Enable GRUB menu and timeout

March 30, 2020

Even if you don't multiboot several operating systems it might be useful to show GRUB menu and give a little timeout to pick the right item.

Process is straightforward on Ubuntu – just edit following file:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Find following default values:

GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=hidden
GRUB_TIMEOUT=0

And change them to following:

GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu
GRUB_TIMEOUT=5

Don't forget to propagate GRUB configuration:

sudo update-grub

I have recently ran that on Linux Mint and it showed following:

Sourcing file `/etc/default/grub'
Sourcing file `/etc/default/grub.d/50_linuxmint.cfg'
Sourcing file `/etc/default/grub.d/60_mint-theme.cfg'
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found theme: /boot/grub/themes/linuxmint/theme.txt
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.3.0-45-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.3.0-45-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.3.0-42-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.3.0-42-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.0.0-32-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.0.0-32-generic
Adding boot menu entry for EFI firmware configuration
done

Note that it mentions theme /boot/grub/themes/linuxmint/theme.txt – this might be a good chance to give your bootloader some personal touch :)

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#linux #ubuntu #linuxmint #boot #multiboot #grub

My name is Gytis Repečka, I am Solution Architect focusing on Data Vault automation. Experienced data professional with over 10 years of experience designing and implementing Data Warehouse solutions based on Teradata, Informatica PowerCenter, Oracle Data Integrator, PostgreSQL, AWS. I enjoy using, promoting and contributing to open source software and love communicating about tech to both advanced and non-tech people. Visit Inretio for consulting services. Mention me @gytis@mastodon.lt on Mastodon.