Boot Linux to Console Mode with systemd

systemd uses targets instead of the old sysvinit runlevels. Runlevel 3 (console mode) maps to multi-user.target. Here’s how to boot directly to console on Fedora, RHEL, Debian, Ubuntu, and other systemd-based distributions.

Switch to Console Mode Immediately

To switch from graphical mode to console without rebooting:

sudo systemctl isolate multi-user.target

This immediately stops the display manager and any graphical services, leaving you with a text console.

Boot to Console Mode by Default

To make console mode the default boot target, set it as the default:

sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target

Verify the change:

systemctl get-default

This command outputs multi-user.target if configured correctly.

To revert to graphical mode:

sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target

Boot to Console Mode Once (Without Making It Permanent)

If you only want to boot to console this time, add a kernel argument at boot. Interrupt GRUB, press e to edit the boot entry, and add systemd.unit=multi-user.target to the kernel line. Press Ctrl+X to boot.

For a permanent kernel argument, edit /etc/default/grub:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Add to the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX line:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="... systemd.unit=multi-user.target"

Then rebuild GRUB:

sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg  # RHEL/Fedora/CentOS
# or
sudo update-grub  # Debian/Ubuntu

Disable the Display Manager Service

If you’ve set the default to multi-user.target but graphical mode still loads, the display manager service may be enabled independently. Check and disable it:

systemctl list-unit-files | grep -E 'gdm|lightdm|sddm|lxdm'

Common display managers include:

• gdm.service (GNOME)
• lightdm.service (lightweight systems)
• sddm.service (KDE Plasma)
• lxdm.service (LXDE)

Disable the active one:

sudo systemctl disable gdm.service
sudo systemctl disable sddm.service
sudo systemctl disable lightdm.service

You only need to disable whichever display manager your distribution actually uses. Running all three is harmless if only one is installed.

Verify Your Configuration

After making changes, check what will load at boot:

systemctl list-dependencies multi-user.target

This shows all units pulled in by the console target. Services like SSH, networking, and system daemons should appear here.

To see what’s currently running:

systemctl list-units --type=service --state=running

Return to Graphical Mode

If you need graphical mode again:

sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
sudo systemctl enable gdm.service  # or sddm, lightdm, etc.
sudo reboot

Console mode is useful for servers, headless systems, or when troubleshooting graphical issues. The multi-user.target boots faster, uses fewer resources, and keeps the system focused on services rather than a desktop environment.