Ubuntu feels quite at home on the Raspberry Pi these days. Especially if you opt for the 4 GB version or even the one with 8 GB. In this article we explain how to install Ubuntu on your Raspberry Pi and which settings are worth checking.
Although the Raspberry Pi in the fourth version actually still runs on a somewhat ‘sluggish’ SoC – System on a Chip consisting of various CPU and GPU cores and adjacent things to essentially form a computer on a chip – it’s a fast thing. The most limiting factor is actually the throughput of the SD card used.
So buy a copy as soon as possible, with a size of at least 64 GB (128 GB gives you even more options for storing a mountain of extra software and of course data). For the ‘basic’ version of Ubuntu on the Raspberry, 64 GB is already more than enough.
The nice thing is that, in addition to Ubuntu, a range of additional software is also installed, just like we know from the regular ‘PC version’. In terms of functionality, it is therefore not inferior.
What is special is that Ubuntu is also available in a 64-bit version for the Raspberry Pi 4. This – finally – unlocks the full 64-bit potential of the small all-rounder. The default browser of Ubuntu is also Firefox, which is significantly ‘lighter’ in terms of system load than the memory-hungry Chrome under the hood.
In short: by installing Ubuntu on the Raspberry you have an excellent alternative to the more educational standard Raspbian.
Also read: Which Raspberry Pi is the best to buy?
put ubuntu on sd card
Nowadays installing ‘alternative’ operating systems on the Raspberry is a breeze. The makers of the Raspberry have had a universal installer for some time now, with which all the more well-known and popular operating systems for the device can be quickly installed. Download Raspberry Pi Imager available here, for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Start the installer and select via the selection menu under Operating system the option UBUNTU DESKTOP 22.04 LTS (RPI 4/400)†Or – if there is one by now – a newer variant. Insert a microSD memory card into the card reader of your PC or laptop and make sure it is selected under Storage device†Check very carefully whether you have selected the correct drive.
For example, if you use a laptop with a permanently inserted SD card for data storage, you should not select that copy! The card is namely – after confirmation of the installation options that appears after a click on WRITE – deleted.
Install and Configure
The ‘writing’ is a mix of downloading, writing and verifying. When this feast is finished, you’ll see a notification telling you to remove the memory card. Do that and close the installer. You no longer need the PC or laptop with the installer on it.
Insert the microSD card into the card slot of the Raspberry Pi and connect the keyboard, mouse, power supply and display to it. You can now switch on the system (or plug the power supply into the socket). The first time Ubuntu starts takes a little longer than usual; some things are being prepared. Finally, a wizard starts in which you adjust personal preferences and regional settings.
In our case, by the way, that wizard ended with a vague error message. After an (automatic) restart, it turned out that part of our settings had not been implemented. The solution turned out to be simple: go to the Settings from Ubuntu (use the dots button in the dock on the left to access all programs if you don’t see Settings) and still configure it to your liking.
Pay particular attention to the language settings and that of your keyboard, in most cases you choose USA International here. Unless you have a very specific Dutch (or other language) keyboard, the list of keyboards to choose from is extensive!
Getting used to the dock
Once everything is configured, you can get started. It’s nice to know that the Raspberry version of Ubuntu behaves exactly the same as the regular desktop versions that we know from the PC. This includes looking for updates to install if they are available. That is already a big and practical advantage compared to Raspbian, where you have to arrange the search and installation of updates yourself.
The disadvantage of Ubuntu – for Windows users – may be the dock. A traditional start menu is missing. For Mac users it is a feast of recognition: they always know the dock and ‘dot button’ in somewhat similar form from their computer.
If you wish, you can also place the dock horizontally at the bottom of the screen via the dock settings in the Settings app, which in practice works a lot more pleasantly than vertically on the left. You can immediately get started with your installed Ubuntu, in fact you will find all the necessary software on it. Includes blockbuster LibreOffice, Firefox and Thunderbird.
If you want to add software yourself, that is of course possible. For this you use the system’s built-in software store, packed with open source and therefore free software. Can be found by default in the Dock as an icon in the form of – how could it be otherwise – a shopping bag.
For maximum speed
It all works surprisingly fast. We only noticed that in terms of loading times of software everything is a bit tame. That again is that SD card as a hindering factor. If you want continuous speed, you can consider a housing such as the Argon One, where you purchase the bottom plate with an SSD slot. By plugging in a standard M.2 SSD and installing Ubuntu on it, a much faster whole is created.
An additional advantage of the Argon One is that it has a cooling system with a built-in fan. In order for it to work properly, you must: installation instructions for the Ububntu version of the toolâ€
Widely applicable
You can use your set-up system – whether or not equipped with an SSD – as a set-top box for your TV, so you always have a full-fledged computer at hand. And if you are someone who mainly works remotely, then you are basically done with this whole thing. Connect to a remote desktop or log in to your company’s CMS and start working.
The whole is extremely energy efficient, which also makes it interesting for use in, for example, a camper or on a boat. Plenty of options in any case!
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