With the Add/Remove item in the Applications menu, you can install programs to do new things with Ubuntu. You can also remove programs you do not want. You need administrative access to use Add/Remove Applications (see Administrative Tasks for more details).

If you know the name of a program you want to install, enter it in the Search field. Otherwise, begin by choosing a software category on the left.

Programs that are already installed have a check mark next to their name. Uncheck a program if you want to remove it from your computer.

When you click Apply Changes, any new software will be downloaded from the Internet, and Ubuntu will make any other changes you selected. If you have not activated the online package archive, you may be asked to insert your Ubuntu CD-ROM to install some packages.

Some software cannot be installed or removed using Add/Remove Applications. If you cannot find the package you are looking for, start the advanced package manager Synaptic (see the section called “Advanced package management”).