Kubuntu Focus: Kubuntu Focus Tools Guided Solution

Kubuntu Focus Tools

Simplify Your Life

This page shows the documentation for each Kubuntu Focus Tool. 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.

If you are using 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. If you are using a Focus system, and cannot launch a tool by clicking on its icon on this page, please see the Troubleshooting section.

Kubuntu Focus Tools make hard things easy.

Please read the disclaimer before proceeding. We review and update guided solutions regularly. If you have suggestions or requests, please write support@kfocus.org.

Hints Widget

Every Kubuntu Focus model comes with an 11-page Hints Widget. By default, the Hints Widget appears at the top-right corner of the desktop. It provides handy advice for both beginners and seasoned Linux veterans. Highlights include:

Model-specific Plasma Desktop shortcuts for tiling windows, switching desktops, or finding a lost mouse pointer.
Model-specific shortcuts for your hardware controls. Examples include brightness, volume, sleep, and screenshots.
A cheat sheet with commonly used Bash shell commands. Examples include finding files, troubleshooting network issues, and fixing permissions.
A Vim text editor quick reference. This brief-yet-thorough guide also shows how to exit vim.

Show Widget on Demand

Long press, then drag-and-drop the widget to the panel. This installs an icon in the panel that you can click on to view and interact with the widget.
To restore the widget to the desktop, right-click on the panel and select Enter Edit Mode. Then drag the icon from the panel back to the desktop. You can now exit edit mode. Then long-press on the widget icon to resize it.
An alternate way to restore the widget is to delete the icon from the panel and then use the To restore the widget step detailed in the next section.

Deleting and Restore Widget

To remove the widget, long-press on it until you see a trash can on the bottom-left corner and click on it.
To restore the widget, navigate to System Settings > Appearance and then select any of the six Focus themes. When presented with a pop-up that states “The following will be applied by this Global Theme,” make sure to check [x] Desktop and window layout and then click the [Apply] button. This will restore the original layout and the widget.

WARNING: Remember this CHANGES the theme and layout, overwriting any custom changes. It will also move desktop shortcuts and icons to their default locations.

Find commands and shortcuts with the Hints Widget.

Anaconda GPU AI Suite Installer

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.

Install tools for machine learning and AI with the GPU AI Suite Installer.

C Compiler Switcher

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.

Switch C compiler versions with the C Compiler Switcher.

Curated Apps

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.

Disk Passphrase Changer

Change your system's disk encryption passphrase

If for any reason you wish to change your system's disk encryption passphrase, you can use the Disk Passphrase Changer to do so. This tool is part of the Welcome Wizard, and launching it will launch the Welcome Wizard with the disk passphrase page pre-selected.

Extra Software Installer

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:

DVD Support Libraries
Microsoft Core Fonts like Arial and Comic Sans
VirtualBox Extensions
Nvidia Drivers
Others as needed

Fan Control

Change the fan profile.

This tool is now integrated into the Power and Fan tool discussed above. It is retained here for consistency.

Feature Guide

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.

FocusRx System Repair

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.

Refresh firmware information
Remove xorg.conf file on users command to fix display issues
Purge unused, older kernels (Kernel Clean)
Check disk space
Purge conflicting repositories
Reinstall and repair broken packages
Optimize to the Hardware (Hardware Optimization)
Check Nvidia driver packages and offer repair
Update the initial RAM disk

Detect and fix system issues with FocusRx.

Guided Solutions

View Guided Solutions in a new browser window.

Use this tool to open Guided 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!

Solve problems and accomplish complex tasks with Guided Solutions.

Hardware Optimizer

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:

Set Hints Widget per model
Boot parameters for display, logging
Touchpad, mouse, keyboard settings
Sound settings
Select terminal fonts
Sleep-resume helpers
GPU power saver
Display scaling
Install tools and support packages

FocusRx automatically applies system optimizations when needed.

FocusRx automatically apples system optimizations when needed.

Kernel Cleaner

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.

Do not ignore this tool if it appears when you sign in. All 24.04 LTS (Noble) systems and encrypted 22.04 LTS (Jammy) 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.

Remove outdated Linux kernels with Kernel Cleaner.

Keyboard Color Chooser

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.

Configure keyboard LEDs on your M2 system with Keyboard Color Chooser.

KFocus Power and Fan

Adjust power and fan controls.

Use this tool to manage power consumption, performance, and fan noise.

Power Profile

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.

Brightness

On laptop models, this shows the screen brightness control which can have a substantial effect on battery life.

Frequency Profile

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.

Fan Profile

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.

Configure power, performance, and fan settings with KFocus Power and Fan.

Power Pincher

Adjust power controls on battery and AC.

Power Pincher uses KDE’s power controls to call the Focus power subsystem on plug and replug events. These are the optimizations applied:

Parameter	On Battery	On AC
Power Profile	Powersave	Balanced
Screen Brightness	20%	75%
Frequency Profile	Low	Normal
Keyboard LEDs	Off	On

You can see and change some of these settings in System Settings > Power Management. To reset to the defaults, run kfocus-reset-effects and direct the system to restore power setting defaults when prompted.

Reference Pages

View help in a new browser window.

This tools opens the Reference Pages and FAQs in a new browser window. The Reference Pages are external and internal resources to common questions so you can find better solutions faster.

System Rollback

Restore the system to an earlier state

System Rollback is a snapshotting and recovery system designed specifically for Kubuntu Focus systems. It creates snapshots of the root and boot filesystems (excluding files under /home), and restores them on demand. By default, snapshots are created only upon user request, however automatic snapshot creation can be turned on if desired.

For a full walkthrough of using System Rollback, please see the Rollback Guided Solution.

Snapshot and restore the system with System Rollback.

Video Sync Utility

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, we usually switch it to Off because this oftentimes 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.

Tune NVIDIA display responsiveness and tear prevention with the Video Sync Tool.

Welcome Wizard

Run the Welcome Wizard.

This tool runs automatically the first time you sign in, and can be invoked again from the application menu. It provides interactive, illustrated guides for the many common capabilities users need:

Connect to internet
Change encryption passphrases
Install restricted, extra software
Guide use of Focus System Rollback
Initialize BackInTime backup
Start KeePassXc password manager
Connect to email
Connect to cloud drives with Dropbox or Insync
Install JetBrains Toolbox for IDEs
Change your system avatar
Introduce curated apps

One can return to this tool at any time using Start Menu > Kubuntu Focus Tools > Welcome Wizard. This is especially useful if for changing encrypted disk passphrases.

Configure the system for first use with the Welcome Wizard.

Troubleshooting

Q: Kubuntu Focus app links do not open. How do I fix this?

A: We configured kfocus-mime to auto-open app links as found on this website. If you are on a Kubuntu Focus system and the links still don't work, important Kubuntu Focus packages may be missing, or the MIME type handler may have been deleted. See Curated Apps Troubleshooting to resolve this issue.

Revisions

This is a partial revision history. See the git repository for all entries.

2024-07-02 c83184e4 Switch to kfocus-mime schema
2024-06-06 7d99fe08 Update for Noble
2024-02-24 50384abe Add Hints Widget Section
2023-11-18 e770b1c6 Add search and help bar
2023-11-10 1d77bfaa Restore Vidsync section
2023-10-18 fac730e3 Harmonize language, add auto tools
2023-07-13 892f99a9 Update power and fan to latest
2023-07-03 9dbdc900 Change four tool icons to white
2023-06-17 a7af817b Revise consolidated fan and power language
2023-04-26 baa8e31e Consolidate fan and power, adjust image
2023-06-16 e256ff30 Add section to disable Ubuntu Pro
2023-04-26 baa8e31e Adjust tools format
2023-04-20 2e99d64f Update images
2022-06-19 2dcb9325 Adjust units to have spaces from values
2022-06-05 efe53a53 Fix image links 2
2022-06-05 6719f776 Fix image links 1
2022-01-21 668e16d4 Update titles, images
2023-04-25 19f0fa02 Update Power and Fan and image
2022-01-12 c3295358 First publication

Disclaimer

We 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.

THIS SOLUTION IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS “AS IS” AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOLUTION, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.