Change the default systemd target that corresponds to classic runlevels and control default boot behavior. 16.11.2025 | reading time: 2 min Systemd replaces classic runlevels with targets; the practical task is to choose which target the machine boots into by default, and to do so safely using systemctl. A quick change example Change the default from graphical to multi-user with this live demo: ```bash $ systemctl get-default graphical.target $ sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/default.target → /lib/systemd/system/multi-user.target $ systemctl get-default multi-user.target ``` After this the system will boot into the non-graphical multi-user target until the default is changed again. Switching temporarily If the goal is a one-time change use `systemctl isolate` or a kernel parameter; for example `sudo systemctl isolate rescue.target` moves the running system into rescue mode without altering the default, and adding `systemd.unit=rescue.target` to the kernel command line overrides the default for a single boot. What actually changes Under the hood `systemctl set-default` updates the symlink `/etc/systemd/system/default.target` to point to a target unit under `/lib/systemd/system`; you can confirm with a readlink check like `readlink -f /etc/systemd/system/default.target` which shows the target unit file that will be activated at boot. Checks and safety Always verify `systemctl get-default` and inspect target dependencies with `systemctl list-dependencies --after <target>` before rebooting, and remember that emergency and rescue targets exist for recovery so do not accidentally set an unreachable default. Tools that help Beyond `systemctl` use `systemd-analyze` to inspect boot performance, `runlevel` to view the previous SysV-style runlevel if present, and legacy utilities like `telinit` where compatibility layers remain installed on some distributions. Next steps Practice changing defaults in a virtual machine, explore target unit files to understand dependencies, and combine transient switches with persistent defaults to master boot behavior; learn more and prepare for exams with focused courses at bitsandbytes.academy. Join Bits & Bytes Academy First class LINUX exam preparation. boot-process setup utilities processes troubleshooting
