{"id":47717,"date":"2024-12-12T13:34:31","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T13:34:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/?p=47717"},"modified":"2026-02-27T08:33:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T08:33:31","slug":"os-kernel-boot-default-ubuntu-linux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/index.php\/2024\/12\/os-kernel-boot-default-ubuntu-linux\/","title":{"rendered":"Configure which OS or kernel to Boot by Default in Ubuntu 24.04"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This is a step by step beginner’s tutorial shows how to set the default OS or kernel entry in Grub boot-menu in Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian or other Linux.<\/p>\n

Most Linux today uses Grub2<\/a> to provide a menu on start-up, allowing to choose which operating system, which kernel, or recovery mode to boot.<\/p>\n

It by default boots the first entry, while user can configure to automatically boot another menu entries without user interaction. And, here’s how to do the trick in 2 ways: from command line<\/b> or use a graphical tool<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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my Grub2 boot menu<\/p><\/div>\n

NOTE: You need to boot into the first entry (or Advanced options for the first), that handles the boot menu, then follow this tutorial. Or, set current OS’s boot menu as default in BIOS.<\/b><\/p>\n

Option 1: Use command tool or edit Grub configuration file<\/h3>\n

The grub configuration tool has an option to set the default boot entry, and, there’s a command line tool grub-set-default<\/code> allowing to change the default at any time as easy as a single command.<\/p>\n

1. Count your boot menu entries.<\/b><\/p>\n

Without remembering the full tiles of all the boot entries, you may count them and use the number instead to set which to boot as default.<\/p>\n

To preview the menu<\/b>, press Ctrl+Alt+T<\/code> to open terminal window, then run commands below to install grub-emu<\/code> tool and use it the simulate the boot menu:<\/p>\n