How to Install Proprietary Drivers in Ubuntu?

Installing proprietary graphics drivers in Ubuntu is a straightforward process that can significantly boost your system’s gaming performance and hardware compatibility. This guide provides a quick overview of how to safely switch from the default open-source drivers to official proprietary ones from NVIDIA or AMD using both Ubuntu’s built-in graphical user interface and the command-line interface. By following these steps, you will ensure your graphics card runs efficiently with the correct, manufacturer-supported software.

Method 1: Using the Ubuntu GUI (Recommended)

The easiest and safest way to install proprietary drivers is through the native Additional Drivers utility. This method minimizes the risk of system conflicts.

• Open the App Launcher: Press the Super key (Windows key) on your keyboard.
• Search for Drivers: Type “Software & Updates” and open the application.
• Navigate to the Drivers Tab: Click on the Additional Drivers tab located on the far right of the top menu.
• Select Your Driver: Ubuntu will automatically scan your hardware. Once the list populates, look for the driver labeled proprietary and tested (usually the highest version number for NVIDIA cards).
• Apply Changes: Select the radio button next to your chosen proprietary driver, click the Apply Changes button, and enter your system password.
• Restart Your System: Once the installation progress bar completes, restart your computer to activate the new driver.

Method 2: Using the Terminal (CLI)

If you prefer using the command line, or if you are managing a remote machine, you can install the recommended proprietary drivers with a few quick commands.

1. Update your package list: Ensure your system’s package database is up to date.

sudo apt update

2. Check available devices and drivers: Run the driver devices command to see your graphics hardware and the recommended proprietary drivers.

ubuntu-drivers devices

3. Install the recommended driver automatically: The easiest way to proceed via CLI is to let Ubuntu automatically select and install the best proprietary driver for your hardware.

sudo ubuntu-drivers install

4. Alternative - Install a specific driver: If you want a specific version shown in the device list, you can install it manually by name.

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version_number>

5. Reboot: Reboot your system to finalize the installation.

sudo reboot

Verifying the Installation

After your computer restarts, you can confirm that the proprietary driver is active and running correctly.

For NVIDIA users, search for the NVIDIA X Server Settings application in your app menu, or open a terminal and type nvidia-smi. If the command displays your GPU details and driver version, your proprietary graphics driver is successfully installed and active. For AMD users, you can verify your active driver by running lspci -nnk | grep -iA3 vga in the terminal and checking the “kernel driver in use” line.