project on GNOME’s official GitLab repository here: https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/sushi.

If you’ve ever tried running Ubuntu on a MacBook, you’ll know the keyboard just feels… wrong. Command keys don’t do what you expect, Option keys aren’t Alt, and all those macOS shortcuts you love are suddenly broken. Add in the trackpad quirks and F-key frustrations, and you quickly realize Linux doesn’t magically turn your MacBook into a perfect clone of macOS at least, not out of the box.

But here’s the good news: with a few small tweaks, you can have all the macOS behaviors you expect, while keeping the full power and customizability of Ubuntu. This post is your ultimate guide.

Keyboard: Command, Option, Control Fixed

By default, Ubuntu treats the MacBook keyboard like any other PC. That means:

• ⌘ (Command) acts as Super (used for GNOME shortcuts, but not Ctrl-like shortcuts)
• ⌥ (Option) acts as Alt, which is okay
• Ctrl stays where it is, but your muscle memory wants Command

We fix this with GNOME Tweaks or a simple command-line setup.

Step 1: Install GNOME Tweaks

sudo apt install gnome-tweaks

Open Tweaks, go to Keyboard & Mouse → Additional Layout Options.

• Swap Ctrl and Win: Makes ⌘ behave like Ctrl
• Alt/Win swap (optional): Makes ⌥ behave as Alt

Step 2: Apply via CLI (Wayland-safe)

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.input-sources xkb-options "['ctrl:swap_lwin_lctl','altwin:swap_lalt_lwin']"

Check with:

gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.input-sources xkb-options

Step 3: Make ⌘+Space Spotlight-style

gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys search "['space']"

Press ⌘+Space instant search.

Step 4: Optional: ⌘ alone → Activities Overview

gsettings set org.gnome.mutter overlay-key 'Super_L'

Now pressing Command alone opens Activities, just like pressing Mission Control on macOS.

Trackpad Tweaks

MacBook trackpads are amazing hardware, but Linux doesn’t always get it right out of the box. Here’s how to fix it:

1. Natural Scrolling: Settings → Mouse & Touchpad → Enable Natural Scrolling
2. Tap-to-Click: Settings → Mouse & Touchpad → Tap to click
3. Gestures (optional): Install touchegg for multi-finger gestures:

   sudo apt install touchegg
   touchegg &
   

   Map three-finger swipe to workspace switch, pinch to zoom, etc.

F-Key and System Controls

MacBook function keys control brightness, volume, and media. Out of the box, Linux may require fn to trigger them.

• Brightness keys: Usually just work; if not, install brightnessctl

  sudo apt install brightnessctl
  

• Volume keys: Check GNOME Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts → Sound
• Media keys: Install playerctl for multimedia key mapping

System Polish

Want your Ubuntu to look like macOS too? A few aesthetic tweaks:

• Fonts: San Francisco / SF Mono (Mac-like fonts)

Apple’s San Francisco font isn’t bundled with Linux, but you can get it from Apple’s official developer site:

1. Go to Apple Developer Fonts and log in with your Apple ID.
2. Download SF Pro or SF Mono.
3. Extract the .zip file.
4. Copy the .otf files to your local fonts directory:

   mkdir -p ~/.local/share/fonts/SF-Pro
   cp ~/Downloads/SF-Pro/*.otf ~/.local/share/fonts/SF-Pro/
   

5. Refresh the font cache:

   fc-cache -f -v
   

6. Select San Francisco (SF Pro) or SF Mono in GNOME Tweaks, Terminal, or apps.

SF Mono is perfect for terminals GNOME Terminal → Preferences → Profile → Text → Custom Font → SF Mono.

Window Buttons: GNOME Tweaks → Themes → Adjust buttons to left

Dock: Use Dash to Dock or Dash to Panel for a macOS-style dock

Backgrounds: Match macOS default wallpaper for familiarity

One-Line Setup Script

#!/bin/bash
# MacBook keyboard remap for Ubuntu
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.input-sources xkb-options "['ctrl:swap_lwin_lctl','altwin:swap_lalt_lwin']"
gsettings set org.gnome.settings-daemon.plugins.media-keys search "['space']"
gsettings set org.gnome.mutter overlay-key 'Super_L'
echo "MacBook keyboard remap applied!"

Save as macbook-ubuntu-tweaks.sh, make executable:

chmod +x macbook-ubuntu-tweaks.sh
./macbook-ubuntu-tweaks.sh

Run it once remaps persist across reboots.

Wrapping Up

With these tweaks, Ubuntu feels so much more like macOS on your MacBook. Shortcuts behave as expected, trackpad gestures are natural, F-keys work without fighting, and the system even looks familiar.

It’s a blend of the power and flexibility of Linux with the polish and muscle memory of macOS. For anyone using a MacBook as their main Linux machine, these tweaks are essential and the best part? They’re fully reversible if you want to experiment.

Reviving the 2011 MacBook Pro: External Display on Ubuntu Without the dGPU

If you’ve read my previous post on repairing the 2011 MacBook Pro GPU failure, you’ll know the story all too well the infamous AMD Radeon dGPU failure that left thousands of otherwise perfect machines effectively useless.

I’d already disabled the faulty AMD GPU at the firmware level and forced Ubuntu to use the integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics. That works brilliantly for most things until you need an external monitor.

The mini DisplayPort on these models is wired only to the discrete GPU, which means once the AMD chip is disabled, the port goes dead. No amount of software trickery will bring it back to life the connection simply doesn’t exist anymore.

But that’s not the end of the road. Thanks to a simple USB DisplayLink adapter and a bit of Linux know-how, we can get full dual-monitor functionality again no soldering, no GPU reflowing, and no magic smoke.

The Problem

• MacBook Pro model: 2011 15-inch (MacBookPro8,2)

• Issue: Discrete AMD GPU failure

• Workaround: Disable AMD GPU, use Intel graphics only

• Result: No working mini DisplayPort

For years, that meant living with just the internal display. But when I installed Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, I discovered a new path forward DisplayLink.

The Solution: DisplayLink USB Graphics

DisplayLink adapters work by compressing the display output over USB and decoding it on the adapter’s built-in chip, then sending it to your monitor via HDMI, DVI, or DisplayPort.

I used the StarTech USB32HDPRO, though almost any DisplayLink-based USB 3.0 adapter should work just as well.

What makes DisplayLink perfect for this situation is that it doesn’t depend on the GPU hardware routes inside the MacBook. It just needs a USB port and those are still alive and well.

Installing the DisplayLink Driver on Ubuntu 24.04

Plugging in the adapter won’t immediately do anything. You’ll need to install the official DisplayLink Linux driver.

Step 1Download the Driver

Go to DisplayLink’s official driver page and grab the latest .zip package for Ubuntu.

Extract it, then in your terminal run:

cd ~/Downloads/DisplayLink* sudo ./displaylink-installer.sh install 

When it finishes, reboot your MacBook:

sudo reboot 

Step 2 Plug In the Adapter

After rebooting, plug your DisplayLink adapter into a USB 3.0 port and connect your external display.

If everything’s gone well, your external monitor should come to life but it’ll probably mirror your internal screen by default. Let’s fix that.

Step 3 Automatically Extend the Display

To make Ubuntu automatically detect and extend your DisplayLink screen every time it’s plugged in (or when you log in), we can use a small shell script.

Create a new file:

sudo nano /usr/local/bin/displaylink-autosetup.sh 

Paste this inside:

#!/bin/bash # displaylink-autosetup.sh — Automatically extend desktop when DisplayLink screen is detected sleep 8 # Wait a few seconds for the DisplayLink driver to load MAIN_DISPLAY=$(xrandr --query | grep " connected" | grep -v "HDMI-" | awk '{ print $1 }' | head -n 1) DL_DISPLAY=$(xrandr --query | grep " connected" | grep "HDMI-" | awk '{ print $1 }' | head -n 1) if [ -n "$DL_DISPLAY" ] && [ -n "$MAIN_DISPLAY" ]; then xrandr --output "$DL_DISPLAY" --auto --right-of "$MAIN_DISPLAY" echo "DisplayLink screen ($DL_DISPLAY) extended to the right of $MAIN_DISPLAY" else echo "No DisplayLink display detected or main display missing." fi 

Save and exit (Ctrl + O, Enter, Ctrl + X), then make it executable:

sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/displaylink-autosetup.sh 

Step 4 Run It Automatically on Startup

Ubuntu’s “Startup Applications” tool can handle this easily.

If it’s not already installed:

sudo apt install gnome-startup-applications 

Then launch it:

gnome-session-properties 

Click Add →
Name: DisplayLink Auto Setup
Command: /usr/local/bin/displaylink-autosetup.sh
Comment: Automatically extend DisplayLink screen

Step 5 Run It After Sleep/Wake (Optional)

If you often close your lid or suspend the MacBook, add this small script so it re-applies after waking:

sudo nano /lib/systemd/system-sleep/displaylink-resume.sh 

Paste this in:

#!/bin/bash case $1 in post) export DISPLAY=:0 export XAUTHORITY=/home/$USER/.Xauthority /usr/local/bin/displaylink-autosetup.sh ;; esac 

Then:

sudo chmod +x /lib/systemd/system-sleep/displaylink-resume.sh 

Now whenever your MacBook wakes up, it’ll re-detect the DisplayLink monitor and extend it automatically.

The Result

After this setup:

• Ubuntu boots using the Intel integrated GPU only

• The DisplayLink adapter provides a second monitor via USB

• The display layout automatically restores at login or wake

• No reliance on the failed AMD dGPU

Performance is perfectly usable for web, office work, and even lightweight development. You won’t be gaming or editing 4K video on it but for daily use, it’s an elegant fix that keeps these old machines alive and productive.

Final Thoughts

This 2011 MacBook Pro might have been written off years ago by Apple, but with Ubuntu and a little Linux ingenuity, it’s still a fully functional laptop in 2025 complete with dual monitors.

In true Apple Geek fashion, this is about more than saving an old Mac it’s about understanding and adapting the hardware to keep it useful long after the official support has ended.

If you’re following this series, next time I’ll show how to fine-tune power management and cooling on these Intel-only 2011 models to make them run cooler and quieter under Linux.