Logging In to Ubuntu and Using the Desktop

Learn how to sign in to Ubuntu, navigate the Unity desktop, find applications with the Dash, use system menus, and shut down safely.

Before You Begin

This lesson assumes that Ubuntu is already installed and that you created a user account during installation. You should also be comfortable using a keyboard and mouse or touchpad.

Ubuntu is a Linux distribution with a graphical desktop environment. A graphical user interface (GUI) lets you operate the computer with windows, menus, icons, and a pointer instead of typing every instruction.

Starting Ubuntu After Installation

Start, or boot, the computer with the Ubuntu installation available. After the operating system loads, Ubuntu normally displays a graphical login screen. This is the screen where you authenticate before Ubuntu opens your desktop session.

Use the account details you created during installation:

A username is the account identifier selected during operating-system setup. It identifies which user account you want to use.
A password is the private credential paired with that username. Password characters are hidden while you type them.

Signing In to the Desktop

Select your user account on the login screen, or enter the account name if Ubuntu asks for it.
Enter the password created during installation. Do not expect the password characters to appear visibly.
Submit the login form using the on-screen control or the Enter key.

If the credentials are correct, Ubuntu starts the graphical desktop session. In the Unity desktop environment, you will see the desktop background, a vertical Launcher on the left, and menus in the top panel.

Understanding the Ubuntu Unity Desktop

Unity is the Ubuntu desktop shell used by the version covered in this lesson. It organizes common controls so that you can access programs, files, devices, settings, and session actions from the graphical desktop.

Desktop area	Location	Primary purpose	Typical actions
Launcher	Vertical bar at the left edge	Quick access to favorite and running applications	Open or switch applications, change workspaces, access removable media, and open Trash
Dash	Near the upper-left area, opened from its control	Search-oriented interface for applications and content	Find applications, documents, music, videos, and recently used items
Top-panel indicators and system menu	Upper-right area	Quick desktop-level settings and session controls	Review network status, change keyboard layout or volume, view time, and shut down

Using the Launcher

The Launcher is the vertical icon bar along the left edge of the screen. Its icons provide one-click access to favorite applications and to applications that are currently running.

Select an application icon to open that application. If the application is already open, selecting its icon usually brings its window to the front. The Launcher can also contain links to:

Workspaces: A workspace is a separate virtual desktop used to organize open windows. Moving between workspaces can help separate different activities.
Removable devices: These include external storage or media, such as an attached USB drive.
Trash: This location holds deleted items before they are permanently removed.

Using the Dash to Find Applications and Content

The Dash is Unity's search-oriented interface. Open it using the Dash control near the upper-left area of the desktop. The Dash displays a search field and category shortcuts, including areas for applications and files. Depending on the content available on the computer, it can also search documents, music, videos, and recently used items.

The basic search workflow is:

Open the Dash.
Click or focus the search field.
Type a descriptive word or short phrase.
Review the matching category or result.
Select the desired result to open it.

Example: Launching an Image Viewer

Suppose you want to view an image but do not know where the image-viewing application is located.

Open the Dash.
Enter a partial, image-related word such as image in the search field.
Review the application results. A short keyword can narrow the list without requiring you to know the exact application name.
Select the matching image-viewing application to start it.

The same approach works for other applications and content. Search for a broad, descriptive term first, then choose the result that matches your goal.

Using the Top-Panel System Menus

The upper-right area of the Unity top panel contains indicator menus and a system menu. These menus are convenient places to check status and make basic desktop-level changes without opening a full settings application.

Control category	What it manages	Example user task
Network	Current network status and available connection options	Review whether the computer is connected or choose an available network
Keyboard layout	The mapping that determines which characters keyboard keys produce	Choose the layout that matches your physical keyboard
Sound volume	Audio output level and related sound controls	Raise, lower, or mute the volume
Date and time	Displayed clock and calendar information	Review the current time and date settings
Power/session	Actions that affect the user session and computer power state	Log out, restart, suspend, or shut down the computer

Example: Reviewing Network Access

Select the network indicator in the upper-right panel.
Review the current connection status and available connection options.
Select an appropriate option if you need to connect or change networks.

Example: Changing a Basic Desktop Setting

Open the relevant top-panel indicator and use its menu. For example, open the sound indicator to adjust volume, the keyboard-layout indicator to choose a layout, or the date-and-time area to review time settings.

Shutting Down Ubuntu Safely

Always begin shutdown through Ubuntu's system or session menu rather than abruptly removing power. A normal shutdown ends the session, allows active applications and system processes to close, and then powers off the computer.

Open the system menu in the upper-right area of the top panel.
Choose the shutdown or power-off action.
Confirm the action in the dialog that appears.
Wait while Ubuntu closes the session and powers off the computer.

Do not force the computer off merely because shutdown takes a short time. Applications may be closing and system processes may be finishing their work.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Login Credentials Are Not Accepted

Re-enter the username carefully. The username is the account identifier created during setup, not necessarily the name displayed on screen.
Re-enter the password carefully.
Check capitalization and make sure Caps Lock is not enabled.
Verify the active keyboard layout where the login screen provides that option. The layout controls which characters keyboard keys produce.
Use the account details created during Ubuntu installation.

The Desired Application Cannot Be Found

Use a shorter or broader search word. For example, search for image rather than a long or uncertain application name.
Check the application category and review all matching results.
If no suitable result appears, the application may not be installed. A desktop search cannot launch a program that is absent.

The Computer Does Not Shut Down Immediately

Check whether the shutdown confirmation dialog is still waiting for you to accept the action.
After confirming, allow Ubuntu time to close applications and system processes safely.
A short delay is normally preferable to interrupting power, which can risk unsaved work or filesystem problems.

Exam-Relevant Notes

The username identifies the account; the password authenticates access to that account.
The Launcher is the vertical left-side bar used for favorite and running applications, workspaces, removable devices, and Trash.
The Dash searches for applications and content such as documents, music, videos, and recent items.
Top-panel indicators provide quick access to network, keyboard layout, sound, date and time, and power/session controls.
Safe shutdown is performed from the system menu and confirmed in the resulting dialog.