How to get GUI for LUKS decryption prompt?

Soly · 2025-07-27 12:25:38

Hi everyone,

My arch linux partition is encrypted with LUKS, which I set up via archinstall. When I'm prompted to enter the password it is a simple tui. However, I've seen some distros use a gui prompt for the password (I think bazzite does this, but there are probably more distros with this feature). I suspect it has something to do with either grub, plymouth or both, but I haven't been able to find any mention of the feature on the arch wiki. If someone could eithet point me in the direction of such a page, or explain how to do this if it is not documented on the wiki, that would be greatly appreciated!

cryptearth · 2025-07-27 12:27:32

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php … 9#p2253579

Soly · 2025-07-27 12:50:34

I appreciate the response, but quite frankly I can't be asked to reinstall a system I depend on for daily use to fix a minor visual issue at boot lol. If there's no way to remedy this post install I will just live with it

cryptearth · 2025-07-27 13:37:29

my point was more towards:
archinstall is NOT the "windows install for new users" but a tool for experienced users to speed up (mass) deployment
if you just used archinstall without understanding the manual way you already made quite a mistake as you will struggle with an emergency when your system isn't able to boot normaly
also: depending on your internet speed a basic arch install from cold boot to full graphic desktop can be done in half an hour - so nothin too hard for a sunday

there sure is a way to do what you request afterwards - and the wiki likely has some info - but everytime a new user starts with "I used archinstall" a "they not read the wiki" comes up
so - what guide you followed? ask there for additional support
here we can help you if you follow tge wiki only - if you rely on some other guides its thier responsibility

Soly · 2025-07-27 14:36:32

Heya, thanks again for the response. I went back and tried to replicate my install on a VM, using the wiki and cross referencing it with an easier video guide - basically, I'd watch the video and compare it to the wiki to make sure I didn't do anything not on the wiki. After this, I am facing the same problem as on my real system, where the luks prompt is a text prompt and not a fancy gui like I want, and what is seen in some other distros. I just went through the steps of creating an encrypted partition with cryptsetup and adding it to grub to decrypt on boot. For further reference, this is the video I used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXqk91R4RwU

But like I said, all that is said in the video can be found on the wiki AFAIK. With that done, I have basically done what archinstall does manually, and I can say I'm still not sure how to add the GUI functionality I want, since I believe it's from a package separate to those that handle the actual drive encryption and decryption. I'll keep playing around with plymouth while I await another response, as I think it can provide the functionality I desire, even if I can't find it explicitly stated on the wiki, as I probably just missed it lol

Thank you for your responses and help so far!

P.S. If you require any system logs or similar to help, please let me know and I'd be happy to provide. Same goes for further detail on what I've done so far.

Last edited by Soly (2025-07-27 14:37:45)

SimonJ · 2025-07-27 15:02:10

If you follow a video guide and the results do not match the video, you should message the author of the video guide. You can't ask people here to debug a video of how to install Arch. If you followed the wiki please reference the part which does not give the result expected.

Soly · 2025-07-27 15:05:14

I didn't say that the results didn't match the video. The results of the guide are as expected, and I did successfully install arch with LUKS full disk encryption. If you would please read both my original post and replies, you would see that I am asking how to add a GUI to the decryption prompt on startup, since I have seen some distros like bazzite come with such a feature preinstalled and preconfigured. I am asking how to install and configure such a feature for my arch system, as this functionality is not included in the setup described both in the video and on the wiki, nor can I find any wiki article that describes how to set it up.

cryptearth · 2025-07-27 18:31:21

ok - although I'm not able to help you directly - might let me guide you towards how/where you get help

first: if you don't get help it's likely either noone who can help you have read your question yet or all who have read it yet can't help you
second: for new users espacially both "archinstall" and "I followed some random guide" are red flags - so redirecting you "back from where you come" is pretty much typical - helpers expect those who ask questions to stick to official documentation and the wiki - most questions are either already answred or are a result because the OP did something different to the wiki/official documentation
third: if the documentation of the distro (for arch the archwiki) doesn't provide the required information for linux stuff you can usually search for informations upstream - as for LUKS encryption - or more specific: the crypto target for the device mapper - https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dm-crypt is a good start
at section 3 it lists https://gitlab.com/cryptsetup/cryptsetup as "The LUKS homepage and FAQ - the main and foremost help resource." - I wasn't able to find anything about your question - but the wiki page refers to a mailing list - so this is where I would go
a kind word: although I don't now the lists policy most lists don't take kindly of repeated questions - there's a public archive https://lore.kernel.org/dm-crypt/ so I would search there first - and only if you don't find anything then register to the list and ask there
fourth: just wait until someone comes along with the requested information - and also: please don't bump your own topic

Lone_Wolf · 2025-07-27 18:35:11

How (what partitions) did you encrypt your system ?
At what stage in the https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_boot_process do you get the luks prompt ?

Arch Linux

#1 2025-07-27 12:25:38

How to get GUI for LUKS decryption prompt?

#2 2025-07-27 12:27:32

Re: How to get GUI for LUKS decryption prompt?

#3 2025-07-27 12:50:34

Re: How to get GUI for LUKS decryption prompt?

#4 2025-07-27 13:37:29

Re: How to get GUI for LUKS decryption prompt?

#5 2025-07-27 14:36:32

Re: How to get GUI for LUKS decryption prompt?

#6 2025-07-27 15:02:10

Re: How to get GUI for LUKS decryption prompt?

#7 2025-07-27 15:05:14

Re: How to get GUI for LUKS decryption prompt?

#8 2025-07-27 18:31:21

Re: How to get GUI for LUKS decryption prompt?

#9 2025-07-27 18:35:11

Re: How to get GUI for LUKS decryption prompt?

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