This is quick guide howto change runlevel on GRUB2.

Title says runlevel 3 (refer to changing runlevel from 5 to 3), but yes same method of course works, if you want to change runlevel from 3 to 5, from 5 to 1 or from 3 to 1. Whole process is actually add one additional boot parameter. This modification is not permanent, when you boot your system next time, it uses default parameters. This guide works all Linux distributions with GRUB2.

Runlevels

  • 0Halt Shuts down the system.
  • 1Single-User Mode Mode for administrative tasks.
  • 2Multi-User Mode Does not configure network interfaces / services.
  • 3Multi-User Mode with Networking Starts the system normally.
  • 4Not used/User-definable For special purposes.
  • 5Start the system with display manager. As runlevel 3 + display manager.
  • 6Reboot Reboots the system

GRUB2 runlevel change to runlevel 3 – Howto Change runlevel on GRUB2

1. GRUB2 Default Screen

Press arrow key when you see GRUB. Select (highlight) kernel to edit and press ’e’.
GRUB2 Default Screen

2. Add unlevel parameter on Linux line

Goto ’linux’ line with arrow keys, then press ’end’ button to get end of line (or move cursor to end of line with arrow keys). Write space and your runlevel number end of line. Here I use runlevel 3.
GRUB2 boot to runlevel 3

3. Boot to selected runlevel

Press Ctrl+x or F10 to boot (esc to cancel).
Fedora on Runlevel 3