Capture Photos with Cheese on Ubuntu Linux

Taking pictures with your computer is a great way to save memories or share quick updates. If you use ubuntu-linux/" class="sal-link" rel="noopener" target="_blank" data-sal-id="15107">Ubuntu Linux in 2026, you can use your webcam to snap photos easily.

Introduction

The classic app for this is called Cheese. Note that Cheese may not be installed by default on newer versions of Ubuntu. You can install it by opening your terminal and typing sudo apt install cheese or by searching for it in the Software Center. If you prefer a more modern, minimal tool, Ubuntu now includes Snapshot as the default camera application.

Why use Cheese? It is a simple, fun tool that lets you apply filters and effects to your photos.

What happens when done? You will have a high-quality image file saved directly to your computer, ready to be sent to friends or uploaded to social media.

How to take pictures with Cheese in Ubuntu Linux

These steps are compatible with modern GNOME versions used in Ubuntu 2026.

To start, click the Show Applications grid icon at the bottom of your dock. Type “Cheese” into the search bar and click the icon to open it.

Make sure you are in Photo mode. You can check this by looking for the Photo button on the right side of the screen.

Click the big Take a photo button in the center of the bottom bar. You can also press the Space key on your keyboard to trigger the shutter.

The app will count down from three, the screen will flash, and your photo will appear in the stream at the bottom of the window.

By default, photos are saved in your Pictures/Webcam folder. If you want to change where your photos go, click the three-line menu icon in the top right, select Preferences, and look for the Photo location setting to choose a new folder.

Conclusion

Taking photos on your Ubuntu machine is quick and simple. Your files are saved as JPEG images in your Pictures folder by default.

Troubleshooting

If your camera does not show an image, check your privacy settings. Go to Settings, then click on Privacy & Security. Look for Camera permissions and ensure that the toggle is turned ON for the application you are trying to use. If the toggle is off, your computer will block the app from accessing the camera lens.

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