---
name: "plymouth"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "plymouth"
version: "26.134.222-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/plymouth"
---

# plymouth(1)

Send commands to plymouthd

## NAME

plymouth - Send commands to plymouthd

## SYNOPSIS

**plymouth \[OPTION...\]**

**plymouth COMMAND \[OPTION...\]**

## DESCRIPTION

The **plymouth** sends commands to a running **plymouthd**. This is used during the boot process to control the display of the graphical boot splash.

## OPTIONS

The following options are understood. These options are supported for compatibility with the old **rhgb-client** interface, and have been replaced by the commands that are described in the next section.

- **--help**

  Show summary of options.

- **--debug**

  Enable verbose debug logging.

- **--get-splash-plugin-path**

  Get directory where splash plugins are installed.

- **--newroot=\[STRING\]**

  Tell plymouthd that the new root filesystem is mounted.

- **--quit**

  Tell plymouthd to quit.

- **--ping**

  Check if plymouthd is running.

- **--has-active-vt**

  Check if plymouthd has an active vt.

- **--sysinit**

  Tell plymouthd root filesystem is mounted read-write.

- **--show-splash**

  Show the splash screen.

- **--hide-splash**

  Hide the splash screen.

- **--ask-for-password**

  Ask the user for a password.

- **--ignore-keystroke=\[STRING\]**

  Remove sensitivity to a keystroke.

- **--update=\[STRING\]**

  Tell plymouthd an update about boot progress.

- **--details**

  Tell plymouthd there were errors during boot.

- **--wait**

  Wait for plymouthd to quit.

## COMMANDS

The following commands are understood:

**change-mode OPTION**

Change the operation mode.

- **--boot-up**

  Start the system up

- **--shutdown**

  Shutting the system up

- **--updates**

  Applying updates

**system-update OPTION**

Tell plymouthd about boot progress.

- **--progress=INTEGER**

  The percentage progress of the updates

**update OPTION**

Tell plymouthd about boot status changes.

- **--status=STRING**

  Tell plymouthd the current boot status

**update-root-fs OPTION**

Tell plymouthd about root filesystem changes.

- **--new-root-dir=STRING**

  Root filesystem is about to change

- **--read-write**

  Root filesystem is no longer read-only

**show-splash**

Tell plymouthd to show splash screen.

**hide-splash**

Tell plymouthd to hide splash screen.

**ask-for-password OPTION**

Ask the user for a password.

- **--command=STRING**

  Command to send password to via standard input

- **--prompt=STRING**

  Message to display when asking for password

- **--number-of-tries=INTEGER**

  Number of times to ask before giving up (requires **--command**)

- **--dont-pause-progress**

  Don't pause boot progress bar while asking

**ask-question**

Ask the user a question.

- **--command=STRING**

  Command to send the answer to via standard input

- **--prompt=STRING**

  Message to display when asking the question

- **--dont-pause-progress**

  Don't pause boot progress bar while asking

**display-message OPTION**

Display a message.

- **--text=STRING**

  The message text

**hide-message OPTION**

Hide a message.

- **--text=STRING**

  The message text

**watch-keystroke OPTION**

Become sensitive to a keystroke.

- **--command=STRING**

  Command to send keystroke to via standard input

- **--keys=STRING**

  Keys to become sensitive to

**ignore-keystroke OPTION**

Remove sensitivity to a keystroke.

- **--keys=STRING**

  Keys to remove sensitivity from

**pause-progress**

Pause boot progress bar.

**unpause-progress**

Unpause boot progress bar.

**report-error**

Tell plymouthd there were errors during boot.

**deactivate**

Tell plymouthd to deactivate.

**reactivate**

Tell plymouthd to reactivate.

**quit OPTION**

Tell plymouthd to quit.

- **--retain-splash**

  Don't explicitly hide boot splash on exit

## SEE ALSO

[**grub**(8)](/grub/8.md), [**plymouth**(8)](/plymouth/8.md), [**plymouthd**(8)](/plymouthd/8.md), **http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/Plymouth**