How to Install Grub Customizer on Linux Mint

Grub Customizer gives you graphical control over your GRUB2 bootloader without editing configuration files manually. Whether you need to change the default boot entry for a dual-boot system, adjust boot timeouts, or customize your bootloader’s appearance with themes and background images, Grub Customizer provides an intuitive interface that makes these tasks straightforward. By the end of this guide, you will have Grub Customizer installed and ready to manage your boot menu, reorder entries, and apply visual customizations.

This guide covers installation on both Linux Mint 21.x and 22.x using the official Launchpad PPA maintained by Daniel Richter. Since Linux Mint uses Ubuntu as its base, you will add the PPA, install the application, and learn how to launch, update, and remove it when needed.

Understand Your Linux Mint Version

Linux Mint uses Ubuntu LTS releases as its package base, but the Mint codename differs from the underlying Ubuntu codename. This distinction matters when adding PPAs because some tools reference the Ubuntu codename for package compatibility. The table below shows the mapping between Mint versions and their Ubuntu bases:

Linux Mint Version	Mint Codenames	Ubuntu Base	Ubuntu Codename
Linux Mint 22.x	Wilma, Xia	Ubuntu 24.04 LTS	noble
Linux Mint 21.x	Vanessa, Vera, Victoria, Virginia	Ubuntu 22.04 LTS	jammy

To check your current Linux Mint version and its Ubuntu base, run:

lsb_release -a

The output displays your distribution information:

Distributor ID: Linuxmint
Description:    Linux Mint 22
Release:        22
Codename:       wilma

Update Linux Mint System

Before installing new software, update your package lists and upgrade existing packages. This ensures you have the latest security patches and prevents dependency conflicts during installation:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Add the Grub Customizer PPA

The Grub Customizer PPA provides the latest stable version directly from the developer. Add the repository using the following command:

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

This command imports the GPG signing key and creates the repository configuration automatically. After adding the PPA, update the package cache:

sudo apt update

Install Grub Customizer

Before making any bootloader changes, back up your current GRUB configuration: sudo cp /etc/default/grub /etc/default/grub.backup. This allows you to restore your original settings if something goes wrong.

With the PPA configured, install Grub Customizer using APT:

sudo apt install grub-customizer

After installation completes, verify that Grub Customizer is available by checking its version:

grub-customizer -v

The output confirms the installed version:

Grub Customizer, version 5.2.5

Launch Grub Customizer

Launch from Terminal

To launch Grub Customizer from the terminal, run:

grub-customizer

The application prompts for your password because modifying bootloader settings requires administrative privileges. Once authenticated, the main window displays your current GRUB configuration with all boot entries.

Launch from Applications Menu

To launch Grub Customizer from the desktop environment:

• Open the application menu from your panel or press the Super key
• Type “Grub Customizer” in the search field
• Click the Grub Customizer icon to launch the application

The application appears in the System or Administration category of the menu, depending on your desktop environment.

Since Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu LTS, some interface elements and boot entries may display “Ubuntu” instead of “Linux Mint.” This is normal and does not affect functionality.

Manage Grub Customizer

Update Grub Customizer

The PPA provides updates through your system’s standard package management. When new versions are released, they appear alongside your regular system updates:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

You can also update only Grub Customizer without upgrading other packages:

sudo apt install --only-upgrade grub-customizer

Remove Grub Customizer

If you no longer need Grub Customizer, remove the package and its dependencies:

sudo apt remove grub-customizer
sudo apt autoremove

The autoremove command cleans up packages that were installed as dependencies but are no longer needed. Verify the removal by checking if the command is still available:

which grub-customizer

If the package was removed successfully, this command produces no output.

Grub Customizer modifies /etc/default/grub and regenerates /boot/grub/grub.cfg when you save changes. These files are owned by GRUB itself, not by Grub Customizer, so removing the application does not undo your bootloader customizations. Your boot menu settings persist after uninstallation.

Remove the PPA

After removing Grub Customizer, you should also remove the PPA to prevent unnecessary repository checks during system updates:

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

Conclusion

Grub Customizer provides a straightforward graphical interface for managing your GRUB2 bootloader configuration. You can now reorder boot entries, set default operating systems for dual-boot setups, adjust boot timeouts, and apply themes without manually editing configuration files. The PPA installation ensures you receive updates through your standard package manager, and you can restore your backup configuration at any time if your changes cause boot issues.

Additional Resources

The following official resources provide more information about Grub Customizer and the GRUB bootloader:

• Grub Customizer Project Page: The official Launchpad project page with release notes, bug tracking, and development information.
• Grub Customizer PPA: The Personal Package Archive with available packages for different Ubuntu releases.
• GNU GRUB Manual: The official documentation for GRUB2, covering advanced configuration options and bootloader internals.