---
name: "grub-mkstandalone"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "grub"
version: "2:2.16-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/grub-mkstandalone"
---

# grub-mkstandalone(1)

make a memdisk-based GRUB image

## NAME

grub-mkstandalone - make a memdisk-based GRUB image

## SYNOPSIS

**grub-mkstandalone** \[*OPTION*...\] \[*OPTION*\] *SOURCE*...

## DESCRIPTION

Generate a standalone image (containing all modules) in the selected format

- **--appended-signature-size**=*SIZE*

  Add a note segment reserving SIZE bytes for an appended signature

- **--compress**=*no*\|xz\|gz\|lzo

  compress GRUB files \[optional\]

- **--disable-cli**

  disabled command line interface access

- **--disable-shim-lock**

  disable shim\_lock verifier

- **--dtb**=*FILE*

  embed a specific DTB

- **-d**, **--directory**=*DIR*

  use images and modules under DIR \[default=/usr/lib/grub/\<platform\>\]

- **--fonts**=*FONTS*

  install FONTS \[default=unicode\]

- **--install-modules**=*MODULES*

  install only MODULES and their dependencies \[default=all\]

- **-k**, **--pubkey**=*FILE*

  embed FILE as public key for signature checking

- **--locale-directory**=*DIR* use translations under DIR

  \[default=/usr/share/locale\]

- **--locales**=*LOCALES*

  install only LOCALES \[default=all\]

- **--modules**=*MODULES*

  pre-load specified modules MODULES

- **--sbat**=*FILE*

  SBAT metadata

- **--themes**=*THEMES*

  install THEMES \[default=starfield\]

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  print verbose messages.

- **-x**, **--x509key**=*FILE*

  embed FILE as an x509 certificate for appended signature checking

- **--core-compress**=*xz*\|none\|auto

  choose the compression to use for core image

- **-o**, **--output**=*FILE*

  save output in FILE \[required\]

- **-O**, **--format**=*FILE*

  generate an image in FORMAT available formats: i386-coreboot, i386-multiboot, i386-pc, i386-xen\_pvh, i386-pc-pxe, i386-pc-eltorito, i386-efi, i386-ieee1275, i386-qemu, x86\_64-efi, i386-xen, x86\_64-xen, mipsel-yeeloong-flash, mipsel-fuloong2f-flash, mipsel-loongson-elf, powerpc-ieee1275, sparc64-ieee1275-raw, sparc64-ieee1275-cdcore, sparc64-ieee1275-aout, ia64-efi, mips-arc, mipsel-arc, mipsel-qemu\_mips-elf, mips-qemu\_mips-flash, mipsel-qemu\_mips-flash, mips-qemu\_mips-elf, arm-uboot, arm-coreboot-vexpress, arm-coreboot-veyron, arm-efi, arm64-efi, loongarch64-efi, riscv32-efi, riscv64-efi

- \-?, **--help**

  give this help list

- **--usage**

  give a short usage message

- **-V**, **--version**

  print program version

Mandatory or optional arguments to long options are also mandatory or optional for any corresponding short options.

Graft point syntax (E.g. */boot/grub/grub*.cfg=./grub.cfg) is accepted. The path on the right must point to a regular file.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<bug-grub@gnu.org\>.

## SEE ALSO

[**grub-mkimage**(1)](/grub-mkimage/1.md)

The full documentation for **grub-mkstandalone** is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the **info** and **grub-mkstandalone** programs are properly installed at your site, the command

-

  **info grub-mkstandalone**

should give you access to the complete manual.