How to Remove the
'quiet splash' Parameters
in Linux GRUB Config Files

(a simple 3-step process)

(to allow for seeing
bootup messages
--- instead of
a lot of nothing)

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This
"How to Remove 'quiet splash'
Parameters from GRUB Config Files"
page

(Posted 2019 Nov)

Note:
The information here may be touched up or
revised, if/when I re-visit this page.

INTRODUCTION :

I have posted various pages on this site that document how I installed Linux (Ubuntu-Gnome2 or LinuxMint-MATE or Ubuntu-MATE) on various personal computers ('netbooks' and 'desktops').

In some of those install-descriptions I have mentioned how I turned off the 'quiet splash' parameters of the Linux boot up process.

This page is meant to give a more complete description of how to change the 'quiet splash' parameters --- a description that is 'not buried' in a long description of a Linux distro install process.

---

The bootup process is typically controlled by 'GRUB' --- the GRand Unified Bootloader.

I remove 'quiet splash' because I do not like to stare at an essentially blank 'splash' screen while the various Linux processes are being started up.

I would much rather see what is going on.

It is a chance to learn something about Linux --- even though most of the messages 'whip by' so rapidly that many of the messages are not readable.

For example, one can see which start-up processes are taking the most time during the boot up process.

AND ... if there is ever a failure to startup completely ... a situation devoutly to be NOT wished ... then I may be able to get a good idea of what is causing the failure.

---

The 'hiding' of the boot messages is controlled by a couple of 'quiet' and 'splash' parameters in a GRUB config file --- '/boot/grub/grub.cfg'.

But one is not supposed to edit that file directly. Rather ... you are instructed to edit the file

/etc/default/grub

and then run an 'update-grub' command which will use that file to re-create the

/boot/grub/grub.cfg file.

The following section gives some detail on how to perform the necessary operations.

    I personally think that the install process of ANY Linux distro should allow you to choose whether you want to see the bootup messages when you start your computer.

    A prompt could be added 'around the point' that the install process asks what language you prefer and what time-zone you are in.

    I have provided feedback on this to developers of at least one Linux distro, but I do not hold out much hope for seeing this implemented.

    Unfortunately, in the 2010-2020 time frame, Linux distro developers seem to be on a path to 'hide' and 'dumb down' all aspects of Linux --- including 'file manager' interfaces and 'web browser' interfaces,as well as 'bootup' interfaces.

The 3 Basic Steps
(to remove 'quiet splash')

There are 3 basic steps to removing the 'quiet splash' parameters.

  • 'Bring up' the '/etc/default/grub' file in a text-editor --- to remove the 'quiet splash' string from within a couple of double-quote marks --- and edit a little more.

      I use the 'scite' text editor. I open a terminal window and position in the '/etc/default' directory with the 'cd' command. Then I issue the command

      sudo scite grub

      to edit the 'grub' file.

      Before I edit the 'grub' file, I usually make a backup named 'grub_ORIG', using the command

      mv   grub   grub_ORIG

      before starting up the text-editor with the command above.

  • In addition to removing the string 'quiet splash' from the line

    GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

    leaving the line

    GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=""

    I also uncomment the line

    #GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480

    and change it to a 'finer' screen resolution such as

    GRUB_GFXMODE=1920x1080

    where the resolution should be one that your monitor supports.

      If I do not do this, the initial boot messages appear in a 'too big' font.

  • After changing those 2 lines and closing the text-editor, I run the command

    'sudo update-grub'

    in the same terminal window.

    This command re-creates the '/boot/grub/grub.cfg' file from the '/etc/default/grub' file.

      Before I run the 'update-grub' command, I like to open another terminal window and use the 'cd' command to position into the '/boot/grub' directory.

      Then I make a backup copy of the original 'grub.cfg' file using the command

      mv   grub.cfg   grub.cfg_ORIG

After running the 'update-grub' command, you can close the terminal windows and shutdown your computer.

Then power the computer back on, as you normally do, to see (most of) the boot messages displayed --- until you get a login prompt or see your desktop.

The Before and After Images
(of the 2 pertinent GRUB config files)

'ORIG' and changed images of the two pertinent GRUB config files follow.

(Click on the links to see the text file images in a separate browser window.)

The original file
/etc/default/grub


The /etc/default/grub file with
'quiet splash' removed ---
by using a text-editor


The original file
/boot/grub/grub.cfg
(You can use the 'Find text' option
of your web browser to find the
string 'quiet' or 'splash'.)


The /boot/grub/grub.cfg file with
'quiet splash' removed ---
by using the 'sudo update-grub' command
as 'root' (the operating system administrator).
(The 'quiet' and 'splash' strings are gone.)

These are images of the files that I created in the Linux 'distro'

Ubuntu-MATE 18.04 (LTS)

in 2019 November.

More 'GRUB' configuration info :

To find more info on configuring 'grub' on Linux, you may find it instructive to try WEB SEARCHES on keywords such as

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"How to Remove 'quiet splash'
Parameters from GRUB Config Files"
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Page was created 2019 Nov 25.