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Mattscreative edited this page Dec 5, 2025 · 2 revisions

Arch Linux Bootloader Configuration Guide

Complete beginner-friendly guide to configuring bootloaders on Arch Linux, including GRUB, systemd-boot, rEFInd, and Limine.

Table of Contents

  1. Understanding Bootloaders
  2. GRUB Configuration
  3. systemd-boot Configuration
  4. rEFInd Configuration
  5. Limine Configuration
  6. Switching Bootloaders
  7. Troubleshooting

Understanding Bootloaders

What is a Bootloader?

Bootloader is software that loads the operating system.

Functions:

  • Loads kernel
  • Initializes hardware
  • Provides boot menu
  • Handles dual-boot

Boot Process

How booting works:

  1. BIOS/UEFI initializes hardware
  2. Bootloader loads from disk
  3. Kernel starts
  4. Init system (systemd) starts
  5. System ready

Bootloader Options

Available bootloaders:

  • GRUB: Most popular, feature-rich
  • systemd-boot: Simple, UEFI only
  • rEFInd: Beautiful, UEFI only
  • Limine: Modern, simple

GRUB Configuration

Installing GRUB

For UEFI systems:

# Install GRUB
sudo pacman -S grub efibootmgr

# Install to EFI partition
sudo grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=GRUB

For BIOS systems:

# Install GRUB
sudo pacman -S grub

# Install to disk
sudo grub-install --target=i386-pc /dev/sda

Explanation:

  • --target=x86_64-efi: UEFI target
  • --efi-directory: EFI partition mount point
  • --target=i386-pc: BIOS target
  • /dev/sda: Boot disk

Generate GRUB Configuration

Create boot menu:

# Generate GRUB config
sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

This scans for:

  • Installed kernels
  • Other operating systems
  • Creates boot entries

GRUB Configuration File

Edit GRUB settings:

# Edit GRUB config
sudo vim /etc/default/grub

Common settings:

# Boot timeout (seconds)
GRUB_TIMEOUT=5

# Default boot entry
GRUB_DEFAULT=0

# Kernel parameters
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet"

# Enable os-prober (for dual-boot)
GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=false

After editing:

# Regenerate config
sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

GRUB Themes

Install themes:

# Install GRUB theme
sudo pacman -S grub-theme-vimix

# Or use AUR
yay -S grub-theme-poly-dark

Apply theme:

# Edit GRUB config
sudo vim /etc/default/grub

# Add theme
GRUB_THEME="/boot/grub/themes/theme-name/theme.txt"

# Regenerate
sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

systemd-boot Configuration

Installing systemd-boot

For UEFI only:

# Install systemd-boot
bootctl install

# Or specify path
bootctl --path=/boot/efi install

Verify installation:

# Check status
bootctl status

Configuration

Main configuration:

# Edit loader config
sudo vim /boot/loader/loader.conf

Example configuration:

default arch.conf
timeout 3
editor no

Explanation:

  • default: Default boot entry
  • timeout: Boot timeout (seconds)
  • editor: Enable boot editor

Boot Entries

Create boot entry:

# Create entry file
sudo vim /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf

Example entry:

title Arch Linux
linux /vmlinuz-linux
initrd /initramfs-linux.img
options root=UUID=xxxx-xxxx-xxxx rw

For LTS kernel:

sudo vim /boot/loader/entries/arch-lts.conf
title Arch Linux (LTS)
linux /vmlinuz-linux-lts
initrd /initramfs-linux-lts.img
options root=UUID=xxxx-xxxx-xxxx rw

Find root UUID:

# List filesystems with UUIDs
lsblk -f

rEFInd Configuration

Installing rEFInd

Install rEFInd:

# Install rEFInd
sudo pacman -S refind-efi

# Install to EFI partition
sudo refind-install

Configuration

Edit rEFInd config:

# Edit config
sudo vim /boot/efi/EFI/refind/refind.conf

Common settings:

timeout 5
default_selection 1
resolution 1920 1080

Themes

Install themes:

# Clone theme
git clone https://github.com/bobafetthotmail/refind-theme-regular.git /boot/efi/EFI/refind/themes/refind-theme-regular

# Edit config
sudo vim /boot/efi/EFI/refind/refind.conf

Add to config:

include themes/refind-theme-regular/theme.conf

Limine Configuration

Installing Limine

Install Limine:

# Install Limine
sudo pacman -S limine

# Or from AUR
yay -S limine-git

Configuration

Create Limine config:

# Create config
sudo vim /boot/limine/limine.cfg

Example configuration:

:Arch Linux
PROTOCOL=linux
KERNEL_PATH=boot:///vmlinuz-linux
MODULE_PATH=boot:///initramfs-linux.img
CMDLINE=root=UUID=xxxx-xxxx-xxxx rw

Install Limine

Install to EFI:

# Install Limine
sudo limine-install /dev/sda

Switching Bootloaders

From GRUB to systemd-boot

Steps:

  1. Install systemd-boot:

    bootctl install

  2. Create boot entries:

    sudo vim /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf

  3. Remove GRUB (optional):

    sudo pacman -R grub

From systemd-boot to GRUB

Steps:

  1. Install GRUB:

    sudo pacman -S grub efibootmgr
sudo grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=GRUB

  2. Generate config:

    sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Troubleshooting

GRUB Not Showing

Regenerate GRUB:

# Reinstall GRUB
sudo grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=GRUB

# Regenerate config
sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Bootloader Not Found

Reinstall bootloader:

# For GRUB
sudo grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=GRUB

# For systemd-boot
bootctl install

Dual-Boot Issues

Enable os-prober:

# Install os-prober
sudo pacman -S os-prober

# Edit GRUB config
sudo vim /etc/default/grub

Set:

GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=false

Regenerate:

sudo grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Summary

This guide covered:

  1. Bootloader basics - What they do
  2. GRUB - Most popular bootloader
  3. systemd-boot - Simple UEFI bootloader
  4. rEFInd - Beautiful bootloader
  5. Limine - Modern bootloader
  6. Switching - Changing bootloaders
  7. Troubleshooting - Common issues

Key Takeaways:

  • GRUB is most feature-rich
  • systemd-boot is simplest for UEFI
  • Choose based on your needs
  • Always backup before changes
  • Regenerate config after edits

Next Steps

This guide is based on the ArchWiki. For the most up-to-date information, always refer to the official ArchWiki.

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