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Visor Boot Manager
What it is
Visor Boot Manager is a graphical UEFI boot manager for Linux and Windows EFI programs. It can start Linux EFI-stub kernels and Unified Kernel Images, or chainload other EFI executables, including Windows. Without configuration, it detects Windows, kernels, UKIs, and BLS/OSTree deployments and derives a root command line automatically. Its menu supports themes, icons, animations, wallpaper accent colors, mouse input, and touch input. It can boot Btrfs, Snapper, Timeshift, and plain snapshots, and browse OSTree deployments with automatic rollback. Other features include encrypted boot artifacts, a single-password LUKS handoff, Secure Boot verification through shim, and installer support for sbctl signing. The bootloader is a single approximately 340 KB EFI binary without external dependencies or a scripting language. It builds for x86_64 and AArch64 and is available under the BSD 2-Clause license. Users can build it from source with listed tools or install it from the Arch User Repository. Configuration and troubleshooting guidance is documented in the project wiki. Visor requires UEFI hardware and does not support legacy BIOS.
For and against
For
- Detects several boot options without configuration
- Supports snapshot booting and OSTree rollback
- Menu accepts mouse and touch input
- Supports x86_64 and AArch64
- BSD 2-Clause licensed
Against
- Requires UEFI hardware
- Does not support legacy BIOS
- Installation requires building from source or using the Arch User Repository
The verdict
Visor combines boot-entry detection and menu customization with snapshot, OSTree, and encryption support. Its UEFI requirement is the key limitation to check before considering it.
Who it suits
Visor may suit users who want a customizable boot menu for Linux and Windows EFI programs, including snapshot and OSTree options. It is not suitable for legacy BIOS systems.
Plans and prices
BSD-2-Clause open-source
self-built from source · UEFI x86_64 or AArch64
Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Architectures
- The project builds for x86_64 and AArch64 from one source tree.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Automatic detection
- With no configuration, Visor detects Windows, UKIs, kernels, and BLS/OSTree deployments and derives a root command line automatically.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Boot support
- It boots Linux EFI-stub kernels and Unified Kernel Images and chainloads other EFI executables, including Windows.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- Configuration, themes, encryption, LUKS, Secure Boot, snapshots, OSTree, filesystem drivers, CLI usage, architecture, and troubleshooting are documented in the project wiki.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- Visor supports encrypted boot artifacts and a single-password LUKS handoff.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Footprint
- The bootloader is a single approximately 340 KB EFI binary with no external dependencies or scripting language.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Hotplug
- The boot menu supports live USB hotplug with animated entry insertion and removal.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Installation
- Visor can be built with gnu-efi, GCC, binutils, make, and git, or installed from the Arch User Repository.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Interface
- The menu supports icons, animations, wallpaper accent colors, themes, mouse input, and touch input.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- License
- Visor is released under the BSD 2-Clause license.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Limitation
- Visor requires UEFI hardware and does not support legacy BIOS.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- OSTree
- Visor provides OSTree deployment browsing with automatic rollback.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Visor is a minimal, fast graphical UEFI boot manager written in C.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Secure Boot
- Secure Boot verification works through shim, and the installer supports sbctl signing.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Snapshots
- Visor supports Btrfs, Snapper, Timeshift, and plain snapshot booting.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
