Essential packages to install on Debian 13 "Trixie" and other Debian-based versions: Part 2

Essential Packages to Install on Debian 13 "Trixie" and More: Part 2

On August 9, 2025, the Debian Project updated and released to the general public, the new version of its free and open operating system called Debian under the name Debian 13 “Trixie”. Therefore, and as is tradition here at Desde Linux, we opportunely launched our first (August 30, 2025) quick guide on the essential packages to install in Debian 13 "Trixie" and others based on it, such as MX Linux, antiX, Canaima and many others, around the world. So, as is logical and reasonable, today (September 13, 2025) we continue with this second publication (Part 2) where we will expand our recommendation of Essential packages to install on Debian 13 "Trixie".

It is worth noting that, while eIn the first guide we include some previous procedures and technical explanations related to granting the first created user administrator permissions with the SUDO command, managing (checking and creating or updating their old format to the new one) the official repositories and carrying out a fast and efficient update and maintenance until the installation of a small list of very specific and complementary essential packages; In this second one we will focus only on more useful packages to install.

Essential Packages to Install on Debian 13 "Trixie" – Part I

But, before we start mentioning these additional essential packages that we recommend for the operating system «Debian GNU/Linux 13 “Trixie” », we recommend you explore and read our previous and most recent related post With the first part of this new series of Practical Tutorials and Quick Guides on this version, at the end of it:

While it is true that there are many Mother or important Distros on which many others are based (derived Distros and respines), such as Arch, Fedora, openSUSE, Ubuntu, Mint, the truth is that we usually prefer to make these Guides based on Debian GNU / Linux, since it is one of the oldest, most solid, stable, known and used worldwide. Also, because it is not only ideal for novice home and office users, but for experienced users, IT professionals and important technological infrastructures (servers) worldwide. If not also, because it is one of the most used Mother Distributions globally, to create well-known personal and community projects, such as MX, antiX and Devuan.

Related article:

Essential packages to install on Debian 13 "Trixie" and other versions based on it

List of essential and recommended packages to install on Debian 13 "Trixie": Part 2

Video and audio support

sudo apt install xserver-xorg-video-all libgl1-mesa-dri libva-drm2 libva-glx2 libva-wayland2 libva-x11-2 libva2 intel-media-va-driver

sudo apt install ffmpeg ffmpegthumbs ffmpegthumbnailer sound-icons lame twolame vorbis-tools x264 gstreamer1.0-alsa gstreamer1.0-adapter-pulseeffects gstreamer1.0-autogain-pulseeffects gstreamer1.0-convolver-pulseeffects gstreamer1.0-crystalizer-pulseeffects gstreamer1.0-espeak gstreamer1.0-fdkaac gstreamer1.0-gl gstreamer1.0-nice gstreamer1.0-pipewire gstreamer1.0-x gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad-apps gstreamer1.0-libav gstreamer1.0-plugins-base gstreamer1.0-plugins-good gstreamer1.0-plugins-rtp gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly gstreamer1.0-pocketsphinx gstreamer1.0-pulseaudio gstreamer1.0-tools gstreamer1.0-vaapi gstreamer1.0-wpe intel-gpu-tools i965-va-driver radeontool radeontop

Office support at the SW/HW level

sudo apt install font-manager font-viewer fonts-ancient-scripts fonts-arabeyes fonts-babelstone-han fonts-baekmuk fonts-cantarell fonts-freefarsi fonts-liberation fonts-lyx fonts-mathjax fonts-noto-core fonts-noto-extra fonts-oflb-asana-math fonts-opensymbol fonts-sil-gentium fonts-sil-taiheritagepro fonts-stix myspell-es ooo-thumbnailer xfonts-intl-arabic xfonts-intl-asian xfonts-intl-chinese xfonts-intl-european xfonts-intl-japanese xfonts-intl-japanese-big ttf-ancient-fonts fonts-anonymous-pro ttf-bitstream-vera ttf-sjfonts ttf-staypuft ttf-summersby ttf-tagbanwa libreoffice libreoffice-dmaths libreoffice-gnome libreoffice-gtk3 libreoffice-help-es libreoffice-java-common libreoffice-l10n-es libreoffice-report-builder-bin libreoffice-style-breeze libreoffice-style-colibre libreoffice-style-elementary libreoffice-style-sifr libreoffice-texmaths mythes-es pdfarranger pdftk-java
sudo apt install cups cups-backend-bjnp cups-browsed cups-bsd cups-client cups-common cups-core-drivers cups-daemon cups-ipp-utils cups-filters cups-ppdc cups-server-common printer-driver-cups-pdf printer-driver-hpcups python3-cups python3-cupshelpers foomatic-db-compressed-ppds foomatic-db-engine ghostscript-x gocr-tk gutenprint-locales hannah-foo2zjs hpijs-ppds hplip openprinting-ppds printer-driver-all printer-driver-cups-pdf printer-driver-foo2zjs printer-driver-hpcups printer-driver-hpijs libtk8.6 tk tk8.6 xli xsane printer-driver-fujixerox printer-driver-indexbraille printer-driver-oki avahi-utils colord flex g++ libtool sane-utils system-config-printer system-config-printer-udev unpaper xsane xsltproc

Java Application Support

sudo apt install default-jre default-jdk

Improvements of the compatibility with HW and SW (Networks, File Systems and Devices)

sudo apt install cifs-utils dosfstools exfat-fuse exfatprogs fuse3 hfsplus icoutils ideviceinstaller ipheth-utils libsmbclient mtools ntfs-3g smbclient samba-common smbnetfs samba samba-common-bin
sudo apt install libgpod-common libgpod4t64 libmtp-runtime mtp-tools faad mp3gain
sudo apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installer

Management and monitoring of computer hardware

sudo apt install acpi acpitool acpi-support fancontrol firmware-linux-free firmware-linux-nonfree hardinfo hwdata hwinfo irqbalance iucode-tool laptop-detect lm-sensors lshw lsscsi smartmontools xsensors intel-microcode amd64-microcode

Bluetooth connectivity hardware management

sudo apt install bluetooth bluez bluez-cups bluez-firmware bluez-tools btscanner

Other essential extra packages to install on Debian 13 – Part 2

Firmware and hardware drivers for Internet connectivity via Ethernet/WiFi

sudo apt install wifi-qr wireless-tools wpagui wpasupplicant
sudo apt install firmware-atheros
sudo apt install firmware-b43-installer firmware-b43legacy-installer firmware-bnx2 firmware-bnx2x firmware-brcm80211
sudo apt install firmware-intel-sound firmware-iwlwifi
sudo apt install firmware-ralink firmware-realtek

Firmware and hardware drivers for Internet connectivity via USB

sudo apt install mobile-broadband-provider-info modemmanager modem-manager-gui modem-manager-gui-help usb-modeswitch usb-modeswitch-data wvdial

Up to here, we have arrived with the list of essential packages to recommend from our 3 usual tutorials on what to do after installing Debian GNU/Linux and its Derivatives/Compatibles, in each new stable version available.

Nota: Remember that, as in the previous tutorial, this one and the following ones, the list of recommended packages by usage categories or objectives/tasks, do not necessarily have to be installed all at once, that is, together. The ideal or ideal would be to learn about each of them, what they are for and how they can be used, either through online documentation, such as the Debian Manpages and Debian stable package list or other websites. Then, decide whether it would actually be useful or necessary for them in the immediate or future with their operating system based on Debian 13 Trixie.

Related article:

Tutorial II: Essential packages for Debian 12, MX 23 and more

Summary

In short, we hope that this ideal little second list of essential packages to install on «Debian GNU/Linux 13 “Trixie” » or other similar and compatible distros, as usual, is very useful and important for many. But especially for those who are usually beginners and newbies to GNU/Linux, and are looking for efficiently strengthen and complement your Debian GNU/Linux operating systems, without so many complications. And if you'd like to suggest or recommend any other package or configuration to implement, please leave a comment so we can consider it for this or another post.