How To Install Drivers Ubuntu

Step 2a: Install The Latest Nvidia Driver

Since the Steam Proton update is so new, it requires a newer Nvidia driver than what's distributed with Ubuntu 18.04.1. Using Terminal, let's enter a few commands to gain access and install it. No clicking through menus or advancing through setup screens, no manual downloading. I promise it's easier than you think!

Simply hit your Windows Key (which is called the Super key in Linux) and type 'Terminal.' Once it's open, type the following commands (note that 'sudo' means you're executing the command as an administrator or 'root' so you'll need to enter your user password):

• sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
• sudo apt-get update
• sudo apt install nvidia-driver-396
• reboot

This command adds a software repository to your Ubuntu installation

Sidebar: But what does all that mean? In the first line you added another software source to Ubuntu, allowing you to snag the latest and greatest graphics drivers. This means they'll auto-update now as well. In the second line, you instructed Ubuntu to scan for the newest software available, as well as the 'dependencies' or supporting software required, which will be installed automatically. In the third line, you told Ubuntu to install the newest Nvidia driver, which as of this writing is 396.54.

(Note that after 'apt-update' you can also browse to your 'Software & Updates' app, click the Additional Drivers tab, and select the newest available Nvidia driver. This may be necessary if you have an older model GeForce card.)

'Reboot' is self-explanatory! I figured hey, since you're in Terminal already, take the geeky option.

If you want to verify your Nvidia driver version, simply hit your Super key, type 'Nvidia' and click on the result which brings up 'Nvidia X Server Settings.'

This screen verifies your Nvidia driver version.

Step 2b: Install the latest AMD drivers.

I'm hesitant to write instructions for methods I haven't tested personally, but if you're using an AMD Radeon graphics card there's a brief guide for installing the AMD MESA drivers here. It follows pretty much the same procedure. I hope to do testing on RX Series and Vega cards in the near future.

Step 3: Install Steam

If you're feeling comfortable with Terminal, installing Steam is ridiculously easy. Type 'sudo apt install steam' and you're good to go. However, let's get you introduced to the Ubuntu Software Center. The fastest way to find Steam there is by hitting your Super key (remember, the Windows key!) and typing 'Steam.' Click the result and you'll arrive at the Software Center. Hit install, type your user password and that's it. Once it's finished, either click 'Launch' or hit your Super key again and type Steam.

Tip: Once Steam updates, just drag the icon up on your Ubuntu Dock and it will automatically add it your favorites.

Step 4: Activate the Steam Play Beta Launch Steam

Steam will now update to the latest Beta version, which includes Proton.

Update: The Steam Play with Proton update was just integrated into the mainline Steam client. That was fast! This means there's no need to opt-in to the Beta.

With Proton, Valve has officially whitelisted only 27 games which you can find here. By default these are the games that will be supported. To play them, simply find them in the store. If you already own them on Windows, just install them normally. Your cloud saves will also carry over between operating systems.

But here's the thing: nearly 1000 more are perfectly playable, and this update has only been live for about a week. If you want to get adventurous, move on to Step 5.

Step 5 (Optional): Hit The Override Button

With Steam Play there's a bit of a nuclear option if you want to try playing literally anything available on Steam for Windows. The majority of the 2000+ games tested thus far are marked as either Stable or Completely Stable, but it's a good idea to check here first. Some don't work, some are buggy, but there's still 1000+ more games that are fully playable on Linux than there were a week ago! In a nutshell, browsing to Steam --> Settings --> Steam Play and checking the 'Use Steam Play For All Titles' box will apply the Proton tools to games not yet verified by Valve to have perfect, native-like performance. It significantly increases your options, but some games may not work as expected or they'll be buggy.

Again, remember this is a rapidly evolving projectand you're in on the ground floor. Thinking about where we go from here makes my enthusiasm skyrocket.

Community Support:

I've found the Linux community to be incredibly active and ridiculously helpful when it comes to troubleshooting anything. If you get stuck along the way, here are a couple resources which I've found personally beneficial:

• Reddit: Steam Play & Proton Cheat Sheet (an awesome and crucial resource for more advanced users!)

MORE ABOUT LINUX ON FORBES:

I've just installed Ubuntu and I need either video, wireless, or some sort of other manufacturer (non-opensource) driver. How can I run the tool that will fetch all of these for me? I'd like graphical instructions.

How To Install Drivers Vista

Related:

4 Answers

Unity (12.04)

Ensure that you are connected to the internet, if you are installing wireless drivers then usually you need to be plugged in via an ethernet cable. Click on the Ubuntu logo in the launcher and type drivers and click on the icon that appears.

If you have hardware for which there are supporting drivers to download, they'll show up in this window and allow you to install them. If nothing shows up in this window then you probably don't need drivers installed for your hardware as they come bundled with Ubuntu.

Unity (15.10 and 15.04/14.04/13.04/14.10/13.10/12.10)

Click on the gear icon on the top right corner of your screen and click on 'System Settings' from that menu, click on Software Sources (or you can click on the Ubuntu button and search for 'Sources':

and then on the Additional drivers tab:

to complete the already excellent accepted answer

Important:Firstly, ensure that you are connected to the internet either wirelessly or via fixed ethernet.

Lubuntu

Kubuntu

Xubuntu

and what happens next...

and after selecting Additional Drivers (or Hardware Drivers in 10.04)

The following briefly appears

Followed by:

Choose from the list of offered drivers - click the Activate button.

How To Install Nvidia Drivers Ubuntu 18.04

Then reboot.

How To Install Nvidia Drivers Ubuntu 16.04

Drivers

Unlike Windows, most hardware is natively supported in Ubuntu and does not require separate drivers to work. Generally speaking, if it works don't worry about a driver not being installed. Please note: there is a bug so that your graphics card will be displayed as Unknown in System Settings even if the driver is correctly installed and working--you can safely ignore this (or see this Q&A for the workaround).

If however something isn't working:

Ubuntu uses a graphical user interface called jockey or 'Additional Drivers' to manage and install hardware drivers that are not natively supported by Ubuntu.

To open it hit Alt+F2 and type jockey-gtk.

A window will then open that will allow you to select additional drivers for sound, video, wireless etc. Here's a screenshot of this window, I already have several drivers enabled.

If something still doesn't work and you don't see a relevant driver in Jockey, please post a specific question including as much information about your hardware and what you have tried!

Applications

New applications on the other hand--as opposed to drivers--will have to be installed manually. However, unlike Windows, Ubuntu manages software centrally using repositories--in short, you don't have to go find/download software yourself. Ubuntu Software Center is one option for installing software (see this question) but you can also install from the command line usingsudo apt-get install software-name (see this question for more information on finding/installing software from the command line). You can also download Debian packages (.deb) from the internet and manually install them (or compile software yourself from source code if you are feeling ambitious)--but it's much safer and more convenient to install from the repositories. Welcome to Ubuntu!

protected by Seth♦Feb 28 '14 at 19:37

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