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SPECIFICTION
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Visor Boot Manager

github.com

Free plan WindowsLinux
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Spec score 7.3 #21 of 29 in Boot Manager Software

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. With no configuration, it detects Windows, kernels, UKIs, and BLS or OSTree deployments, and can derive a root command line automatically. Its menu supports themes, icons, animations, wallpaper accent colors, mouse and touch input, and live USB hotplug. For alternate boot states, it supports Btrfs, Snapper, Timeshift, and plain snapshots, along with OSTree deployment browsing and automatic rollback. Visor also supports encrypted boot artifacts and a single-password LUKS handoff. Secure Boot verification works through shim, and the installer supports sbctl signing. The bootloader is one approximately 340 KB EFI binary, without external dependencies or a scripting language. It builds for x86_64 and AArch64 and can be built from source or installed from the Arch User Repository. It uses the BSD 2-Clause license and is free at free. Visor requires UEFI hardware and does not support legacy BIOS.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Visor is a minimal, fast graphical UEFI boot manager written in C.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
Visor is released under the BSD 2-Clause license.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Architectures
The project builds for x86_64 and AArch64 from one source tree.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Automatic detection
With no configuration, Visor detects Windows, UKIs, kernels, and BLS/OSTree deployments and derives a root command line automatically.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Boot support
It boots Linux EFI-stub kernels and Unified Kernel Images and chainloads other EFI executables, including Windows.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Documentation
Configuration, themes, encryption, LUKS, Secure Boot, snapshots, OSTree, filesystem drivers, CLI usage, architecture, and troubleshooting are documented in the project wiki.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Encryption
Visor supports encrypted boot artifacts and a single-password LUKS handoff.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Footprint
The bootloader is a single approximately 340 KB EFI binary with no external dependencies or scripting language.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Hotplug
The boot menu supports live USB hotplug with animated entry insertion and removal.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Installation
Visor can be built with gnu-efi, GCC, binutils, make, and git, or installed from the Arch User Repository.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Interface
The menu supports icons, animations, wallpaper accent colors, themes, mouse input, and touch input.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limitation
Visor requires UEFI hardware and does not support legacy BIOS.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
OSTree
Visor provides OSTree deployment browsing with automatic rollback.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Secure Boot
Secure Boot verification works through shim, and the installer supports sbctl signing.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Snapshots
Visor supports Btrfs, Snapper, Timeshift, and plain snapshot booting.Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

BSD-2-Clause open-source Free self-built from source · UEFI x86_64 or AArch64 Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every Visor Boot Manager plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Detects several boot targets without configuration
  • Supports Btrfs, Snapper, and Timeshift snapshots
  • Includes OSTree browsing with automatic rollback
  • Supports mouse, touch, themes, and live USB hotplug
  • Free under the BSD 2-Clause license

Limits

  • Requires UEFI hardware
  • Does not support legacy BIOS
  • Build targets are x86_64 and AArch64

Who it suits

Visor may suit Linux users who want a graphical UEFI menu with snapshot and OSTree options, and who use x86_64 or AArch64 hardware. It can also chainload Windows EFI programs.

Verdict

Visor offers automatic detection, snapshot support, and a customizable graphical menu in a small EFI binary. Its UEFI-only requirement rules it out for legacy BIOS systems.

Where Specifiction places it

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