Installation Walkthrough

Ubuntu 26.04 LTS uses a brand-new installer built with Flutter, featuring a more modern and visually appealing interface with smooth interactions. This page will guide you through the entire installation process step by step.

Installer Overview

The new installer has the following improvements over the traditional Ubiquity installer:

Completely redesigned modern interface
Smoother user experience
Support for automated installation (autoinstall)
Improved partition management
Better accessibility support

Step 1: Select Language

After launching the installer, the first screen is the language selection.

Scroll down the list on the left to find your preferred language
The interface will switch to the selected language
Click Next to continue

Step 2: Select Keyboard Layout

The keyboard layout is automatically selected based on your language choice
You can choose English (US) or another layout that matches your keyboard
Test your keyboard input in the text box below
Click Next after confirming

Step 3: Connect to Network

The installer will list detected network connections
If using a wired connection, it will usually connect automatically
If you need Wi-Fi, select your wireless network and enter the password
You can also choose Don’t connect to the internet and configure it later

Recommendation: If network conditions allow, connecting to the internet is recommended. The installer will download the latest updates and language packs during installation.

Step 4: Choose Installation Type

The installer offers two main options:

Try Ubuntu

Enter the Live desktop environment to experience the system without making any changes to the hard disk. You can start the installation at any time from the install icon on the desktop.

Install Ubuntu

Proceed directly to the installation process.

Step 5: Installation Type

Choose the scope of application installation:

Default Installation

Includes a web browser and basic tools, using less disk space.

Extended Installation

Includes office suite, media players, utilities, and more applications. Suitable for users who want an out-of-the-box experience.

Step 6: Additional Options

Install multimedia codecs: Recommended — needed for playing MP3, MP4, and other common media formats
Download updates during installation: Recommended if connected to the internet
Install third-party drivers: For proprietary drivers for Wi-Fi, GPU, and other hardware — recommended

Step 7: Disk Partitioning

This is the most critical step of the installation process. The installer offers the following options:

Erase disk and install Ubuntu: The simplest option, suitable for new computers or when you don’t need to keep existing data. See Full Disk Installation
Install alongside existing system: Automatically adjusts partitions for dual-booting with Windows. See Dual Boot with Windows
Manual partitioning: Fully customize the partition scheme; for advanced users. See Manual Partitioning

Step 8: Timezone Settings

Click your location on the map or select from the dropdown list
For UTC+8, select Asia/Shanghai

Step 9: Create User Account

Fill in the following information:

Your name: Display name
Computer name: Your computer’s network identifier; use only English letters and numbers
Username: The username for logging in; only lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores allowed
Password: Set a login password; a strong password is recommended
You can choose Log in automatically or Require password to log in

Security tip: Unless this is a personal-use-only computer with no sensitive data, it’s recommended to choose “Require password to log in.”

Step 10: Review and Install

The installer will display a summary of all your choices. Carefully review the following:

Is the partition scheme correct?
Is the timezone correct?
Is the user information correct?

After confirming everything is correct, click Install to begin.

Installation Process

Installation typically takes 10-30 minutes, depending on hardware performance and whether updates are being downloaded. During installation, a slideshow introducing Ubuntu’s features will be displayed.

Installation Complete

When the installation finishes, the installer will prompt you to:

Click Restart Now
During the restart, you’ll be prompted to remove the USB drive — remove it and press Enter to continue
The computer will boot into your brand-new Ubuntu 26.04 system

Congratulations! Next, refer to Post-Installation Setup to complete your initial system configuration.

FAQ

How long does Ubuntu installation take?

On a modern computer with an SSD, the entire installation process typically takes only 10-20 minutes. If you chose to download updates during installation, the time will increase depending on your internet speed, but generally won’t exceed 30 minutes.

Will installing Ubuntu delete Windows?

Not necessarily. During installation, you can choose “Install alongside existing system” to keep Windows and set up dual boot. Only selecting “Erase disk” will clear all data. It’s always recommended to back up important files before installation.

What if the installation fails?

First, check whether the ISO file is intact (refer to the ISO verification page), then confirm the USB drive was created correctly. If the installation freezes, try adding nomodeset to the boot parameters to rule out GPU compatibility issues. You can also disconnect from the network and choose an offline installation, then configure networking and updates after installation.