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Change tty font size with Grub 2 boot console resolution

Last Updated on Friday, 01 April 2011 18:22

Question:

I'm using ubuntu 10.04. How can I increase the font size in the ttys ?

Answer:

Increasing / decreasing font size on tty consoles is linked to a console resolution. Therefore, to increase your font size you need to decrease a console screen resolution by changing grub2 default settings. Please note that your Ubuntu Linux is using grub2 so looking inside /boot/grub/menu.lst would not do any help. Instead we concentrate on /etc/default/grub file.

Before making any permanent changes to your Ubuntu Linux system we first try to change a console screen resolution directly from a grub boot line option right after reboot.

NOTE: There is no guarantee that any of the options below will work. This are just generic and no hardware specific solutions.

Option 1:

First choose a resolution number from the table below:

Let's say that we first try 795. Now reboot your system and edit a grub boot line with 'e' key and add after ro option:

vga=795

Once you altered line with the above vga option press CTRL+x to boot.

Option 2:

You can also try specify nomodeset instead of vga parameter. Reboot and edit grub boot line with "e' and add nomodeset after ro option:

nomodeset

When ready press CTRL+x to boot.

Option 3:

This is permanent change. Use a graphical startupnanager tool to change a console resolution.

$ sudo apt-get install startupmanager

Start startupmanager

$ startupmanager

change resolution, close and reboot.

NOTE: by closing a startupmanager window you will apply changes.

Making grub 2 settings permanent

If you found your grub boot settings you want to use permanently, open /etc/default/grub file and add "nomodeset" or vga795 as:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="vga795"

save and update grub settings with:

sudo update-grub2

References:

 

• ChangeTTYResolution

 

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