Ubuntu – How to install the Ask Ubuntu Unity Lens, and how to use it

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I heard about the Ask Ubuntu Unity Lens over in the chat, and I was wondering how to install it. What are the step-by-step instructions to get it installed, activated and once that's done, how do I use it?

Best Answer

The Ask Ubuntu Lens is a way to search askubuntu.com via your desktop in Unity. You can search for anything on the site. Questions, tags, users, and badges all show up in the search results and then it will take you here.

Depending on your Ubuntu version:

For 12.10 and above

In 12.10 and above, the Ask Ubuntu Lens is now just a scope of the Help lens, to summon it with a keyboard shortcut use Super-H.

For 12.04 or 11.10:

You can install the Ask Ubuntu Unity Lens via the Software Centre by clicking below:

You will need to log out and log back in for the lens to show up and work correctly.

For 11.04:

You can install the Ask Ubuntu Unity Lens via a PPA

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:askubuntu-tools/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install unity-place-askubuntu

Just open up a terminal window and enter the above commands. Then, you need to log out and log back (or run unity --replace) in for the lens to show up and work correctly.

You can click on the Ask Ubuntu icon on your launcher (for 11.04), or inside your dash in 12.04 and 11.10. To get a fully expanded lens or you can hit the Super-U keyboard shortcut to summon the lens, then ask your question: