This page shows the documentation for each Kubuntu Focus Tool. If you own a Focus system, you can click on a tool icon to launch it immediately. You can also access all tools using Start Menu > Kubuntu Focus Tools.
We create and constantly improve these tools to help you accomplish complex tasks with a click of a button. These tools are a portion of curated apps which you can see here.
Please read the disclaimer before proceeding. We review and update guided solutions like this regularly. If you have suggestions or requests, please write support@kfocus.org.
Every Kubuntu Focus model comes with an 11-page Hints Widget placed at the top-right corner of the desktop. It provides handy hints for both beginners and seasoned Linux veterans. Some highlights include:
Install GPU accelerated AI Machine Learning.
Use this tool to install and test GPU-accelerated Anaconda, PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Jupyter Notebook. See this article for more details.
Change default C compiler version.
Use this tool to switch the compiler tool chain with a click. It may prompt you to install missing components when you change the version. It also requests authorization to coordinate symbolic links in /usr/bin. Each compiler version has the following components:
| Package | Purpose |
|---|---|
| gcc-<version> | The GNU C Compiler |
| gcc-<version>-multilib | Support for non-default architectures |
| g++-<version> | The GNU C++ Compiler |
| g++-<version>-multilib | Support for non-default architectures |
This is useful because AI and other tools often require a specific compiler toolchain version.
View Curated Apps in a new browser window.
Use this tool opens Curated Apps in a new browser window. There, you can find a recommended app for a specific purpose. For example, you can find recommended apps for webcam testing and downloading files.
Install extra optional software.
Use this tool to review and optionally install restricted software. This software must be installed differently because of license restrictions or alternate installation mechanisms:
Change the fan profile.
This tool is now integrated into the Power and Fan tool discussed above. It is retained here for consistency.
View Feature Guide slideshow in a new browser window.
Use this tools to open the Feature Guide slideshow in a new browser window. This guide complements the Welcome Wizard with additional feature information.
Check and repair system configs and libs.
Use this tool to identify and fix undesirable system conditions. FocusRx automatically checks for some issues when you sign in, but you can also run it from the menu or terminal using the focusrx command.
View Guided Solutions in a new browser window.
Use this tool to open Guide Solutions in a new browser window. HOWTOs and forum posts are a great sources of guidance, but they can be sub-optimal, out-of-date, incorrect, or designed for the wrong hardware. Guided Solutions are HOWTOs designed specifically for your system, and can save you hours of research and trial-and-error.
Use the text field at the top to quickly search through all articles!
Optimize to the hardware.
This tool automatically runs in two stages. First, the kfocus-hw package is installed. Second, a package installation stage is run on the next login. Model optimizations include:
View Help Guide in a new browser window.
This tools opens the Help Guide and FAQs in a new browser window. The Help Guide lists external and internal resources to common questions so you can find better solutions faster.
Remove unused and old kernel files.
This tool checks the number of installed kernels when you sign in. If there are too many kernels, or if the /boot partition is over two-thirds full, it prompts you to remove old and unused kernels.
If you have full disk encryption, do not ignore this tool if it appears when you sign in. These systems have a separate /boot partition that must be cleaned-up if it gets too full.
Kernel Clean always tries to keep certain preferred kernels. It never removes the running kernel, for example. Other preferred kernels include OEM-kfocus, HWE-generic, and HWE-low-latency.
Change the keyboard LED colors.
This tools empowers you to set keyboard color and brightness on the M1 and M2 laptops. Other models (XE, Ir14, NX) either have hardware-controlled LEDs (XE, Ir14) or none at all (NX).
You may set your keyboard LEDs to an exact color and brightness with this tool. The system then restores these settings on reboot. Notice the system does not restore colors that are set with the keyboard shortcuts.
Adjust power and fan controls.
Use this tool to manage power consumption, performance, and fan noise.
This shows the power modes provided by power-profiles-daemon. The default on AC is Balanced. Performance lowers latency and improves performance a bit, but it also requires more power. The default on battery is Powersave, and it saves battery but reduces performance.
On laptop models, this shows the screen brightness control which can have a substantial effect on battery life.
This shows frequency governor options. Choose higher in the list for more performance, or lower to extend battery life. Usually there is little performance difference between High and Normal, but Normal is always cooler and quieter.
If you are editing audio or video, pick a mode like Studio with a performance governor to avoid stutters or drops. You might also install the low-latency kernel.
GHz is the maximum boot frequency for a mode. Lower values require less power and cooling. Governor may be Powersave or Performance, where the latter is more responsive but uses more power. Kbd LEDs shows if the keyboard LEDs are turned on. The Kbd LEDs column is shown only on M1 or M2 models with software LED controls.
| Mode | Purpose |
|---|---|
| High | Maximum performance and responsiveness. Highest power, heat, and cooling requirements. Recommended only when maximum performance is required and plugged in. |
| Normal | High performance with normal responsiveness. Reasonable power, heat, and cooling requirements. Set and preferred when plugged in. |
| Studio | Base performance with maximum responsiveness. Reasonable power, heat, and cooling requirements. Designed for studio work, such as live audio editing with the low-latency kernel. |
| Low | Modest performance with normal responsiveness. Lower power, heat, and cooling requirements. Set and preferred when unplugged. |
| Minimal | Restricted performance with normal responsiveness. Lowest power, heat, and cooling requirements. |
On M1, M2, and XE models, you may select a Soft or Linear fan curve. On other models, this section shows how to adjust the fan curves in the BIOS.
Adjust power controls on battery and AC.
This tools optimizes for battery life and performance on unplug and replug events. These values are defaults; most can be changed in System Settings > Power Management:
| Parameter | On Battery | On AC |
|---|---|---|
| Power Profile | Powersave | Balanced |
| Screen Brightness | 20% | 75% |
| Frequency Profile | Low | Normal |
| Keyboard LEDs | Off | On |
Change video sync settings.
The Video Sync Utility can eliminate video tearing when using an Nvidia GPU. It detects all attached displays and then configures the Nvidia composition pipeline feature for all of them at once. This works even for displays that have different refresh rates, such as 144 Hz for the laptop panel and 30 Hz for an external 4K panel.
One could use the Nvidia Settings app to do this manually, but this can be tricky and time-consuming. This is especially true if you use multiple display configurations. This Video Sync Utility automates all of that with a few clicks.
We recommend using the Medium or High setting when watching videos. At other times, with usually switch it to Off because this usually provides the best desktop responsiveness.
This utility may interact with System Settings > Display and Monitor > Compositor > Prevent Tearing (Vsync). We usually leave this to Automatic and have seen no issues, although Never should also be a safe bet.
Run the Welcome Wizard.
This tool runs automatically the first time you sign in, and can be invoked again from the application menu. It assists with internet connection, disk passphrases, extra software, file backups, password managers, email, cloud drives, IDEs, avatars, and curated apps.
You can return to this tool at any time using Start Menu > Kubuntu Focus Tools > Welcome Wizard. This is especially useful if you want an easy tool to change your encrypted disk passphrases.
This is a partial revision history. See the git repository for all entries.
2024-02-24 50384abe Add Hints Widget Section2023-11-18 e770b1c6 Add search and help bar2023-11-10 1d77bfaa Restore Vidsync section2023-10-18 fac730e3 Harmonize language, add auto tools2023-07-13 892f99a9 Update power and fan to latest2023-07-03 9dbdc900 Change four tool icons to white2023-06-17 a7af817b Revise consolidated fan and power language2023-04-26 baa8e31e Consolidate fan and power, adjust image2023-06-16 e256ff30 Add section to disable Ubuntu Pro2023-04-26 baa8e31e Adjust tools format2023-04-20 2e99d64f Update images2022-06-19 2dcb9325 Adjust units to have spaces from values2022-06-05 efe53a53 Fix image links 22022-06-05 6719f776 Fix image links 12022-01-21 668e16d4 Update titles, images2023-04-25 19f0fa02 Update Power and Fan and image2022-01-12 c3295358 First publicationWe try hard to provide a useful solution validated by professionals. However, we cannot anticipate every situation, and therefore cannot guarantee this procedure will work for your needs. Always backup your data and test the solution to determine the correct procedure for you.
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