So, you’ve just installed Debian Linux — congratulations! 🎉 Debian is one of the most stable, secure, and respected Linux distributions in the world. But after installation, Debian starts off pretty minimal, and you’ll likely want to tweak, secure, and optimize it for daily use.

In this guide, we’ll cover the 20 essential things to do after installing Debian, step by step. This beginner-friendly tutorial will make your Debian experience smoother, faster, and more enjoyable — while also adding some customization flair.

1. Update Your System First

After a fresh installation, update your system to the latest packages.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This ensures you’re running with the latest security patches and bug fixes.

2. Enable “contrib” and “non-free” Repositories

Debian’s default repositories only include free software. To install additional drivers and firmware, enable contrib and non-free-firmware.

Open sources list:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

Add contrib non-free-firmware at the end of each line. Example:

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free-firmware

Then update:

sudo apt update

3. Install Essential Drivers

Graphics Drivers

• Intel/AMD usually work out of the box.
• For NVIDIA:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver firmware-misc-nonfree

Wi-Fi Drivers

If Wi-Fi isn’t working:

sudo apt install firmware-linux firmware-iwlwifi
sudo modprobe -r iwlwifi && sudo modprobe iwlwifi

4. Install Build Tools

Many programs require compiling. Install build tools with:

sudo apt install build-essential dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r)

5. Set Up “sudo”

If not already configured:

su -
usermod -aG sudo yourusername

Re-login to apply changes.

6. Install a Better Text Editor

nano works, but you might prefer:

sudo apt install vim

Or graphical editors like gedit, kate, or VS Code.

7. Install a Firewall

Secure your Debian system with UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall):

sudo apt install ufw
sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw status

8. Install GNOME Tweaks or KDE Tools

For GNOME:

sudo apt install gnome-tweaks gnome-shell-extensions

For KDE:

sudo apt install kde-config-gtk-style kde-config-gtk-style-preview

9. Enable Flatpak and Snap Support

For newer apps:

Flatpak

sudo apt install flatpak gnome-software-plugin-flatpak
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Snap

sudo apt install snapd

10. Install Multimedia Codecs

Debian doesn’t include all media codecs by default.

sudo apt install ffmpeg libavcodec-extra vlc

Now you can play almost any audio/video file.

11. Install Useful Utilities

Handy tools to install:

sudo apt install curl wget htop neofetch git unzip zip

• htop → monitor system resources
• neofetch → display system info in style
• git → version control

12. Install a Web Browser

Debian includes Firefox ESR. For alternatives:

• Google Chrome:

wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
sudo apt install ./google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb

• Chromium:

sudo apt install chromium

13. Set Up Backups

Install Timeshift for automatic restore points:

sudo apt install timeshift

14. Install an Office Suite

If not included, add LibreOffice:

sudo apt install libreoffice libreoffice-l10n-en

15. Improve Battery Life (Laptops)

For better laptop performance:

sudo apt install tlp tlp-rdw powertop
sudo systemctl enable tlp

16. Optimize Boot Time

Analyze boot time with:

systemd-analyze blame

Disable unnecessary services:

sudo systemctl disable service-name

17. Install GNOME Extensions (if using GNOME)

Visit extensions.gnome.org to add:

• Dash to Dock
• Clipboard Manager
• System Monitor

18. Install Themes & Icons (Theming Tips 🎨)

Make Debian look modern and elegant.

Install popular themes and icons:

sudo apt install arc-theme papirus-icon-theme

• Themes: Arc, Adapta, Yaru
• Icons: Papirus, Numix, Tela

Apply via GNOME Tweaks → Appearance or KDE’s System Settings → Appearance.

19. Enable Automatic Updates

Keep Debian secure automatically:

sudo apt install unattended-upgrades
sudo dpkg-reconfigure unattended-upgrades

20. Take a Snapshot Before Experimenting

Always take a Timeshift snapshot before installing/testing new software. It makes rollbacks simple if something breaks.

Final Thoughts

Debian is known for stability, security, and reliability. After completing these 20 steps, you’ll have:

• An updated and secure system.
• All drivers and codecs installed.
• A beautiful, customized desktop environment.
• Backup and performance optimizations.

With these tweaks, Debian transforms into a perfect daily driver for work, coding, entertainment, and productivity.