Replace grub2 with systemd-boot on Ubuntu 22.04

README.md

1. remove grub

apt purge --allow-remove-essential grub2-common grub-pc-bin grub-pc grub-gfxpayload-lists grub-efi-amd64-bin grub-efi-amd64-signed grub-common os-prober shim-signed libfreetype6 
apt-get autoremove --purge
rm -rf /boot/grub/
rm -rf /boot/efi/EFI/ubuntu

2. make sure it's not installed back
   • apt-mark hold "grub*"
3. install systemd-boot

apt install systemd-boot systemd-ukify

4. create /etc/kernel/cmdline with the wanted kernel command line (check /proc/cmdline for inspiration)
5. create /etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-systemd-boot (see below, and make sure it's 0755 mode) and run it
6. reinstall the kernel package so it triggers kernel-install & friends
7. reboot

zz-update-systemd-boot

#!/bin/bash
#
# This is a simple kernel hook to populate the systemd-boot entries
# whenever kernels are added or removed.
#
       
# Our kernels.
KERNELS=()
FIND="find /boot -maxdepth 1 -name 'vmlinuz-*' -type f -print0 | sort -rz"
while IFS= read -r -u3 -d $'\0' LINE; do
    KERNEL=$(basename "${LINE}")
    KERNELS+=("${KERNEL:8}")
done 3< <(eval "${FIND}")

# There has to be at least one kernel.
if [ ${#KERNELS[@]} -lt 1 ]; then
    echo -e "\e[2msystemd-boot\e[0m \e[1;31mNo kernels found.\e[0m"
    exit 1
fi

LATEST="${KERNELS[@]:0:1}"
echo -e "\e[2msystemd-boot\e[0m \e[1;32m${LATEST}\e[0m"
objcopy \
  --add-section .osrel=/etc/os-release --change-section-vma .osrel=0x20000 \
  --add-section .cmdline=/etc/kernel/cmdline --change-section-vma .cmdline=0x30000 \
  --add-section .linux=/boot/vmlinuz-${LATEST} --change-section-vma .linux=0x2000000 \
  --add-section .initrd=/boot/initrd.img-${LATEST} --change-section-vma .initrd=0x3000000 \
  /usr/lib/systemd/boot/efi/linuxx64.efi.stub \
  /boot/efi/EFI/Linux/ubuntu.efi
    
# Success!
exit 0

Currently I am looking for a way to switch from grub2 to systemd-boot in Ubuntu 24.04 and found your gist. When I tried to remove grub packages, I get the following prompt which asked to remove a lot of Ubuntu-shipped packages that I actually want to keep.

❯ sudo apt purge --allow-remove-essential grub2-common grub-pc-bin grub-pc grub-gfxpayload-lists grub-efi-amd64-bin grub-efi-amd64-signed grub-common os-prober shim-signed libfreetype6
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
Package 'grub-gfxpayload-lists' is not installed, so not removed
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
  acl adwaita-icon-theme apg apport apport-core-dump-handler apport-symptoms aptdaemon aptdaemon-data avahi-utils ca-certificates-java cheese-common colord-data cups-daemon cups-ipp-utils cups-pk-helper cups-server-common dconf-cli
  docbook-xml duplicity enchant-2 evolution-data-server-common fontconfig-config fonts-dejavu-extra fonts-droid-fallback fonts-noto-mono gedit-common geoclue-2.0 geocode-glib-common gir1.2-atk-1.0 gir1.2-dbusmenu-glib-0.4
  gir1.2-dee-1.0 gir1.2-gck-2 gir1.2-gcr-4 gir1.2-gdesktopenums-3.0 gir1.2-gdm-1.0 gir1.2-geoclue-2.0 gir1.2-gnomebluetooth-3.0 gir1.2-gnomedesktop-4.0 gir1.2-graphene-1.0 gir1.2-gst-plugins-base-1.0 gir1.2-gstreamer-1.0
  gir1.2-gudev-1.0 gir1.2-gweather-4.0 gir1.2-ibus-1.0 gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-4.1 gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-6.0 gir1.2-nm-1.0 gir1.2-notify-0.7 gir1.2-polkit-1.0 gir1.2-secret-1 gir1.2-snapd-2 gir1.2-soup-2.4 gir1.2-soup-3.0
  gir1.2-totemplparser-1.0 gir1.2-udisks-2.0 gir1.2-unity-7.0 gir1.2-upowerglib-1.0 gnome-bluetooth-3-common gnome-control-center-faces gnome-desktop3-data gnome-keyring-pkcs11 gnome-session-common gnome-settings-daemon-common
  gnome-shell-common gnome-terminal-data gnome-themes-extra-data grilo-plugins-0.3-base grim gstreamer1.0-pipewire gtk-update-icon-cache guile-3.0-libs heif-gdk-pixbuf heif-thumbnailer hicolor-icon-theme hplip-data humanity-icon-theme
  hunspell-en-us iio-sensor-proxy imagemagick-6-common ipp-usb java-common libaa1 libaacs0 libabw-0.1-1 libaom3 libatkmm-1.6-1v5 libavahi-glib1 libavc1394-0 libavif16 libavutil58 libbdplus0 libblas3 libboost-locale1.83.0
  libboost-thread1.83.0 libbrotli-dev libbs2b0 libburn4t64 libcaca0 libcamel-1.2-64t64 libcanberra-pulse libcanberra0t64 libcdio-cdda2t64 libcdio-paranoia2t64 libcdparanoia0 libcdr-0.1-1 libchafa0t64 libchromaprint1 libcjson1
  libclucene-contribs1t64 libclucene-core1t64 libclutter-1.0-common libcodec2-1.2 libcogl-common libcolamd3 libcolord2 libcolorhug2 libcue2 libcupsfilters2-common libcupsimage2t64 libdate-tz3 libdatrie-dev libdatrie1 libdav1d7
  libdbusmenu-glib4 libde265-0 libdecor-0-0 libdee-1.0-4 libdisplay-info1 libdjvulibre-text libdjvulibre21 libdmapsharing-4.0-3t64 libdouble-conversion3 libdv4t64 libe-book-0.1-1 libebackend-1.2-11t64 libebook-1.2-21t64
  libebook-contacts-1.2-4t64 libecal-2.0-3 libedata-book-1.2-27t64 libedata-cal-2.0-2t64 libedataserver-1.2-27t64 libei1 libeis1 libenchant-2-2 libeot0 libepoxy0 libepubgen-0.1-1 libetonyek-0.1-1 libevent-2.1-7t64 libexempi8 libexif12
  libexiv2-27 libexttextcat-2.0-0 libextutils-depends-perl libfftw3-double3 libflite1 libfmt9 libfontenc1 libfreehand-0.1-1 libfribidi-dev libgav1-1 libgck-1-0 libgcr-base-3-1 libgdata-common libgdata22 libgdm1 libgedit-amtk-5-common
  libgedit-gtksourceview-300-common libgee-0.8-2 libgeoclue-2-0 libgeocode-glib-2-0 libgexiv2-2 libgfortran5 libgif7 libglib-object-introspection-perl libglib-perl libglibmm-2.4-1t64 libglibmm-2.68-1t64 libglu1-mesa libgme0
  libgnome-autoar-0-0 libgnome-bluetooth-3.0-13 libgnome-desktop-4-2t64 libgnome-games-support-common libgnomekbd-common libgoa-1.0-0b libgoa-1.0-common libgom-1.0-0t64 libgphoto2-l10n libgphoto2-port12t64 libgpod-common libgpod4t64
  libgraphite2-3 libgraphite2-dev libgrilo-0.3-0 libgs-common libgsf-1-114 libgsf-1-common libgsm1 libgsound0t64 libgspell-1-common libgstreamer-plugins-good1.0-0 libgtk-3-common libgtk-4-common libgtk2.0-common
  libgtksourceview-5-common libgtop-2.0-11 libgtop2-common libgupnp-av-1.0-3 libgupnp-dlna-2.0-4 libgweather-4-0t64 libgweather-4-common libheif-plugin-aomdec libheif-plugin-aomenc libheif-plugin-libde265 libheif1 libhpmud0
  libhunspell-1.7-0 libhwy1t64 libhyphen0 libibus-1.0-5 libice-dev libicu-dev libid3tag0 libiec61883-0 libieee1284-3t64 libimagequant0 libimath-3-1-29t64 libinput-bin libinput10 libisoburn1t64 libisofs6t64 libjack-jackd2-0
  libjavascriptcoregtk-4.1-0 libjavascriptcoregtk-6.0-1 libjbig2dec0 libjxl0.7 libjxr-tools libjxr0t64 liblapack3 libliftoff0 liblilv-0-0 liblirc-client0t64 liblouisutdml-bin liblouisutdml-data liblouisutdml9t64 liblqr-1-0
  libmalcontent-0-0 libmanette-0.2-0 libmbedcrypto7t64 libmd4c0 libmediaart-2.0-0 libmhash2 libminiupnpc17 libmozjs-115-0t64 libmpdclient2t64 libmsgraph-0-1 libmspub-0.1-1 libmtdev1t64 libmtp-common libmtp-runtime libmtp9t64
  libmwaw-0.3-3 libmysofa1 libmythes-1.2-0 libnatpmp1t64 libnautilus-extension4 libnetpbm11t64 libnfs14 libnma-common libnorm1t64 libodfgen-0.1-1 libopenexr-3-1-30 libopengl0 libopenjp2-7 libopenmpt0t64 liborcus-0.18-0
  liborcus-parser-0.18-0 libpagemaker-0.0-0 libpaper-utils libpaper1 libpeas-common libpgm-5.3-0t64 libphonenumber8 libpixman-1-dev libplacebo338 libplayerctl2 libpocketsphinx3 libportal1 libpostproc57 libppd2-common libprotobuf32t64
  libpthread-stubs0-dev libpulse-mainloop-glib0 libqpdf29t64 libqqwing2v5 libqt5core5t64 libqt5dbus5t64 libqt5network5t64 libqt5positioning5 libqt5qml5 libqt5qmlmodels5 libqt5sensors5 libqt5webchannel5 librabbitmq4 libraptor2-0
  librasqal3t64 librav1e0 libraw1394-11 libraw23t64 librdf0t64 libreoffice-uiconfig-calc libreoffice-uiconfig-draw libreoffice-uiconfig-impress libreoffice-uiconfig-math libreoffice-uiconfig-writer librest-1.0-0 librevenge-0.0-0
  librist4 librsync2t64 librubberband2 librygel-core-2.8-0 librygel-db-2.8-0 librygel-renderer-2.8-0 librygel-server-2.8-0 libsane-common libsane-hpaio libseat1 libserd-0-0 libsgutils2-1.46-2 libshine3 libsigc++-3.0-0 libsm-dev
  libsnappy1v5 libsndio7.0 libsnmp-base libsnmp40t64 libsord-0-0 libsoup-2.4-1 libsoup-gnome-2.4-1 libsoup2.4-common libsoxr0 libspdlog1.12 libspeex1 libsphinxbase3t64 libsratom-0-0 libsrt1.5-gnutls libstartup-notification0
  libsuitesparseconfig7 libsvtav1enc1d1 libswresample4 libswscale7 libtag1v5 libtag1v5-vanilla libtepl-common libthai-data libthai-dev libthai0 libtiff5 libtotem-plparser-common libtotem-plparser18 libtracker-sparql-3.0-0
  libtss2-tcti-libtpms0t64 libtss2-tcti-spi-helper0t64 libtss2-tctildr0t64 libtwolame0 libudfread0 libunibreak5 libunity-protocol-private0 libunity-scopes-json-def-desktop libunity9 libv4l-0t64 libv4lconvert0t64 libvidstab1.1
  libvisio-0.1-1 libvisual-0.4-0 libvncclient1 libvorbisfile3 libvpl2 libvpx9 libvte-2.91-common libwacom-common libwacom9 libwavpack1 libwhoopsie-preferences0 libwinpr3-3 libwlroots12t64 libwmflite-0.2-7 libwnck-3-common libwoff1
  libwpd-0.10-10 libwpg-0.3-3 libwps-0.4-4 libx11-dev libx265-199 libxau-dev libxcb-composite0 libxcb-damage0 libxcb-ewmh2 libxcb-icccm4 libxcb-image0 libxcb-keysyms1 libxcb-render-util0 libxcb-render0 libxcb-render0-dev libxcb-res0
  libxcb-shape0 libxcb-shm0-dev libxcb-util1 libxcb-xinerama0 libxcb-xinput0 libxcb-xv0 libxcb1-dev libxcomposite1 libxcvt0 libxdamage1 libxdmcp-dev libxext-dev libxinerama1 libxkbregistry0 libxklavier16 libxmlsec1t64 libxmlsec1t64-nss
  libxrender-dev libxres1 libxslt1.1 libxss-dev libxss1 libxt-dev libxv1 libxvidcore4 libxvmc1 libxxf86dga1 libyuv0 libzimg2 libzix-0-0 libzmq5 libzvbi-common libzvbi0t64 lp-solve media-player-info mobile-broadband-provider-info netpbm
  network-manager-openvpn ocl-icd-libopencl1 p11-kit p11-kit-modules pipewire-alsa pipewire-audio pocketsphinx-en-us power-profiles-daemon printer-driver-postscript-hp python3-apport python3-aptdaemon python3-brlapi python3-cups
  python3-cupshelpers python3-dateutil python3-debconf python3-defer python3-fasteners python3-ibus-1.0 python3-louis python3-mako python3-markupsafe python3-monotonic python3-olefile python3-problem-report python3-requests
  python3-speechd python3-xdg qttranslations5-l10n remmina-common rhythmbox-data rygel sane-airscan sgml-data sound-theme-freedesktop sway-backgrounds switcheroo-control system-config-printer-udev tcl-dev tcl8.6-dev toilet toilet-fonts
  totem-common tracker transmission-common ubuntu-advantage-desktop-daemon ubuntu-mono update-notifier-common usb-creator-common webp-pixbuf-loader whoopsie-preferences x11-session-utils x11proto-dev xbitmaps xbrlapi xcvt
  xdg-dbus-proxy xfonts-encodings xinit xinput xorg-sgml-doctools xorriso xtrans-dev yelp-xsl zenity-common
Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.
The following additional packages will be installed:
  foomatic-filters
Recommended packages:
  ghostscript paps | cups | enscript | a2ps poppler-utils colord
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  aisleriot* apport-gtk* baobab* bluez-cups* caca-utils* chafa* cheese* colord* cups* cups-browsed* cups-core-drivers* cups-filters* cups-filters-core-drivers* deja-dup* eog* evince* evolution-data-server* file-roller* fontconfig*
  fonts-urw-base35* foot* gcr* gcr4* gdm3* gedit* ghostscript* gir1.2-adw-1* gir1.2-amtk-5* gir1.2-atspi-2.0* gir1.2-freedesktop* gir1.2-freedesktop-dev* gir1.2-gnomebg-4.0* gir1.2-gtk-3.0* gir1.2-gtk-4.0* gir1.2-gtksource-300*
  gir1.2-handy-1* gir1.2-harfbuzz-0.0* gir1.2-mutter-14* gir1.2-nma4-1.0* gir1.2-pango-1.0* gir1.2-peas-1.0* gir1.2-rb-3.0* gir1.2-rsvg-2.0* gir1.2-tepl-6* gir1.2-totem-1.0* gir1.2-vte-2.91* gir1.2-webkit-6.0* gir1.2-webkit2-4.0*
  gir1.2-webkit2-4.1* gir1.2-wnck-3.0* git-all* git-gui* gitk* gjs* gkbd-capplet* globalprotect* gnome-bluetooth* gnome-bluetooth-sendto* gnome-calculator* gnome-calendar* gnome-characters* gnome-control-center* gnome-disk-utility*
  gnome-font-viewer* gnome-keyring* gnome-logs* gnome-mahjongg* gnome-mines* gnome-online-accounts* gnome-power-manager* gnome-remote-desktop* gnome-session-bin* gnome-session-canberra* gnome-settings-daemon* gnome-shell*
  gnome-startup-applications* gnome-sudoku* gnome-system-monitor* gnome-terminal* gnome-themes-extra* gnome-user-docs* gnome-video-effects* google-chrome-stable* grimshot* grub-common* grub-efi-amd64* grub-efi-amd64-bin*
  grub-efi-amd64-signed* grub-pc* grub-pc-bin* grub2-common* gstreamer1.0-clutter-3.0* gstreamer1.0-gtk3* gstreamer1.0-libav* gstreamer1.0-plugins-base* gstreamer1.0-plugins-good* gstreamer1.0-pulseaudio* gstreamer1.0-x*
  gtk2-engines-murrine* gtk2-engines-pixbuf* gvfs-backends* hplip* ibus* ibus-data* ibus-gtk* ibus-gtk3* ibus-gtk4* ibus-table* imagemagick* imagemagick-6.q16* language-selector-gnome* libadwaita-1-0* libasound2-plugins* libass9*
  libatk-wrapper-java* libatk-wrapper-java-jni* libavahi-ui-gtk3-0* libavcodec60* libavfilter9* libavformat60* libayatana-appindicator3-1* libayatana-ido3-0.4-0* libayatana-indicator3-7* libbluray2* libc-devtools*
  libcairo-gobject-perl* libcairo-gobject2* libcairo-perl* libcairo-script-interpreter2* libcairo2* libcairo2-dev* libcairomm-1.0-1v5* libcairomm-1.16-1* libcanberra-gtk3-0t64* libcanberra-gtk3-module* libcheese-gtk25* libcheese8*
  libclutter-1.0-0* libclutter-gst-3.0-0* libclutter-gtk-1.0-0* libcogl-pango20* libcogl-path20* libcogl20* libcolord-gtk4-1t64* libcupsfilters2t64* libdbusmenu-gtk3-4* libdecor-0-plugin-1-gtk* libedataserverui-1.2-4t64*
  libedataserverui4-1.0-0t64* libevdocument3-4t64* libevview3-3t64* libfcft4t64* libfontconfig-dev* libfontconfig1* libfontconfig1-dev* libfreerdp-client3-3* libfreerdp-server3-3* libfreerdp3-3* libfreetype-dev* libfreetype6*
  libgail-common* libgail18t64* libgcr-ui-3-1* libgd3* libgedit-amtk-5-0* libgedit-gtksourceview-300-0* libgjs0g* libgnome-bg-4-2t64* libgnome-bluetooth-ui-3.0-13* libgnome-desktop-3-20t64* libgnome-games-support-1-3*
  libgnome-rr-4-2t64* libgnomekbd8* libgoa-backend-1.0-2* libgphoto2-6t64* libgs10* libgs10-common* libgspell-1-2* libgtk-3-0t64* libgtk-3-bin* libgtk-4-1* libgtk-4-bin* libgtk-4-media-gstreamer* libgtk-layer-shell0* libgtk2.0-0t64*
  libgtk2.0-bin* libgtk3-perl* libgtkmm-3.0-1t64* libgtkmm-4.0-0* libgtksourceview-5-0* libgxps2t64* libhandy-1-0* libharfbuzz-cairo0* libharfbuzz-dev* libharfbuzz-gobject0* libharfbuzz-icu0* libharfbuzz-subset0* libharfbuzz0b*
  libimlib2t64* libmagickcore-6.q16-7-extra* libmagickcore-6.q16-7t64* libmagickwand-6.q16-7t64* libmutter-14-0* libnma-gtk4-0* libnma0* libpango-1.0-0* libpango1.0-0* libpango1.0-dev* libpangocairo-1.0-0* libpangoft2-1.0-0*
  libpangomm-1.4-1v5* libpangomm-2.48-1t64* libpangoxft-1.0-0* libpeas-1.0-0* libpoppler-cpp0t64* libpoppler-glib8t64* libpoppler118* libpoppler134* libportal-gtk3-1* libppd2* libqt5gui5t64* libqt5printsupport5t64* libqt5quick5*
  libqt5svg5* libqt5webkit5* libqt5widgets5t64* libraqm0* libreoffice-base-core* libreoffice-calc* libreoffice-core* libreoffice-draw* libreoffice-gnome* libreoffice-gtk3* libreoffice-impress* libreoffice-math* libreoffice-pdfimport*
  libreoffice-writer* librhythmbox-core10* librsvg2-2* librsvg2-common* libsane1* libshout3* libspectre1* libtepl-6-4* libtheora0* libtk8.6* libtotem0* libvte-2.91-0* libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37* libwebkit2gtk-4.1-0* libwebkitgtk-6.0-4*
  libwmf-0.2-7* libwmf-0.2-7-gtk* libwmf0.2-7-gtk* libwnck-3-0* libxfont2* libxft-dev* libxft2* libyelp0* memtest86+* mousetweaks* mutter-common-bin* nautilus-extension-gnome-terminal* network-manager-gnome*
  network-manager-openvpn-gnome* network-manager-pptp-gnome* notification-daemon* openjdk-8-jdk* openjdk-8-jdk-headless* openjdk-8-jre* openjdk-8-jre-headless* orca* os-prober* pango1.0-tools* pavucontrol* pinentry-gnome3*
  plymouth-label* plymouth-theme-spinner* policykit-1-gnome* poppler-utils* printer-driver-c2esp* printer-driver-hpcups* printer-driver-pnm2ppa* printer-driver-ptouch* printer-driver-sag-gdi* printer-driver-splix*
  python3-aptdaemon.gtk3widgets* python3-cairo* python3-gi-cairo* python3-pil* python3-uno* qt5-gtk-platformtheme* remmina* remmina-plugin-rdp* remmina-plugin-secret* remmina-plugin-vnc* rhythmbox* rhythmbox-plugin-alternative-toolbar*
  rhythmbox-plugins* sane-utils* seahorse* shim-signed* simple-scan* slurp* software-properties-gtk* spice-vdagent* sway* swaybg* swaylock* system-config-printer* system-config-printer-common* tecla* tk* tk-dev* tk8.6* tk8.6-dev*
  totem* totem-plugins* tracker-extract* tracker-miner-fs* transmission-gtk* ubuntu-docs* ubuntu-release-upgrader-gtk* ubuntu-session* update-manager* update-notifier* usb-creator-gtk* w3m-img* waybar* wmenu* wofi* x11-apps* x11-utils*
  xdg-desktop-portal-gtk* xdg-user-dirs-gtk* xfonts-base* xfonts-scalable* xfonts-utils* xorg* xserver-xephyr* xserver-xorg* xserver-xorg-core* xserver-xorg-input-all* xserver-xorg-input-libinput* xserver-xorg-input-wacom*
  xserver-xorg-video-all* xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu* xserver-xorg-video-ati* xserver-xorg-video-fbdev* xserver-xorg-video-intel* xserver-xorg-video-nouveau* xserver-xorg-video-qxl* xserver-xorg-video-radeon* xserver-xorg-video-vesa*
  xserver-xorg-video-vmware* xvfb* xwayland* yaru-theme-gtk* yelp* zenity*
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  foomatic-filters
WARNING: The following essential packages will be removed.
This should NOT be done unless you know exactly what you are doing!
  shim-signed grub-efi-amd64-signed (due to shim-signed) grub2-common (due to shim-signed)
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 360 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 92,2 kB of archives.
After this operation, 1.709 MB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] n
Abort.

Is there any way to remove grub without removing other packages too?

omit libfreetype6 from the list of packages to remove

ps.
this gist was for a headless server

@gdamjan Thank you that fixed it. Is libfreetype6 intended to be removed (based on your gist)?

Thanks! Just installing the packages worked flawlessly on 25.04, and after that I was able to purge and hold grub2 without issue (aside from libfreetype6 as mentioned above).
Any way to get secure boot working?

Thanks I don’t use secure boot, but there is info on the arch wiki, good luckOn May 22, 2025, at 1:46 PM, Novantric ***@***.***> wrote:Re: ***@***.*** commented on this gist.Thanks! Just installing the packages worked flawlessly on 25.04, and after that I was able to purge and hold grub2 without issue.Any way to get secure boot working?—Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub or unsubscribe.You are receiving this email because you commented on the thread.Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS or Android.