How To Install Grub Customizer on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, the latest long-term support release, offers users a robust and stable operating system. However, customizing the boot process can be a daunting task for many. Enter Grub Customizer, a powerful graphical tool that simplifies GRUB configuration. This guide will walk you through the process of installing Grub Customizer on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, empowering you to take control of your system’s boot options with ease.

Understanding GRUB and Grub Customizer

GRUB, which stands for Grand Unified Bootloader, is the default boot loader for many Linux distributions, including Ubuntu. It’s the first software that runs when you power on your computer, responsible for loading and transferring control to the operating system kernel. GRUB allows you to choose between different operating systems or kernel versions at startup.

Grub Customizer is a graphical user interface (GUI) tool that simplifies the process of configuring GRUB. It provides an intuitive way to modify boot entries, set the default operating system, adjust timeout settings, and even customize the appearance of your boot menu. With Grub Customizer, you can perform tasks that would otherwise require manual editing of configuration files, making it an invaluable tool for both novice and experienced Linux users.

Prerequisites for Installing Grub Customizer

Before we dive into the installation process, let’s ensure you have everything needed to successfully install Grub Customizer on your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system:

• A computer running Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
• Administrative privileges (sudo access)
• An active internet connection
• At least 50 MB of free disk space
• Basic familiarity with terminal commands

It’s crucial to note that modifying boot settings can potentially render your system unbootable if not done correctly. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to create a system backup before proceeding with the installation and configuration of Grub Customizer. This precautionary step ensures that you can restore your system to a working state if anything goes awry.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Now that we’ve covered the basics and ensured you’re prepared, let’s walk through the process of installing Grub Customizer on your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. Follow these steps carefully to ensure a smooth installation.

1. Update Your System

Before installing any new software, it’s always a good practice to ensure your system is up-to-date. This helps prevent potential conflicts and ensures you have the latest security patches. Open a terminal window and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

The first command updates the package lists, while the second upgrades all installed packages to their latest versions. You may be prompted to enter your password and confirm the upgrades. Take a moment to review any proposed changes before proceeding.

2. Add the Grub Customizer PPA

Grub Customizer is not available in the default Ubuntu repositories. However, it can be easily installed using a Personal Package Archive (PPA). PPAs are repositories hosted on Launchpad that allow developers to distribute software not included in the official Ubuntu repositories.

To add the Grub Customizer PPA, run the following command in your terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer

You’ll be prompted to enter your password. The system will then fetch the PPA’s information and ask for confirmation to add it. Press Enter to confirm. This step adds the necessary repository information to your system, allowing you to install Grub Customizer.

3. Update Package Lists

After adding the new PPA, it’s essential to update your package lists again. This ensures that your system is aware of the newly available packages from the Grub Customizer PPA. Run the following command:

sudo apt update

This command refreshes the package information, including the newly added PPA. You should see output indicating that the package lists are being updated.

4. Install Grub Customizer

With the PPA added and package lists updated, you’re now ready to install Grub Customizer. Execute the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt install grub-customizer

The system will calculate the dependencies and ask for confirmation before proceeding with the installation. Review the proposed changes and type ‘Y’ to confirm. The installation process will begin, and you’ll see progress indicators as the necessary files are downloaded and installed.

5. Launch Grub Customizer

Once the installation is complete, you can launch Grub Customizer in two ways:

1. Via the terminal: Simply type the following command and press Enter:

grub-customizer

2. Via the GUI: Open the Applications menu and search for “Grub Customizer”. Click on the icon to launch the application.

When you first launch Grub Customizer, you may be prompted to enter your password. This is because modifying GRUB settings requires administrative privileges.

6. Basic Usage and Configuration

Now that you have Grub Customizer installed and running, let’s explore some of its basic features and how to use them:

Modifying Boot Entries: In the main window, you’ll see a list of all boot entries. You can reorder these entries by dragging and dropping them. To edit an entry, select it and click the ‘Edit’ button.

Setting Default OS: To change the default operating system that boots, select the desired entry and click the ‘Set as default’ button.

Adjusting Timeout: Go to the ‘General Settings’ tab to modify the boot menu timeout. You can set it to any value or choose ‘Show menu indefinitely’.

Customizing Appearance: In the ‘Appearance settings’ tab, you can change the boot menu’s colors, background image, and font sizes.

Advanced Options: For more experienced users, the ‘Advanced’ tab allows you to edit kernel parameters and configure other low-level GRUB settings.

Remember to click ‘Save’ after making any changes. Grub Customizer will then update your GRUB configuration files automatically.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While installing and using Grub Customizer is generally straightforward, you might encounter some issues. Here are solutions to common problems:

PPA Not Found Error

If you receive an error stating that the PPA cannot be found, it might be due to an outdated PPA or network issues. Try the following:

• Check your internet connection
• Verify that you typed the PPA address correctly
• Try adding the PPA again after a few minutes

Permission Denied Errors

If you encounter “Permission denied” errors, ensure that you’re using ‘sudo’ before commands that require administrative privileges. If the issue persists, try logging out and back in, or restart your system.

Grub Customizer Not Launching

If Grub Customizer fails to launch, try running it from the terminal to see any error messages. If it’s a dependency issue, you can try reinstalling the application:

sudo apt install --reinstall grub-customizer

Changes Not Saving

If your changes aren’t being saved, ensure you have sufficient disk space and that you’re clicking the ‘Save’ button after making modifications. If problems persist, check system logs for any error messages:

sudo journalctl -b | grep grub-customizer

Uninstalling Grub Customizer

If you decide that you no longer need Grub Customizer or want to remove it for any reason, follow these steps:

1. Uninstall the application:

sudo apt remove grub-customizer

2. Remove the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository -r ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer

3. Update your package lists:

sudo apt update

These steps will completely remove Grub Customizer from your system, reverting any changes made to your package sources.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Grub Customizer. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Grub Customizer on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Ubuntu website.