When a dual-boot system keeps choosing the wrong operating system or hides the boot menu too quickly, editing GRUB by hand is easy to get wrong. You can install Grub Customizer on Ubuntu to reorder boot entries, change the menu timeout, enable OS detection, and adjust theme settings from a graphical interface instead of editing GRUB files first.
Ubuntu’s default repositories do not currently provide a grub-customizer package for Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, or 22.04. The Daniel Richter Launchpad PPA publishes the APT-managed package used here for all three LTS releases. Because this tool changes bootloader behavior, back up GRUB defaults and make one change at a time.
Install Grub Customizer on Ubuntu
Confirm Grub Customizer PPA Support on Ubuntu
The Daniel Richter PPA currently publishes Grub Customizer packages for Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04. This is a third-party PPA, not an Ubuntu archive package. Package revision suffixes can change after the PPA maintainer publishes a new build, so confirm the candidate on your system before installing.
| Ubuntu Release | PPA Series | PPA Candidate | PPA State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | resolute | 5.2.8-0ubuntu1~ppa1r | Package available from the PPA |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | noble | 5.2.8-0ubuntu1~ppa1n | Package available from the PPA |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | jammy | 5.2.8-0ubuntu1~ppa1j | Package available from the PPA |
Use the PPA instead of downloading unverified .deb files from mirror sites. APT downloads the package from Launchpad, resolves dependencies, and keeps future Grub Customizer updates tied to the same package source.
Update Ubuntu Before Installing Grub Customizer
Refresh package metadata and install pending updates before adding the PPA. This reduces dependency conflicts during installation.
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgradeCommands that change packages, repositories, or GRUB settings use
sudo. If your account is not configured for sudo yet, use the root account or follow our guide on adding a new user to sudoers on Ubuntu.
Add the Grub Customizer PPA on Ubuntu
Add the PPA with add-apt-repository. The -y flag confirms the prompt automatically; omit it if you want to review the Launchpad details before confirming.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer -yRefresh APT so Ubuntu reads the new package source. Some add-apt-repository versions refresh automatically, but running apt update keeps the workflow predictable.
sudo apt updateConfirm the candidate comes from the Daniel Richter PPA before installing:
apt-cache policy grub-customizerOn Ubuntu 26.04, the candidate source uses the resolute PPA series. Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04 show the same upstream version with noble or jammy in the source line.
grub-customizer:
Installed: (none)
Candidate: 5.2.8-0ubuntu1~ppa1r
Version table:
5.2.8-0ubuntu1~ppa1r 500
500 https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/danielrichter2007/grub-customizer/ubuntu resolute/main amd64 Packages
Install Grub Customizer from the PPA
Install the package after the PPA candidate appears:
sudo apt install grub-customizerVerify that the binary is installed and prints its version:
command -v grub-customizer
grub-customizer -v/usr/bin/grub-customizer Grub Customizer, version 5.2.8
If the PPA maintainer publishes a newer build, your version line may show a later release. The important checks are that the binary path exists and Grub Customizer prints a version without an error.
Launch Grub Customizer on Ubuntu
Launch Grub Customizer from Terminal
Launch Grub Customizer from a terminal as your normal user. The application requests administrative access through a PolicyKit authentication prompt when it loads or saves privileged GRUB settings, so do not prefix the launcher command with sudo.
grub-customizerLaunch Grub Customizer from the Applications Menu
On the default Ubuntu desktop, open Activities, search for Grub Customizer, and select the launcher. Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, and other Ubuntu flavors use their own application menus, but the installed launcher name is the same.
Configure GRUB Settings with Grub Customizer on Ubuntu
Once Grub Customizer opens, the main window displays current boot entries and the top tabs provide access to general and appearance settings. Save changes only after you understand what each change affects.
| Task | Where to Find It | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Change boot order | Main window, arrow buttons in toolbar | Dual-boot systems where another OS should boot first |
| Adjust timeout | General Settings | Show the boot menu long enough to select another entry |
| Enable OS detection | General Settings, OS-prober option | Detect Windows or another Linux install that is missing from GRUB |
| Apply themes | Appearance Settings | Set a background image, colors, fonts, or menu layout |
GRUB changes affect how your system starts. Make one change at a time, save it, and verify the result after rebooting so you can quickly identify which change caused a problem if the boot menu behaves unexpectedly.
Back Up GRUB Defaults Before Using Grub Customizer
Back up the main GRUB defaults file before changing boot order, timeout, or OS detection settings:
sudo cp /etc/default/grub /etc/default/grub.backupIf a change causes problems, restore the backup and regenerate GRUB:
sudo cp /etc/default/grub.backup /etc/default/grub
sudo update-grubReorder Boot Menu Entries in Grub Customizer
Select an entry from the list and use the up or down arrow buttons in the toolbar. The top entry becomes the default boot option unless you choose a different default in General Settings. Click Save to apply the new order.
Adjust the Boot Timeout in Grub Customizer
Open General Settings and adjust the timeout value. Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04 desktop installs commonly use GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=hidden with GRUB_TIMEOUT=0, which skips the menu on single-OS systems. For dual-boot setups, set a visible timeout such as 5-10 seconds, then click Save.
Enable OS Detection in Grub Customizer
If Windows or another Linux distribution is missing from the boot menu, check the OS-prober setting in General Settings. Ubuntu 26.04 and 24.04 ship GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=false as a commented line, while Ubuntu 22.04 may omit the setting entirely. Enable OS-prober, save the change, and allow GRUB to regenerate.
Apply GRUB Themes with Grub Customizer
Open Appearance Settings to adjust background images, text colors, font sizes, and menu positioning. Grub Customizer previews theme changes before you save them, but the actual boot menu is the final test. Keep a known-good backup before replacing backgrounds or heavily changing menu visibility.
Always click Save after making changes. Grub Customizer normally prompts you to regenerate the GRUB configuration automatically. Allow that process to finish before rebooting, or your changes may not take effect.
Update or Remove Grub Customizer on Ubuntu
Update Grub Customizer from the PPA
Grub Customizer updates arrive through APT because the package came from a PPA. For broader package-maintenance context, see our guide on updating packages via the Ubuntu command line.
sudo apt update
sudo apt install --only-upgrade grub-customizerThe --only-upgrade flag updates grub-customizer only when it is already installed. Verify the installed version after the upgrade:
grub-customizer -vGrub Customizer, version 5.2.8
The version can be newer than the example shown earlier if the PPA has moved forward.
Remove Grub Customizer from Ubuntu
Remove the application package first:
sudo apt purge grub-customizerThen review unused dependencies before confirming an autoremove operation. APT may list unrelated orphaned packages that were already present before Grub Customizer was installed. For a broader cleanup workflow, see our guide on removing packages on Ubuntu from the command line.
sudo apt autoremoveConfirm the package is no longer installed:
if dpkg-query -W grub-customizer >/dev/null 2>&1; then
echo "grub-customizer is still installed"
else
echo "grub-customizer is removed"
figrub-customizer is removed
Removing Grub Customizer does not undo bootloader changes you already saved. Settings such as boot order, timeout values, and OS detection can remain in GRUB configuration files. Restore your backup or review
/etc/default/grub, then runsudo update-grubif you need to return to the previous behavior.
Remove the Grub Customizer PPA from Ubuntu
Remove the PPA after removing the package so APT no longer checks that source. For more details about PPA cleanup, see our guide on removing PPAs from Ubuntu.
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer -y
sudo apt updateUbuntu 22.04 can leave Daniel Richter PPA trust files behind after add-apt-repository --remove. Remove these exact files if they exist; the command is harmless on systems where the files are already absent.
sudo rm -f /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/danielrichter2007-ubuntu-grub-customizer.gpg /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/danielrichter2007-ubuntu-grub-customizer.gpg~Check for leftover Grub Customizer PPA source or trust files:
find /etc/apt/sources.list.d /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d /etc/apt/keyrings -maxdepth 1 \( -iname '*grub*customizer*' -o -iname '*danielrichter*' \) -print 2>/dev/nullNo output means no matching PPA source or trust file remains.
Troubleshoot Grub Customizer on Ubuntu
The add-apt-repository Command Is Not Found
If Ubuntu reports that add-apt-repository is missing, install software-properties-common. Minimal installs and customized systems are the most common places to encounter this error.
add-apt-repository: command not found
sudo apt install software-properties-common
command -v add-apt-repository/usr/bin/add-apt-repository
Ubuntu Reports Unable to Locate the grub-customizer Package
If Ubuntu returns E: Unable to locate package grub-customizer, the PPA was not added successfully, APT has not refreshed its package lists, or your Ubuntu release does not have a matching PPA series.
E: Unable to locate package grub-customizer
Check whether APT sees a Grub Customizer candidate and whether a matching PPA file exists:
apt-cache policy grub-customizer
find /etc/apt/sources.list.d -maxdepth 1 -iname '*grub*customizer*' -printIf the package has no candidate and the source check prints nothing, add the PPA again and refresh APT:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer -y
sudo apt updateIf apt update reports that the PPA does not have a Release file for your codename, remove the failed PPA entry and wait until the PPA publishes support for that Ubuntu release.
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer -y
sudo apt updateGRUB Changes Do Not Apply After Saving
If saved changes do not affect the next boot, regenerate the GRUB configuration manually and watch for errors:
sudo update-grubSourcing file `/etc/default/grub' Generating grub configuration file ... Adding boot menu entry for UEFI Firmware Settings ... done
The output can also list detected kernels and other operating systems. Reboot after a successful regeneration to test the saved change.
Grub Customizer Does Not Detect Other Operating Systems
If Grub Customizer does not show Windows or another Linux installation, os-prober may be disabled. Check whether an active setting exists:
grep -E '^GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=' /etc/default/grubNo output means the setting is absent or commented out. Install os-prober if needed:
sudo apt install os-proberOpen the GRUB defaults file:
sudo nano /etc/default/grubAdd this line, or uncomment it if the same line already exists with a leading #:
GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=falseSave the file with Ctrl+O, exit with Ctrl+X, and regenerate GRUB:
sudo update-grubOn dual-boot systems, successful output should include a line for the detected operating system, such as Windows Boot Manager:
Generating grub configuration file ... Found Windows Boot Manager on /dev/nvme0n1p1@/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi done
Reopen Grub Customizer after regeneration so it reloads the updated boot entry list.
Conclusion
Grub Customizer is installed on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, or 22.04 from the Daniel Richter PPA, with updates handled through APT and removal covered for both the package and PPA source. Before changing bootloader behavior, keep a GRUB backup and consider creating a system snapshot with Timeshift on Ubuntu so you have a cleaner rollback path if a menu change breaks your normal boot flow.
In your grub-customizer removal instructions you state ” To also remove application configuration files stored in your home directory, use purge instead of remove.” grub-customizer does not store configuration values in home directory for Ubuntu 14.04, 16.04 and 22.04. Would you please provide a credible reference confirming grub-customizer stores configuration values in the home directory. Thanks.
Thank you! Everything worked out without any workarounds. I deeply appreciate your efforts!
Thank you, man.
Thank you for the feedback.