Ubuntu 26.04 provides excellent support for various peripherals and network connections. This article covers the specific steps for WiFi/wired network configuration, Bluetooth device pairing, printer setup, and multi-monitor management.

WiFi Wireless Network

Connecting to WiFi

1. Click the system status area in the top-right corner of the top bar
2. In the Quick Settings panel, click the arrow next to the WiFi icon
3. Select your wireless network from the list
4. Enter the password and click “Connect”

Connecting to a Hidden Network

If your WiFi network has a hidden SSID:

1. Open “Settings > WiFi”
2. Click “Connect to Hidden Network” at the bottom of the list
3. Manually enter the network name (SSID), security type, and password

Managing Saved Networks

Under “Settings > WiFi”, click the gear icon next to a connected network to:

• View detailed information like IP address and MAC address
• Configure a static IP address
• Set DNS servers
• Configure proxy settings
• Choose whether to connect automatically

Command-Line Network Management

Use the NetworkManager command-line tool nmcli:

# View all network connections
nmcli connection show
 
# View available WiFi networks
nmcli device wifi list
 
# Connect to WiFi
nmcli device wifi connect "NetworkName" password "Password"
 
# Disconnect
nmcli connection down "ConnectionName"
 
# View network device status
nmcli device status

Wired Network (Ethernet)

Wired networks usually work plug-and-play. For manual configuration:

1. Open “Settings > Network”
2. Click the gear icon in the “Wired” section
3. In the IPv4 tab, choose the configuration method:
   • Automatic (DHCP): Default, suitable for most situations
   • Manual: Set static IP, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS

Configuring a Static IP (Command Line)

# View current connection name
nmcli connection show
 
# Set static IP
nmcli connection modify "Wired connection 1" \
  ipv4.addresses 192.168.1.100/24 \
  ipv4.gateway 192.168.1.1 \
  ipv4.dns "8.8.8.8,114.114.114.114" \
  ipv4.method manual
 
# Reactivate the connection
nmcli connection up "Wired connection 1"

Bluetooth Device Pairing

Graphical Interface Pairing

1. Open “Settings > Bluetooth”
2. Make sure the Bluetooth toggle is on
3. Put your Bluetooth device in pairing mode
4. When the device appears in the list, click its name to pair
5. Confirm the pairing code if prompted

Supported Bluetooth device types include:

• Bluetooth headphones/speakers
• Bluetooth keyboards/mice
• Bluetooth game controllers
• Phone file transfer

Quick Settings Panel

The Quick Settings panel in the top bar allows you to quickly toggle Bluetooth on/off and switch to paired audio devices.

Bluetooth Troubleshooting

If you encounter Bluetooth connection issues:

# Check Bluetooth service status
systemctl status bluetooth
 
# Restart Bluetooth service
sudo systemctl restart bluetooth
 
# Use the bluetoothctl command-line tool
bluetoothctl
# Inside bluetoothctl:
# power on        - Turn on Bluetooth
# scan on         - Scan for devices
# pair XX:XX:XX   - Pair a device
# connect XX:XX:XX - Connect to a device

Printer Setup

Ubuntu 26.04 uses the CUPS printing system, and most USB and network printers are automatically recognized.

Automatic Detection

When you connect a USB printer, the system will usually detect it automatically and install the driver. Network printers on the same LAN may also be discovered automatically.

Manually Adding a Printer

1. Open “Settings > Printers”
2. Click “Add Printer”
3. The system will search for available printers
4. Select your printer, and the system will install the driver automatically

Adding a Network Printer (Manual)

If the printer is not automatically discovered:

# Install the graphical printer configuration tool
sudo apt install system-config-printer
 
# Run the graphical configuration tool
system-config-printer

You can also access the CUPS web interface via browser:

http://localhost:631

Common Printer Brand Drivers

# HP printers
sudo apt install hplip hplip-gui
 
# Brother printers (download drivers from the official website)
# Epson printers
sudo apt install printer-driver-escpr
 
# Universal PPD drivers
sudo apt install printer-driver-gutenprint

Printing a Test Page

After adding a printer, click the printer name in “Settings > Printers” and select “Print Test Page” to verify the configuration.

Multi-Monitor Configuration

Ubuntu 26.04’s GNOME 50 provides excellent multi-monitor support.

Basic Setup

1. After connecting an external monitor, open “Settings > Displays”
2. The display arrangement diagram shows all connected monitors
3. Drag monitor icons to adjust their relative positions

Display Modes

• Join Displays (Extended): Each monitor shows different content, extending your workspace
• Mirror: All monitors show the same content, suitable for presentations
• Single Display Only: Disable output to other monitors

Per-Monitor Settings

Click a monitor icon to set individually:

• Resolution: Select the best resolution supported by the monitor
• Refresh Rate: Select high refresh rates (e.g., 144Hz) if supported
• Scale: HiDPI screens are recommended at 200%; fractional scaling (125%, 150%, 175%) is also supported
• Rotation: Supports landscape, portrait, inverted, and other orientations

Enabling Fractional Scaling

In GNOME 50, fractional scaling (125%, 150%, 175%, etc.) is a built-in option in the Display settings panel — just pick it from the “Scale” selector above. No command-line configuration is needed.

Primary Monitor Setting

In Display settings, click the screen you want as the primary monitor, then check “Set as Primary Display”. The primary monitor will show the top bar and system notifications.

Multi-Monitor and Workspaces

Under “Settings > Multitasking”, you can choose workspace behavior:

• Primary monitor only: Workspace switching only affects the primary monitor
• All monitors: Workspace switching affects all monitors

Command-Line Monitor Management

The Ubuntu 26.04 desktop is a Wayland-only session, so xrandr only affects XWayland apps and cannot set the actual monitor layout, resolution, or refresh rate. For almost all cases, use the “Settings > Display” panel.

If you genuinely need a command-line/scriptable approach, use GNOME’s gnome-monitor-config:

# List current monitors and their available modes
gnome-monitor-config list
 
# Example: set HDMI-1 to 2560x1440@144 and place it to the right of eDP-1
gnome-monitor-config set \
  -LpM eDP-1 \
  -LM HDMI-1 -x 1920 -m 2560x1440@144

For lower-level control, you can also use Mutter’s D-Bus interface (org.gnome.Mutter.DisplayConfig).

Summary

Ubuntu 26.04 provides comprehensive support for network connections, Bluetooth devices, printers, and multi-monitor setups. Most configurations can be completed through the Settings app, and command-line tools are available for fine-tuning in special cases. If you encounter hardware compatibility issues, check the Ubuntu official hardware certification list or community forums for help.