Ubuntu Cleaner stands out as a practical tool designed to free up space and maintain the cleanliness of your Ubuntu system. It removes unnecessary files, including old kernel versions, Apt cache, and thumbnail cache, which can often consume valuable disk space. Notably, Ubuntu Cleaner offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies system maintenance tasks, making it accessible even to those new to Linux.
Key Features of Ubuntu Cleaner:
- Removes unnecessary packages and old kernels to free up space.
- Clears out Apt cache, enhancing system performance.
- Deletes thumbnail cache, preventing privacy leaks.
- Cleans browser cache for Firefox, Chrome, and more, protecting your online privacy.
- It offers a straightforward graphical interface, making it accessible to all users.
- Supports a range of Ubuntu versions, ensuring broad compatibility.
- It frees up space efficiently, allowing for a smoother system operation.
- Facilitates a cleaner, more organized Linux environment, contributing to overall system health.
Let’s dive into how to keep your system clean and performing at its best.
Install Ubuntu Cleaner via APT PPA
Preparing Your Ubuntu System Before Ubuntu Cleaner Installation
Before installing Ubuntu Cleaner, ensuring that your Ubuntu system is up-to-date is essential. This step is crucial as it minimizes the chances of running into any package conflicts during the installation of Ubuntu Cleaner. Let’s start by updating the package lists for upgrades and new package installations. This action fetches the latest information about the packages from the repositories configured in your system:
sudo apt updateAfter updating the package lists, upgrading all your system packages is time. This step ensures that you’re running the most recent versions of your installed software, which often includes essential security patches and bug fixes:
sudo apt upgradeAdd Ubuntu Cleaner’s Personal Package Archive (PPA)
The next step in installing Ubuntu Cleaner involves adding the necessary Personal Package Archive (PPA) to our Ubuntu system. A PPA is a unique software repository for uploading source packages to be built and published as an Advanced Package Tool (APT) repository by Launchpad. In our case, we are interested in the PPA for Ubuntu Cleaner, which Gerard Puig maintains.
We can add this PPA using the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gerardpuig/ppa -yThis command will add the Ubuntu Cleaner PPA to our list of sources, allowing us to install the Ubuntu Cleaner software directly from the command line.
Refresh Package List After Ubuntu Cleaner PPA Import
With the Ubuntu Cleaner PPA added to our system, we should update the package list again. This step is crucial as it lets your system know about the new packages available from the recently added PPA. Run the following command to achieve this:
sudo apt updateInstall Ubuntu Cleaner on Ubuntu via APT Command
With all the groundwork, we’re finally ready to install Ubuntu Cleaner. This step involves using the apt package handling utility. As we have already added the PPA for Ubuntu Cleaner and updated our package list, we can proceed to install Ubuntu Cleaner by simply running the command below:
sudo apt install ubuntu-cleanerLaunching Ubuntu Cleaner via CLI or GUI
CLI Method to Launch Ubuntu Cleaner
Now that Ubuntu Cleaner is successfully installed on your system, it’s time to implement this powerful tool. There are several ways to launch Ubuntu Cleaner, each catering to a different user preference. If you’re comfortable working with the terminal, you can kickstart Ubuntu Cleaner using simple command-line instructions.
Invoke the following command in your terminal:
ubuntu-cleanerInitiating Ubuntu Cleaner from the Desktop
Ubuntu Cleaner is designed to cater to all user preferences, including those who favor a graphical user interface (GUI) over the command line. Ubuntu Cleaner can be conveniently accessed for desktop users via Ubuntu’s Applications dashboard.
Navigate through the following path on your desktop:
Activities > Show Applications > Ubuntu Cleaner
Additional Ubuntu Cleaner Commands
Update Ubuntu Cleaner
Ubuntu Cleaner, much like other installed packages on your Ubuntu system, typically updates itself automatically. This is possible through the APT package manager, which handles updates for all installed packages on your system. However, there may be instances when you prefer or need to check for updates manually. If you find yourself in such a scenario, you can turn to the terminal for assistance:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradeThe above command represents a two-fold action. The first part, sudo apt update, updates the list of available packages and their versions, but it does not install or upgrade any packages. The second part, sudo apt upgrade, on the other hand, upgrades all the installed packages on your system. Using the && operator, we can conveniently run these two commands in succession.
Remove Ubuntu Cleaner
Sometimes, you may not need Ubuntu Cleaner installed on your system. Whether this is because you have found an alternative tool or you want to free up some space, removing Ubuntu Cleaner can be achieved through a single command:
sudo apt remove ubuntu-cleanerRemoving the Ubuntu Cleaner PPA
After removing Ubuntu Cleaner from your system, the final step is to remove the associated repository. However, a word of caution is in order here. If you have installed other applications from the same repository, you should not remove them. Removing a repository will prevent updates for all packages installed from it. But if you need to proceed, you can do so with the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:gerardpuig/ppa -yClosing Thoughts
In this guide, we walked you through installing Ubuntu Cleaner on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, or 20.04 LTS versions using the trusty command line and APT Package Manager. It’s a straightforward tool that promises to keep your system lean by removing the digital clutter that accumulates over time. Our final recommendation? Make Ubuntu Cleaner a regular part of your system maintenance routine. It’s simple to use and effective and can help your Ubuntu system stay in top shape, ensuring it runs smoothly and stays secure. Remember, a clean system is a happy system. Give it a try, and see the difference for yourself!