Linux for Beginners: Your First 10 Minutes
If you have used Windows or a Mac for years, the word "Linux" can sound like something only computer experts touch. I felt the same. The good news is that a modern Linux desktop looks and behaves much like the computers you already know: there are windows, a place to launch apps, a file manager and a bin. In this guide we will spend your first ten minutes together, gently, and nothing we do can break anything.
What is Linux?
Linux is a free operating system, the bit of software that runs your computer, just as Windows or macOS does. Strictly speaking, "Linux" is the kernel, the core that talks to your hardware. It was started by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and is still developed in the open today (you can see the latest versions at kernel.org).
On its own the kernel is not much use to you or me, so it is bundled with a desktop, apps and settings into a complete package called a distribution, or "distro". Two of the friendliest for beginners are Linux Mint and Ubuntu. Both are free to download and use.
What is a "desktop environment"?
This is simply the look and feel: the panel or dock, the menu and the window buttons. Linux Mint, for example, comes in three editions, Cinnamon, Xfce and MATE, and the Linux Mint team describes Xfce as lightweight and lighter on resource usage. They all do the same job; they just look a little different. So if your screen does not look exactly like mine, don't worry.
Why would I use it?
- It's free. Linux Mint and Ubuntu cost nothing to download or use.
- It can give an older computer a new lease of life. Lighter desktops such as Xfce are designed to use fewer resources.
- It comes with useful apps. Most distros include a web browser, an office suite such as LibreOffice and a file manager out of the box.
- Curiosity. Honestly, it is quite satisfying to learn something new, and Linux runs a huge amount of the world's technology behind the scenes.
What does Linux look like?
If you have only ever used Windows or a Mac, you might be picturing something a bit scary. Happily, a modern Linux desktop looks friendly and familiar. Here are two of the most popular beginner choices, just as they appear when you first start them up.
Linux Mint 22.3
Linux Mint feels a lot like Windows. There is a Menu button in the bottom-left corner, a panel along the bottom and a clock in the corner, so you will feel at home straight away.
Ubuntu 26.04
Ubuntu does things a little differently, with a dock down the left-hand side and a bar across the top. It looks a touch more like a Mac, but everything is still just a click away.
Don't worry if yours looks slightly different. Colours and wallpapers change between versions, but the basics stay the same.
Prefer to watch? Here's a quick video tour of Linux Mint:
Step by step: your first 10 minutes
Step 1: Have a look around the desktop
Take a moment before clicking anything. You will usually see a background picture, and a panel or dock along the edge of the screen holding icons for your favourite apps. On my demo machine it is a small dock at the bottom of the screen. Hover your mouse over an icon and its name pops up.
Step 2: Find your apps
On Linux Mint, click the Menu button in the bottom-left corner; on Ubuntu, click Show Apps (the grid of dots). On a simpler desktop with a dock, just click the app's icon in the dock. One click opens it, just like on a Mac.
Step 3: Open the Files app
The file manager is Linux's version of File Explorer or Finder. Depending on your distro it may be called Files, Nemo or Thunar, and it usually has a folder icon. Open it and you will see familiar folders such as Documents, Downloads and Pictures. Double-click a folder to go in, and use the back arrow to come out again.
Step 4: Write a quick note
Every distro has a simple text editor (Linux Mint's is called Text Editor, and many systems also include LibreOffice Writer for proper documents). Open one, type a sentence such as "My first note on Linux", then press Ctrl+S to save it. Pick the Documents folder, give it a name and click Save. Those keyboard shortcuts you already know, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V and Ctrl+Z, work here too.
Step 5: Open the Terminal (don't panic!)
The Terminal is a window where you type instructions instead of clicking. It has a scary reputation, but the three commands below only look at things; they cannot change or delete anything. Open the Terminal from your menu or dock, then type each command and press Enter:
pwdstands for "print working directory". It tells you which folder you are currently in.lsstands for "list". It shows the files and folders in that folder, the same ones you saw in the Files app.dateshows today's date and time. You can also tryecho Hello, which simply repeats back whatever you type after it.
That's it. You have just used the command line, and the computer is exactly as you left it. To close the Terminal, type exit or click the cross on the window.
Useful tips
- Press the Up arrow in the Terminal to bring back the last command, which saves retyping.
- Press Tab while typing a file or folder name and the Terminal will try to finish it for you.
- Copying in the Terminal is different: use Ctrl+Shift+C and Ctrl+Shift+V, because Ctrl+C means "stop what you're doing".
- Try before you install. Linux Mint and Ubuntu can run as a "live" session from a USB stick, so you can explore without changing your computer at all. Back up your files before you ever install anything.
Common problems
"Command not found"
Check your spelling. Commands are case-sensitive, so LS is not the same as ls, and there is no full stop at the end.
My screen doesn't look like yours
That is normal. Different distros and desktops arrange things differently. Look for a menu button, a dock or a grid of dots, and you won't go far wrong.
The Terminal seems stuck
Press Ctrl+C to stop whatever is running and get your prompt back.
Where did my file go?
Open the Files app and look in Documents, or in your Home folder, which is where most things are saved by default.
The 45-second version
Short on time? Here's a quick Linux Mint tour in under a minute.
Security and privacy
- Only download Linux from the official website, such as linuxmint.com or ubuntu.com. Ignore "free download" adverts on other sites.
- Be wary of the word
sudo. It runs a command with administrator powers and will ask for your password. Never paste asudocommand you found online unless you understand it and trust the source. - Install updates when prompted. Linux Mint has an Update Manager and Ubuntu has Software Updater; both keep you safe.
- Your prompt can show your name. The text before the cursor in the Terminal often includes your username and computer name, so bear that in mind before sharing screenshots.
FAQs
Is Linux really free?
Yes. Linux Mint states that it is completely free of charge, funded by donations and advertising, and Ubuntu is also free to download.
Will trying Linux delete Windows?
Not if you only try it as a live session from a USB stick. Installing is a separate, deliberate step, and you should back up first.
Do I have to use the Terminal?
No. Day-to-day tasks such as browsing, email, photos and documents can all be done with the mouse. The Terminal is there if you want it.
Which distro should I start with?
Linux Mint and Ubuntu are both popular, well supported choices for beginners. Mint will feel especially familiar if you are coming from Windows.
Final thoughts
Ten minutes in, and you have found your apps, opened the Files app, saved a note and typed your first commands. Not bad at all! Linux is far less intimidating than its reputation suggests, and you can learn it at your own pace, one small step at a time. Have a go, and tell me in the comments how you got on.
Read next
- Google Docs for Beginners: Write, Save and Share Free
- Google Password Manager for Beginners: Save Passwords
Last checked: 12 October 2026
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