Application Zone
Recommended applications for elementary OS — from multimedia and gaming to system utilities and virtualisation.
Timeshift – Priceless When Things Go Wrong
elementary OS gives you the freedom to tweak and customise nearly everything — but that freedom comes with risk. Timeshift is an intuitive system restore utility that takes incremental snapshots of your system, letting you roll back to a working state if something breaks.
Similar in concept to Windows System Restore or Mac Time Machine, Timeshift is a safety net for both beginners and advanced users who like to experiment.
Read the full guide →
Home Entertainment – Multimedia
Your elementary OS installation ships with clean, minimal applications for music and video. If you need more, here are popular alternatives worth considering.
Clementine
A feature-rich audio player with library management, internet radio, and cloud service integration — a solid upgrade from the default music app.
Banshee
Another capable alternative with podcast support, smart playlists, and a clean interface that fits well with the elementary OS aesthetic.
VLC
The versatile multi-format media player that handles nearly any video or audio file you throw at it, with extensive codec support built in.
XBMC
A full-featured media centre experience for organising and playing your movie and TV collections on the big screen.
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Netflix
Stream films and series directly in your browser. -
Spotify
Access millions of songs via the Spotify Linux client. -
Brasero
A straightforward CD/DVD burning utility for optical disc tasks.
Before adding third-party repositories for any of these applications, we recommend reading our guide on Using and Understanding Software Repositories and PPAs.
The Application Zone is the perfect starting point for anyone looking to get the most out of their elementary OS experience. Whether you are a newcomer exploring the desktop for the first time or a seasoned Linux user who has been around since the early releases, this section is designed to help you discover tools that genuinely improve your daily workflow. From essential system utilities that keep your machine running smoothly to creative applications for multimedia projects, the recommendations here are carefully curated to match the clean, intuitive philosophy that elementary OS is known for. Each suggestion is chosen with usability and quality in mind, so you can install with confidence.
Gaming on Linux has come a long way, and the Application Zone highlights titles and tools that make playing on elementary OS a genuinely enjoyable experience. Whether you are interested in casual games for relaxing evenings or more demanding titles that push your hardware, the section points you toward the right software and setup guidance. Beyond gaming, the recommendations also cover productivity, communication, and email clients, ensuring that your system feels complete right from the start. The goal is simple: help you transform elementary OS into a polished, capable platform that handles both work and play without friction.
For those who love to experiment and tweak, the Application Zone offers a thoughtful balance between freedom and safety. Utilities like Timeshift provide peace of mind by letting you snapshot your system before making significant changes, so you can explore without fear of breaking something important. Whether you are installing a new kernel enablement stack, testing a prerelease version, or simply customising the Pantheon desktop to your liking, having a reliable restore point is invaluable. This practical, beginner-friendly approach reflects the broader elementary OS community's commitment to making Linux accessible, informative, and genuinely useful for everyone.
More in the Application Zone
Beyond multimedia, the Application Zone covers gaming, virtualisation, and essential system tools for elementary OS.
Gaming on elementary
Explore gaming options and considerations for elementary OS — from native Linux titles to compatibility layers and storefronts.
Software Repositories & PPAs
Understand how software repositories and Personal Package Archives work, so you can safely expand your application choices beyond the default sources.
Set Up a Virtual Operating System
Learn how to run other operating systems inside elementary OS using virtualisation — ideal for testing or running platform-specific software.
Timeshift
System restore for elementary OS. Take snapshots, experiment freely, and roll back when needed.