Newly Added Plymouth Theme Not Showing Up During Boot
I am running Ubuntu 16.04 and when I add and choose another Plymouth theme other then the default added ones, when rebooting to test I see it during the shut down process, but when booting back up, after grub I get a black screen with nothing on it until I get to the login screen.
Installing it is not enough
Each plymouth theme has a priority and by default the highest priority one is chosen as boot theme. You can override it with this command:
sudo update-alternatives -config default.plymouth
Which show something like this:
There are 2 choices for the alternative default.plymouth (providing /usr/share/plymouth/themes/default.plymouth).
Selection Path Priority Status
------------------------------------------------------------
* 0 /usr/share/plymouth/themes/ubuntu-logo/ubuntu-logo.plymouth 100 auto mode
1 /usr/share/plymouth/themes/ubuntu-logo/ubuntu-logo-scale-2.plymouth 99 manual mode
2 /usr/share/plymouth/themes/ubuntu-logo/ubuntu-logo.plymouth 100 manual mode
Press <enter> to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number:
the currently selected option (And default one) in my system is 0 (auto), you can see that by the asterisk character (*).
You can also see which is the automatically selected theme.
You should see your theme listed there, just write the number in the Selection column and press enter.
Then you need to make your change effective, to do that run this command:
sudo update-initramfs -u
You should see your new theme upon reboot.
This is all already documented at this question.
I had the same problem (plus many more) getting earth-sunrise theme from 2011 to work under Ubuntu 16.04.
Change path names from <16.04 to 16.04 format
The file /usr/share/plymouth/themes/default.plymouth had old paths from Ubuntu 14.04 and had to changed to reflect Ubuntu 16.04.
Make sure yours contains path names like this:
[Plymouth Theme]
Name=Earth Sunrise
Description=This theme is a modification of Andre "Osku" Schmidt's Space sunrise plymouth theme
ModuleName=script
[script]
ImageDir=/usr/share/plymouth/themes/earth-sunrise
ScriptFile=/usr/share/plymouth/themes/earth-sunrise/earth-sunrise.script
Frame Buffer in initramfs-tools
Edit the file /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/splash and add this line:
FRAMEBUFFER=y
Smooth transition to GDM
To enable smooth transition you have to disable your display manager unit, e.g.
systemctl disable gdm.service
Enable the respective DM-plymouth Unit (GDM, LXDM, SLiM units provided), e.g.
systemctl enable gdm-plymouth.service
Turn on debug
Edit the file /etc/default/grub and search for LINUX_DEFAULT line:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash vt.handoff=7 kaslr"
and change it to this:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="plymouth:debug splash vt.handoff=7 kaslr"
Note plymouth:debug is the important thing. Also splash is always required to invoke plymouth.
After rebooting look into the file /var/log/plymouth-debug.log and it should look something like this:
[main.c:1865] check_logging:checking if console messages should be redirected and logged
[main.c:1874] check_logging:logging will be enabled!
[main.c:1946] initialize_environment:source built on May 10 2016
[main.c:1957] initialize_environment:Making sure /run/plymouth exists
[ply-utils.c:703] ply_create_directory:directory '/run/plymouth' already exists
[main.c:1961] initialize_environment:initialized minimal work environment
[main.c:716] get_cache_file_for_mode:returning cache file '/var/lib/plymouth//boot-duration'
[main.c:321] load_settings:Trying to load /etc/plymouth//plymouthd.conf
[ply-key-file.c:83] ply_key_file_open_file:Failed to open key file /etc/plymouth//plymouthd.conf: No such file or directory
[main.c:449] find_system_default_splash:failed to load /etc/plymouth//plymouthd.conf
[main.c:321] load_settings:Trying to load /usr/share/plymouth//plymouthd.defaults
[ply-key-file.c:83] ply_key_file_open_file:Failed to open key file /usr/share/plymouth//plymouthd.defaults: No such file or directory
[main.c:463] find_distribution_default_splash:failed to load /usr/share/plymouth//plymouthd.defaults
[main.c:873] plymouth_should_show_default_splash:checking if plymouth should show default splash
[main.c:901] plymouth_should_show_default_splash:using default splash because kernel command line has option "splash"
[ply-device-manager.c:668] create_seats_from_terminals:checking for consoles
[ply-device-manager.c:555] add_consoles_from_file:opening /sys/class/tty/console/active
[ply-device-manager.c:563] add_consoles_from_file:reading file
[ply-device-manager.c:601] add_consoles_from_file:console /dev/pts/17 found!
[ply-device-manager.c:793] ply_device_manager_watch_seats:udev support disabled, creating fallback seat
[ply-device-manager.c:635] create_seat_for_terminal_and_renderer_type:creating seat for /dev/pts/17 (renderer type: 0) (terminal: /dev/pts/17)
[ply-renderer.c:230] ply_renderer_open_plugin:trying to open renderer plugin /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/plymouth/renderers/x11.so
[ply-renderer.c:250] ply_renderer_open_plugin:opened renderer plugin /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/plymouth/renderers/x11.so
[ply-seat.c:80] add_pixel_displays:Adding displays for 1 heads
[ply-terminal.c:600] ply_terminal_open:trying to open terminal '/dev/pts/17'
[ply-terminal.c:395] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:looking up terminal text geometry
[ply-terminal.c:409] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:terminal is now 80x24 text cells
[ply-seat.c:113] add_text_displays:adding text display for terminal /dev/pts/17
[main.c:1034] on_seat_added:listening for keystrokes
[main.c:1038] on_seat_added:listening for escape
[main.c:1042] on_seat_added:listening for backspace
[main.c:1046] on_seat_added:listening for enter
[main.c:2243] main:entering event loop
[ply-terminal.c:395] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:looking up terminal text geometry
[ply-terminal.c:409] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:terminal is now 81x24 text cells
[ply-terminal.c:395] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:looking up terminal text geometry
[ply-terminal.c:409] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:terminal is now 82x24 text cells
[ply-terminal.c:395] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:looking up terminal text geometry
[ply-terminal.c:409] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:terminal is now 85x24 text cells
[ply-terminal.c:395] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:looking up terminal text geometry
[ply-terminal.c:409] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:terminal is now 89x24 text cells
[ply-terminal.c:395] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:looking up terminal text geometry
[ply-terminal.c:409] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:terminal is now 92x24 text cells
[ply-terminal.c:395] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:looking up terminal text geometry
[ply-terminal.c:409] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:terminal is now 97x24 text cells
[ply-terminal.c:395] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:looking up terminal text geometry
[ply-terminal.c:409] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:terminal is now 101x24 text cells
[ply-terminal.c:395] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:looking up terminal text geometry
[ply-terminal.c:409] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:terminal is now 104x24 text cells
[ply-terminal.c:395] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:looking up terminal text geometry
[ply-terminal.c:409] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:terminal is now 108x24 text cells
[ply-terminal.c:395] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:looking up terminal text geometry
[ply-terminal.c:409] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:terminal is now 111x24 text cells
[ply-terminal.c:395] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:looking up terminal text geometry
[ply-terminal.c:409] ply_terminal_look_up_geometry:terminal is now 112x24 text cells
[ply-boot-server.c:388] print_connection_process_identity:connection is from pid 8073 (plymouth --ping) with parent pid 7812 (sudo plymouth --ping)
[ply-event-loop.c:1060] ply_event_loop_handle_disconnect_for_source:calling disconnected_handler 0x406350 for fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:1064] ply_event_loop_handle_disconnect_for_source:done calling disconnected_handler 0x406350 for fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:1144] ply_event_loop_free_destinations_for_source:freeing destination (1, 0x406490, 0x406350) of fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:643] ply_event_loop_remove_source_node:failed to delete fd 12 from epoll watch list: Bad file descriptor
[ply-boot-server.c:388] print_connection_process_identity:connection is from pid 10838 (plymouth show-splash) with parent pid 10837 (sudo plymouth show-splash)
[ply-boot-server.c:484] ply_boot_connection_on_request:got show splash request
[main.c:843] plymouth_should_ignore_show_splash_calls:checking if plymouth should be running
[main.c:942] on_show_splash:at least one seat already open, so loading splash
[main.c:873] plymouth_should_show_default_splash:checking if plymouth should show default splash
[main.c:901] plymouth_should_show_default_splash:using default splash because kernel command line has option "splash"
[main.c:476] show_default_splash:Showing splash screen
[main.c:495] show_default_splash:Trying old scheme for default splash
[main.c:1610] load_theme:Loading boot splash theme '/usr/share/plymouth/themes/default.plymouth'
[ply-key-file.c:171] ply_key_file_load_group:trying to load group Plymouth Theme
[ply-key-file.c:171] ply_key_file_load_group:trying to load group script
[ply-key-file.c:259] ply_key_file_load_groups:key file has no more groups
[main.c:1625] load_theme:attaching plugin to event loop
[main.c:1628] load_theme:attaching progress to plugin
[ply-boot-splash.c:178] attach_to_seat:adding pixel displays
[ply-boot-splash.c:191] attach_to_seat:Adding 1920x1080 pixel display
[ply-device-manager.c:841] ply_device_manager_activate_renderers:activating renderers
[ply-boot-splash.c:491] ply_boot_splash_show:showing splash screen
[./plugin.c:424] show_splash_screen:starting boot animation
[./plugin.c:302] start_animation:parsing script file
[./plugin.c:280] start_script_animation:executing script file
[ply-device-manager.c:881] ply_device_manager_activate_keyboards:activating keyboards
[main.c:294] show_messages:not displaying messages, since no boot splash
[ply-event-loop.c:1060] ply_event_loop_handle_disconnect_for_source:calling disconnected_handler 0x406350 for fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:1064] ply_event_loop_handle_disconnect_for_source:done calling disconnected_handler 0x406350 for fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:1144] ply_event_loop_free_destinations_for_source:freeing destination (1, 0x406490, 0x406350) of fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:643] ply_event_loop_remove_source_node:failed to delete fd 12 from epoll watch list: Bad file descriptor
[ply-boot-server.c:388] print_connection_process_identity:connection is from pid 13320 (plymouth message --text=hello world) with parent pid 13319 (sudo plymouth message --text=hello world)
[ply-boot-server.c:637] ply_boot_connection_on_request:got show message request
[main.c:595] on_display_message:displaying message hello world
[ply-event-loop.c:1060] ply_event_loop_handle_disconnect_for_source:calling disconnected_handler 0x406350 for fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:1064] ply_event_loop_handle_disconnect_for_source:done calling disconnected_handler 0x406350 for fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:1144] ply_event_loop_free_destinations_for_source:freeing destination (1, 0x406490, 0x406350) of fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:643] ply_event_loop_remove_source_node:failed to delete fd 12 from epoll watch list: Bad file descriptor
[ply-boot-server.c:388] print_connection_process_identity:connection is from pid 16361 (plymouth show-splash) with parent pid 16360 (sudo plymouth show-splash)
[ply-boot-server.c:484] ply_boot_connection_on_request:got show splash request
[main.c:920] on_show_splash:show splash called while already shown
[ply-event-loop.c:1060] ply_event_loop_handle_disconnect_for_source:calling disconnected_handler 0x406350 for fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:1064] ply_event_loop_handle_disconnect_for_source:done calling disconnected_handler 0x406350 for fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:1144] ply_event_loop_free_destinations_for_source:freeing destination (1, 0x406490, 0x406350) of fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:643] ply_event_loop_remove_source_node:failed to delete fd 12 from epoll watch list: Bad file descriptor
[ply-boot-server.c:388] print_connection_process_identity:connection is from pid 17411 (plymouth pause-progress) with parent pid 17410 (sudo plymouth pause-progress)
[ply-boot-server.c:672] ply_boot_connection_on_request:got progress pause request
[main.c:665] on_progress_pause:pausing progress
[ply-event-loop.c:1060] ply_event_loop_handle_disconnect_for_source:calling disconnected_handler 0x406350 for fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:1064] ply_event_loop_handle_disconnect_for_source:done calling disconnected_handler 0x406350 for fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:1144] ply_event_loop_free_destinations_for_source:freeing destination (1, 0x406490, 0x406350) of fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:643] ply_event_loop_remove_source_node:failed to delete fd 12 from epoll watch list: Bad file descriptor
[ply-boot-server.c:388] print_connection_process_identity:connection is from pid 21148 (plymouth show-splash) with parent pid 20299 (sudo plymouth show-splash)
[ply-boot-server.c:484] ply_boot_connection_on_request:got show splash request
[main.c:920] on_show_splash:show splash called while already shown
[ply-event-loop.c:1060] ply_event_loop_handle_disconnect_for_source:calling disconnected_handler 0x406350 for fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:1064] ply_event_loop_handle_disconnect_for_source:done calling disconnected_handler 0x406350 for fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:1144] ply_event_loop_free_destinations_for_source:freeing destination (1, 0x406490, 0x406350) of fd 12
[ply-event-loop.c:643] ply_event_loop_remove_source_node:failed to delete fd 12 from epoll watch list: Bad file descriptor
[ply-boot-server.c:388] print_connection_process_identity:connection is from pid 29215 (plymouth --quit) with parent pid 29214 (sudo plymouth --quit)
[ply-boot-server.c:519] ply_boot_connection_on_request:got quit request
[main.c:1290] on_quit:quitting (retain splash: false)
[main.c:1307] on_quit:system not initialized so skipping saving boot-duration file
[main.c:1566] tell_systemd_to_stop_printing_details:telling systemd to stop printing details
[main.c:1316] on_quit:closing log
[ply-device-manager.c:901] ply_device_manager_deactivate_keyboards:deactivating keyboards
[ply-seat.c:185] ply_seat_deactivate_keyboard:deactivating keyboard
[main.c:1322] on_quit:unloading splash
[ply-boot-splash.c:689] ply_boot_splash_become_idle:telling splash to become idle
[ply-boot-splash.c:668] on_idle:splash now idle
[main.c:1202] on_boot_splash_idle:boot splash idle
[main.c:1209] on_boot_splash_idle:hiding splash
[ply-device-manager.c:861] ply_device_manager_deactivate_renderers:deactivating renderers
[ply-seat.c:200] ply_seat_deactivate_renderer:deactivating renderer
[ply-event-loop.c:951] ply_event_loop_stop_watching_for_timeout:multiple matching timeouts found for removal
[main.c:1214] on_boot_splash_idle:quitting splash
[main.c:1070] quit_splash:quiting splash
[main.c:1072] quit_splash:freeing splash
[ply-boot-splash.c:406] ply_boot_splash_free:freeing splash
[ply-event-loop.c:965] ply_event_loop_stop_watching_for_timeout:no matching timeout found for removal
[ply-boot-splash.c:385] detach_from_seats:detaching from seats
[ply-boot-splash.c:110] detach_from_seat:removing keyboard
[ply-boot-splash.c:116] detach_from_seat:removing pixel displays
[ply-boot-splash.c:131] detach_from_seat:Removing 1920x1080 pixel display
[ply-boot-splash.c:139] detach_from_seat:removing text displays
[ply-boot-splash.c:153] detach_from_seat:Removing 112x24 text display
[ply-device-manager.c:901] ply_device_manager_deactivate_keyboards:deactivating keyboards
[main.c:1081] quit_splash:Not retaining splash, so deallocating VT
[ply-terminal.c:919] ply_terminal_deactivate_vt:terminal is not for a VT
[ply-terminal.c:669] ply_terminal_close:restoring color palette
[ply-terminal.c:673] ply_terminal_close:stop watching tty fd
[ply-event-loop.c:759] ply_event_loop_stop_watching_fd:stopping watching fd 11
[ply-event-loop.c:775] ply_event_loop_stop_watching_fd:removing destination for fd 11
[ply-event-loop.c:784] ply_event_loop_stop_watching_fd:no more destinations remaing for fd 11, removing source
[ply-terminal.c:679] ply_terminal_close:stop watching SIGWINCH signal
[ply-terminal.c:683] ply_terminal_close:setting buffered input
[main.c:1216] on_boot_splash_idle:quitting program
[main.c:1144] quit_program:cleaning up devices
[ply-device-manager.c:521] ply_device_manager_free:freeing device manager
[ply-device-manager.c:422] free_seats:removing seats
[main.c:957] on_seat_removed:no longer listening for keystrokes
[main.c:961] on_seat_removed:no longer listening for escape
[main.c:965] on_seat_removed:no longer listening for backspace
[main.c:969] on_seat_removed:no longer listening for enter
[ply-seat.c:307] free_pixel_displays:freeing 1 pixel displays
[ply-seat.c:328] free_text_displays:freeing 1 text displays
[main.c:1147] quit_program:exiting event loop
[ply-boot-server.c:350] ply_boot_connection_on_quit_complete:quit complete
[main.c:2245] main:exited event loop
[ply-boot-splash.c:406] ply_boot_splash_free:freeing splash
[main.c:2255] main:freeing terminal session
[main.c:2261] main:exiting with code 0
Update initramfs
After making any of the above changes run:
sudo update-initramfs -u -k all