Although it’s not something that is highly publicized, there are actually 11 different splash screens available for Fedora Linux. Best of all, you can switch from one screen option to another with no more than two quick terminal commands that take just a few seconds to execute. Here’s how it works.
Changing the Plymouth Splash Screen on Fedora
The program that handles the startup and shutdown splash screens on Fedora is called Plymouth. To change these screens, you are changing what is called the Plymouth theme. Fedora comes with a few installed by default, and then there are several more you can install through the DNF package manager.
You can change to any currently installed theme by entering the following command:
Changes will take effect immediately and you will see the new splash screen when you reboot your system.
To see which themes are currently installed on your system, simply enter:
The system will respond with a short list of the names you can use with the previous command to switch the theme. If you ever want to switch back to the default Plymouth theme, simply enter:
To find new themes available to install, use DNF:
Preinstalled Plymouth Themes on Fedora
Don’t worry, though. We’re going to list the exact commands you’ll need to install and switch to any of the themes currently available for Fedora Linux. For simplicity’s sake, let’s go through each of them in alphabetical order.
1. The Plymouth Breeze Theme
The Breeze theme is the default theme of the KDE desktop environment. By changing the Plymouth theme to Breeze, your computer will show the KDE logo with a small spinning gear as Fedora loads.
To use the Breeze Plymouth theme:
2. The Plymouth Charge Theme
The Charge theme displays the silhouette of the Fedora logo and “charges” it as the system loads. When the silhouette is completed, the trademark Fedora infinity “F” will appear in the center.
To use the Charge Plymouth theme:
3. The Plymouth Details Theme
The Details theme is really like using no theme at all. Rather than displaying an image as the system loads, this theme pulls back the curtain and lets you see what is happening “under the hood” as Fedora initializes and gets the system ready for you.
To use the Details Plymouth theme:
4. The Plymouth Fade-In Theme
The Fade-in theme shows the Fedora logo in the middle of the screen against a blue background. As the system loads, a field of animated stars fades in and out across your display.
To use the Fade-in Plymouth theme on Fedora:
5. The Plymouth Hot Dog Theme
The Hot Dog theme is probably the most unusual of the bunch. A cartoon hot dog character, complete with a face, arms, and legs is shown in the center of the screen. As your system loads, mustard will be added to the hot dog, acting as a progress meter.
To use the Hot Dog Plymouth theme:
6. The Plymouth Script Theme
The Script theme is simple. The Fedora logo is shown in the middle of the screen with a small black and white bar underneath. As the system loads, the colors in the bar oscillate back and forth horizontally.
To use the Script Plymouth theme:
7. The Plymouth Solar Theme
The Solar theme is almost mesmerizing. A large Fedora logo is shown in the center of the screen with a progress bar underneath. In the bottom corner of the screen is a blue sun with animated solar flares that leap across the star’s surface as your system loads.
To use the Solar Plymouth theme:
8. The Plymouth Spinfinity Theme
The Spinfinity theme is a bit difficult to capture in a screenshot. The Fedora logo is shown in the middle of the screen with a spinner made of dots below it. On this spinner, though, instead of the dots moving in a typical line or circle pattern, they follow a path that forms the infinity symbol.
To use the Spinfinity Plymouth theme on Fedora:
9. The Plymouth Spinner Theme
The Spinner theme shows the Fedora logo and name at the bottom center of the screen against a black background. Just above the logo, a solid white line with a fading trail travels in the path of a small circle as the desktop loads up.
To use the Spinner Plymouth theme:
10. The Plymouth Text Theme
The Text theme is another minimalist theme. You will simply see three dots in the middle of the screen. As the system loads, each dot will light up in an oscillating pattern until your desktop is ready.
To use the Text Plymouth theme:
11. The Plymouth Tribar Theme
The Tribar theme shows three independently moving progress bars overlaying one another along the bottom edge of the screen. As your system initializes, the bars will grow from the left, eventually reaching the right side of the screen just before your desktop appears.
To use the Tribar Plymouth theme:
Now that you know how to use Plymouth themes to change your Fedora splash screen, you have one more tool in your box of tricks for customizing your Linux desktop.
But why stop there? You can also customize your terminal splash screen to give it that special “something extra.” Or maybe you’d like to customize your desktop and menu icons?
Enjoy Your New Splash Screen on Fedora
There’s also plenty more you can do to customize your Linux desktop and give it a personality all its own. You can even switch to a different desktop environment if the current one doesn’t excite you. Exploring and experimenting can yield great results.
