Fix Invalid NixOS Plymouth Logo URL

Nov 28, 2025 by Alex Johnson 36 views

NixOS Plymouth Logo URL is Invalid: A Quick Fix

If you're a NixOS user, you might have encountered an issue where the Plymouth logo URL is invalid, leading to errors during system builds or switches. This article will guide you through the problem, its causes, and how to resolve it. Let's dive in!

Understanding the Issue

The NixOS operating system uses Plymouth for its splash screen, which is the visual display you see while your system boots up. Part of the Plymouth configuration involves specifying a logo, and the system fetches this logo from a URL. However, if the URL provided in the configuration is no longer valid, it can lead to build failures and a less-than-ideal user experience.

The Bug Explained

The core of the problem lies in the logo option within the NixOS system configuration for Plymouth. The default or example URL provided might become outdated, leading to a 404 error when the system attempts to download the logo. This issue was specifically reported in the Nixpkgs repository, highlighting that the example URL https://nixos.org/logo/nixos-hires.png is no longer valid. This invalid URL causes the build process to fail, preventing the system from switching or building correctly.

The configuration snippet in question looks like this:

 logo = mkOption {
 type = types.path;
 # Dimensions are 48x48 to match GDM logo
 default = "${pkgs.nixos-icons}/share/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps/nix-snowflake-white.png";
 defaultText = literalExpression ''"''${pkgs.nixos-icons}/share/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps/nix-snowflake-white.png"'';
 example = literalExpression ''
 pkgs.fetchurl {
 url = "https://nixos.org/logo/nixos-hires.png";
 sha256 = "1ivzgd7iz0i06y36p8m5w48fd8pjqwxhdaavc0pxs7w1g7mcy5si";
 }
 '';
 description = ''
 Logo which is displayed on the splash screen.
 Currently supports PNG file format only.
 '';
 };

The example field here points to the problematic URL. When NixOS tries to fetch the logo using pkgs.fetchurl, it encounters a 404 error because the resource is no longer available at that location.

Why This Matters

For NixOS users, encountering build failures due to an invalid logo URL can be frustrating. It disrupts the system configuration process and prevents users from applying changes or updates. Moreover, it highlights the importance of maintaining accurate and up-to-date example configurations in software distributions.

Steps to Reproduce the Error

To reproduce this error, you simply need to include the problematic example URL in your NixOS configuration and attempt to switch or build your system. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

Include the example configuration in your configuration.nix file:
```
boot.plymouth.logo = pkgs.fetchurl {
```

url = "https://nixos.org/logo/nixos-hires.png"; sha256 = "1ivzgd7iz0i06y36p8m5w48fd8pjqwxhdaavc0pxs7w1g7mcy5si"; }; ``` 2. Attempt to rebuild your system using nixos-rebuild switch or nixos-rebuild build. 3. You will encounter an error message similar to the following:

```console
error: Cannot build '/nix/store/3mj8jx9b7c3ba11k17wxfma4yr9j3hwc-nixos-hires.png.drv'.

Reason: builder failed with exit code 1. Output paths: /nix/store/ppr9cz6472yhi4d3p3miq86hi08sdyri-nixos-hires.png Last 17 log lines:

trying https://nixos.org/logo/nixos-hires.png % Total % Received % Xferd Average Speed Time Time Time Current Dload Upload Total Spent Left Speed 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 0 curl: (22) SSL certificate OpenSSL verify result: unable to get local issuer certificate (20) Warning: Problem (retrying all errors). Will retry in 1 second. 3 retries left. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 0 curl: (22) The requested URL returned error: 404 Warning: Problem (retrying all errors). Will retry in 2 seconds. 2 retries Warning: left. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 0 curl: (22) The requested URL returned error: 404 Warning: Problem (retrying all errors). Will retry in 4 seconds. 1 retry left. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 0 curl: (22) The requested URL returned error: 404 error: cannot download nixos-hires.png from any mirror For full logs, run: nix log /nix/store/3mj8jx9b7c3ba11k17wxfma4yr9j3hwc-nixos-hires.png.drv ```

The error log clearly indicates that the system failed to download the logo from the specified URL, confirming the bug.

The Expected Behavior

Ideally, when you specify a logo URL in your NixOS configuration, the system should be able to fetch the logo without any issues. This ensures a smooth build process and a visually appealing boot experience. The expected behavior is that the system successfully downloads the logo, and the build or switch process completes without errors.

Solutions and Workarounds

So, what can you do if you encounter this issue? Here are a few solutions and workarounds to get your NixOS system building smoothly again.

1. Use a Valid Logo URL

The most straightforward solution is to replace the invalid URL with a valid one. Since the original URL https://nixos.org/logo/nixos-hires.png is no longer available, you'll need to find an alternative. Some potential alternatives include:

NixOS Artwork Repository: You can use logos from the NixOS artwork repository. For example, you might consider using the SVG version of the logo from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixos-artwork/refs/heads/master/logo/nixos.svg.
NixOS Brand Logos: Another option is to use logos from the NixOS brand assets, such as https://brand.nixos.org/logos/nixos-logo-default-gradient-black-regular-horizontal-recommended.svg.

However, keep in mind that Plymouth currently supports only PNG file format. If you choose an SVG logo, you'll need to convert it to PNG first. This leads us to the next workaround.

2. Convert SVG to PNG

If you prefer using an SVG logo, you'll need to convert it to PNG format. You can use various tools to perform this conversion, such as ImageMagick or online converters. Here’s how you can do it using ImageMagick:

Install ImageMagick if you don’t have it already:
```
nix-env -iA nixpkgs.imagemagick
```
Convert the SVG logo to PNG:
```
convert nixos.svg nixos.png
```

After converting the logo, you can use the local path to the PNG file in your NixOS configuration.

3. Use a Local Logo File

Instead of fetching the logo from a URL, you can use a local logo file. This approach gives you more control over the logo and avoids issues related to broken URLs. Here’s how:

Download your preferred NixOS logo (in PNG format) and save it to a directory in your system, such as /etc/nixos/logo.png.
Reference the local file in your configuration.nix:
```
boot.plymouth.logo = /etc/nixos/logo.png;
```

4. Use the Default NixOS Logo

If you don't have a specific logo in mind, you can use the default NixOS snowflake logo. This logo is included in the nixos-icons package and is a reliable option. To use the default logo, simply set the boot.plymouth.logo option to the path provided in the default configuration:

boot.plymouth.logo = "${pkgs.nixos-icons}/share/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps/nix-snowflake-white.png";

This ensures that you have a valid logo without needing to fetch it from an external URL.

Updating Your NixOS Configuration

Once you’ve chosen a solution, you need to update your configuration.nix file. Here’s how you can apply the changes:

Open your configuration.nix file (usually located in /etc/nixos/).
Modify the boot.plymouth.logo option with your chosen solution. For example, if you’re using a local logo file, your configuration might look like this:
```
boot.plymouth.logo = /etc/nixos/logo.png;
```
Save the changes and rebuild your system:
```
sudo nixos-rebuild switch
```

Analyzing the Error Logs

When you encounter build errors, it’s crucial to analyze the error logs to understand the root cause. In this case, the error logs clearly indicate that the system failed to download the logo from the specified URL. Here’s a snippet of the relevant log output:

error: Cannot build '/nix/store/3mj8jx9b7c3ba11k17wxfma4yr9j3hwc-nixos-hires.png.drv'.
 Reason: builder failed with exit code 1.
 Output paths:
 /nix/store/ppr9cz6472yhi4d3p3miq86hi08sdyri-nixos-hires.png
 Last 17 log lines:
 >
 > trying https://nixos.org/logo/nixos-hires.png
 > % Total % Received % Xferd Average Speed Time Time Time Current
 > Dload Upload Total Spent Left Speed
 > 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 0
 > curl: (22) SSL certificate OpenSSL verify result: unable to get local issuer certificate (20)
 > Warning: Problem (retrying all errors). Will retry in 1 second. 3 retries left.
 > 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 0
 > curl: (22) The requested URL returned error: 404
 > Warning: Problem (retrying all errors). Will retry in 2 seconds. 2 retries
 > Warning: left.
 > 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 0
 > curl: (22) The requested URL returned error: 404
 > Warning: Problem (retrying all errors). Will retry in 4 seconds. 1 retry left.
 > 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 0
 > curl: (22) The requested URL returned error: 404
 > error: cannot download nixos-hires.png from any mirror
 For full logs, run:
 nix log /nix/store/3mj8jx9b7c3ba11k17wxfma4yr9j3hwc-nixos-hires.png.drv

The key part of the log is the curl: (22) The requested URL returned error: 404 message. This indicates that the URL is not found, confirming that the logo cannot be downloaded. By analyzing such logs, you can quickly identify the issue and apply the appropriate solution.

Conclusion

The invalid NixOS Plymouth logo URL issue is a common problem that can be easily resolved by using a valid logo URL, converting SVG logos to PNG, or using a local logo file. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure a smooth and visually appealing boot experience on your NixOS system.

For more information on NixOS and its configuration, you can visit the official NixOS website. This resource provides comprehensive documentation and community support to help you make the most of NixOS.