Arch Linux

Linux-Is-Best

Member

Registered: 2019-11-29

Posts: 19

Systemd-boot change kernel boot order

I installed both the standard Linux kernel and header, along with the zen kernel. I would like the zen kernel to be the default (1st choice), but Arch made the standard kernel the 1st boot option. How would I go about changing this? I have found nothing in the Wiki detailing this.

Last edited by Linux-Is-Best (2023-06-06 02:20:12)

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Linux-Is-Best

Member

Registered: 2019-11-29

Posts: 19

Re: Systemd-boot change kernel boot order

Solution:  Uninstall the other kernel.

It seems no one knows a working solution.

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* Please be as detail as possible in your replies. As if you were speaking with a child.
* It is hard for me to understand sarcasm on the internet. Please try to avoid it.
* I rarely check PMs (personal messages).  If you want my attention please quote me.
* Please remember that experiences differ and opinions are not facts. - Thank you.

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 25,334

Re: Systemd-boot change kernel boot order

You can just make an entry default, if you're hard set on changing the order I'm also not sure what to do about that, I'd assume entry names will be sorted alphabetically

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 9,003

Website

Re: Systemd-boot change kernel boot order

Use the default option in loader.conf. Or use the arrow keys to select the desired default at the menu, it will be remembered thereafter.

It's in the wiki: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/system … figuration

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Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

TheBloated1

Member

Registered: 2026-08-12

Posts: 1

Re: Systemd-boot change kernel boot order

Only like a decade late, but you can use the sort-key option in the .conf file for each kernel in your loader, and it will load them alphabetically from there.
For example:
/boot/loader/entries/2025-07-01_03-55-13_linux.conf
# Created by: archinstall
# Created on: 2025-07-01_03-55-13
title   Arch Linux (linux)
linux   /vmlinuz-linux
initrd  /initramfs-linux.img
options root=PARTUUID=580e8908-7596-4032-b12f-9c400bb87a27 zswap.enabled=0 rw rootfstype=ext4 mem_sleep_default=deep
sort-key 10-linux

/boot/loader/entries/54f27ef40c104136b19e57cff0ac26c4-6.18.44-1-lts.conf
# Boot Loader Specification type#1 entry
# File created by /usr/lib/kernel/install.d/90-loaderentry.install (systemd 261.2-1-arch)
title      Arch Linux(lts)
version    6.18.44-1-lts
machine-id 54f27ef40c104136b19e57cff0ac26c4
sort-key   20-lts
options    root=PARTUUID=580e8908-7596-4032-b12f-9c400bb87a27 zswap.enabled=0 rw rootfstype=ext4 mem_sleep_default=deep systemd.machine_id=54f27ef40c104136b19e57cff0ac26c4
linux      /54f27ef40c104136b19e57cff0ac26c4/6.18.44-1-lts/linux
initrd     /54f27ef40c104136b19e57cff0ac26c4/6.18.44-1-lts/initramfs-linux-lts.img
initrd     /54f27ef40c104136b19e57cff0ac26c4/6.18.44-1-lts/initrd

/boot/loader/entries/2025-07-01_03-55-13_linux-fallback.conf
# Created by: archinstall
# Created on: 2025-07-01_03-55-13
title   Arch Linux (linux-fallback)
linux   /vmlinuz-linux
initrd  /initramfs-linux-fallback.img
options root=PARTUUID=580e8908-7596-4032-b12f-9c400bb87a27 zswap.enabled=0 rw rootfstype=ext4
sort-key 30-fallback

See how the sort-key argument lets you arrange it alphabetically? It shows up on the menu in that same order. This is distinct from the default setting.

Last edited by TheBloated1 (2026-08-12 22:46:50)

Lone_Wolf

Administrator

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 15,348

Re: Systemd-boot change kernel boot order

Please don't necro-bump

Moderator Note
Closing this thread.

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Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

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Try clean chroot manager by graysky