Just finished installing Fedora 44 and wondering what to do next? You’re in the right place.
A fresh Fedora install is clean and fast, but it’s missing a few important things out of the box: media codecs, GPU drivers, popular apps, and backup tools. In this Fedora 44 post-installation guide, I’ll walk you through the 10 essential steps that turn a default install into a complete, daily-driver desktop.
Every step includes the exact commands you need, and the good news is that almost everything here works on future Fedora releases too. Let’s get started.
1. Optimize DNF, Enable RPM Fusion & Install Media Codecs
The very first thing to do after installing Fedora 44 is update your system. But before you run the update, let’s make DNF (Fedora’s package manager) faster.
Speed Up DNF Downloads
Open the terminal and edit the DNF configuration file:
sudo nano /etc/dnf/dnf.conf
Add these lines at the bottom to enable parallel downloads and pick the fastest mirror:
max_parallel_downloads=10
fastestmirror=true
Save the file (Ctrl + O, Enter, then Ctrl + X). Package downloads will now be noticeably quicker.
Update Your System
Now run a full system update and restart your computer:
sudo dnf update -y
sudo systemctl reboot
Enable Third-Party Repositories
Fedora ships with a limited set of software sources by default. To unlock more apps:
- Open the Software app (GNOME Software).
- If a pop-up asks to enable third-party repositories, click Enable.
- If you don’t see the pop-up, click the hamburger menu → Software Repositories → enable Third-Party Repositories.
Enable RPM Fusion on Fedora 44
RPM Fusion is a community repository that provides software Fedora can’t ship by default, including NVIDIA drivers and full multimedia codecs. Enable both the free and nonfree repos with one command:
sudo dnf install https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm
Then refresh your package metadata:
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Install Multimedia Codecs
Out of the box, Fedora uses a limited version of FFmpeg. Swap it for the full version and update the multimedia group so videos play smoothly in every app and browser:
sudo dnf swap ffmpeg-free ffmpeg --allowerasing
sudo dnf update @multimedia --setopt="install_weak_deps=False" --exclude=PackageKit-gstreamer-plugin
That’s it. H.264, H.265, and other common formats will now play without issues.
2. Install GPU Drivers (NVIDIA & AMD)
If your PC has a discrete GPU, installing the proper driver is essential for gaming, video editing, and any graphics-heavy work. Thanks to RPM Fusion (which we enabled in step 1), this only takes a couple of commands.
Run this command to install the NVIDIA driver along with CUDA support:
sudo dnf install akmod-nvidia xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-cuda
Wait about five minutes for the kernel module to build, then verify the driver is ready:
sudo modinfo -F version nvidia
If the command prints a version number, you’re good. Restart your computer to load the driver:
sudo systemctl reboot
Hardware-Accelerated Video Playback
For smoother video playback that offloads decoding to your GPU, visit the RPM Fusion Multimedia guide and install the VA-API/VDPAU driver that matches your hardware (Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA). On NVIDIA, the proprietary driver stack handles this once installed.
AMD GPU owners are mostly covered by the open-source Mesa drivers built into Fedora, but the RPM Fusion page lists the freeworld Mesa packages for full hardware decoding.
3. Customize the Fedora Terminal with Starship
Fedora 44 ships with Ptyxis as the default terminal. It’s fast and modern, and with the Starship prompt it can look genuinely beautiful.
Install a Nerd Font
Starship uses special icons, so you need a Nerd Font first:
- Go to Nerd Fonts and download FiraCode Nerd Font.
- Extract the ZIP file.
- Open your preferred variant (I use the bold one) and click Install.
Then open the terminal preferences and set the font to FiraCode Nerd Font.
Install Starship
Run the official install script:
curl -sS https://starship.rs/install.sh | sh
Since Fedora uses Bash by default, enable Starship in your Bash configuration. Open the file with Nano:
nano ~/.bashrc
Scroll to the bottom and paste this line:
eval "$(starship init bash)"
Save the file, then reload your configuration:
source ~/.bashrc
You’ll immediately see a cleaner, more informative shell prompt. Want more style? Browse the Starship presets page, pick a theme you like, and run its one-line command. Your terminal now looks modern and polished.
4. Install Essential Apps, Tools & Fonts
A handful of packages, apps, and fonts can dramatically improve your Fedora 44 experience.
Developer Tools & Command-Line Essentials
Run this command to install compilers, build tools, and everyday utilities in one go:
sudo dnf install make automake gcc gcc-c++ kernel-devel cmake git wget perl vim nano unzip gnupg fastfetch unrar python3 python3-pip nodejs npm java-latest-openjdk-devel android-tools fuse-libs ripgrep
This covers everything from Python and Node.js development to Android debugging with ADB.
Useful GUI Applications
Open the Software app and install these popular applications for a complete workflow:
- OBS Studio – screen recording and streaming
- VS Code – code editing
- GIMP – image editing
- GParted – disk partitioning
- VLC – plays virtually any media file
- AppImageLauncher – integrates AppImage apps into your system
- Fresh – a lightweight text editor
Install Open-Source Fonts
Better fonts make everything from coding to reading more pleasant. Install these essentials:
sudo dnf install fira-code-fonts jetbrains-mono-fonts liberation-fonts google-noto-sans-fonts google-noto-emoji-color-fonts cascadia-fonts-all
5. Customize GNOME with Tweaks, Extensions & Blur Effects
GNOME Tweaks and Extension Manager give you full control over the Fedora desktop.
Install GNOME Tweaks & Extension Manager
sudo dnf install gnome-tweaks
flatpak install flathub com.mattjakeman.ExtensionManager
Open the Tweaks app to fine-tune the interface. Two changes I always make:
- Enable the maximize and minimize window buttons (Windows Titlebars section).
- Turn on Center New Windows so apps open in the middle of the screen.
Best GNOME Extensions for Fedora 44
Open Extension Manager and install these five extensions for a modern, futuristic setup:
- Astra Monitor – live CPU, RAM, and network stats in your top bar
- Blur My Shell – system-wide blur effects
- Clipboard Manager – clipboard history at your fingertips
- V-Shell – reshapes the GNOME overview and dash
- Coverflow Alt-Tab – a slick 3D window switcher
Enable Blur Effects
Open the Blur My Shell settings and enable blur for the panel, overview, and applications. The whole desktop instantly looks more polished and visually appealing.
Quick Desktop Settings Worth Changing
- Laptop users: Go to Settings → Mouse & Touchpad to adjust pointer speed, enable Tap to Click, and change the scrolling direction.
- Appearance: Switch between Light and Dark mode and pick an accent color under Settings → Appearance.
- Readability: If text looks too small, go to Settings → Accessibility → Seeing and enable Large Text, or increase the cursor size. You can also open Display Settings and set scaling to 125%.
6. Sync Your Phone with KDE Connect
KDE Connect lets your Android phone or iPhone and your Fedora desktop work together over the same Wi-Fi network.
With it, you can:
- Share files wirelessly in both directions
- Sync clipboard content between devices
- See phone notifications on your desktop
- Use your phone as a remote control or touchpad
How to Set It Up
- Install KDE Connect on Fedora:
sudo dnf install kde-connect
- Install the KDE Connect app from the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPhone).
- Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the app on both devices and pair them.
Once paired, you can instantly send files between your phone and your Fedora system. No cables, no cloud uploads.
7. Set Up Backups with Pika Backup & Timeshift
Backups are the step everyone skips — until they need one. Fedora makes this easy with two complementary tools.
Pika Backup for Personal Files
Pika Backup is one of the simplest backup tools on Linux. Install it from the Software app or Flathub, then:
- Connect a USB drive (or choose a remote/cloud location).
- Create a new backup and enable encryption for extra security.
- Add the folders you want to protect — Documents, Pictures, Projects, and so on.
Keep in mind that Pika Backup protects your personal files; it doesn’t do full system recovery.
Timeshift for System Snapshots
That’s where Timeshift comes in. Install it with:
sudo dnf install timeshift
Timeshift creates snapshots of your root (and optionally home) directories. If an update or a bad config ever breaks your system, you can restore a snapshot and get back to a working desktop without reinstalling Fedora 44.
Pro tip: Use both. Pika Backup for your files, Timeshift for your system.
8. Automate Fedora with OpenCode (AI Assistant)
OpenCode is a free, open-source AI agent that runs in your terminal and can help automate tasks and troubleshoot your system.
Install it with one command:
curl -fsSL https://opencode.ai/install | bash
Launch it, choose the free AI model, and start typing plain-English prompts. For example, if a package is causing problems, you can ask OpenCode to remove it, and it handles the whole process for you — finding the package, running the right DNF command, and confirming the result.
It’s like having a Linux-savvy assistant living inside your terminal.
9. Run Local AI Models with LM Studio
Want private AI that works completely offline? LM Studio lets you run large language models locally on Fedora — no internet connection and no data leaving your machine.
How to Set It Up
- Download the LM Studio AppImage from the official website.
- Make it executable and launch it (AppImageLauncher from step 4 makes this seamless).
- Browse the built-in model library and download a model such as Gemma.
- Load the model and start chatting.
LM Studio gives you a clean chat interface where you can ask questions, analyze images, and even hook up a local AI coding assistant to VS Code. If your machine has a decent GPU (see step 2), responses will be impressively fast.
10. Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts & Optimize Battery Life
Custom Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts speed up everyday tasks more than any other tweak. To create your own:
- Open Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → View and Customize Shortcuts.
- Pick a category — for example, Launchers.
- Assign a shortcut to an action, like opening your Home folder instantly.
Boost Performance with auto-cpufreq
If you run Fedora 44 on a laptop and want full CPU control, install auto-cpufreq. It automatically manages CPU frequency and power based on your workload. This is best suited for systems with powerful CPUs.
Important: Remove TLP first if it’s installed, to avoid conflicts:
sudo dnf remove tlp tlp-rdw
Then install auto-cpufreq:
git clone https://github.com/AdnanHodzic/auto-cpufreq.git
cd auto-cpufreq && sudo ./auto-cpufreq-installer
After installation, enable the daemon and pick a CPU profile. The default profile gives balanced performance, while Performance mode squeezes maximum computational power from your system.
Wrapping Up
Those are the 10 essential things to do after installing Fedora 44. In about 30 minutes, you’ve gone from a bare installation to a fast, beautiful, fully equipped desktop with working codecs, GPU drivers, smart backups, and even local AI.
Most of these steps carry over to future Fedora releases too, so bookmark this guide for your next upgrade.
