The GUI Interception
When you download a software package in Ubuntu (specifically a `.deb` Debian package file) from a website like Google Chrome or Discord, your instinct is usually to double-click the file in your Downloads folder to install it. By default, Ubuntu intercepts this double-click and automatically opens the heavy, graphical “Ubuntu Software” (or App Center) application to handle the installation. This GUI tool is notoriously slow to launch, often hangs while “checking for dependencies,” and sometimes fails to provide useful error messages if the installation fails, frustrating users who prefer a faster, more verbose installation process.
Bypassing the Software Center
To speed up your installations and stop Ubuntu from automatically opening the Software Center when you interact with deb files, you should change the default application to a lighter, dedicated package installer.
The best alternative to the heavy Software Center is a small utility called GDebi. First, open your terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and install it by typing sudo apt install gdebi and pressing Enter. Once installed, open your file manager (Nautilus) and navigate to a folder containing any .deb file. Right-click the `.deb` file and select Properties. In the Properties window, navigate to the Open With tab. Scroll through the list of applications, select GDebi Package Installer, and then click the Set as default button at the bottom. Now, double-clicking any deb file will instantly launch the lightweight GDebi interface, completely bypassing the bloated Software Center.