---
title: Change Startup Script
url: https://docs.vultr.com/products/compute/instances/optimized-cloud-compute/management/startup-script
description: Learn how to modify the startup script that runs when your Vultr instance boots up
publish_date: 2024-09-23T20:19:39.318257Z
last_updated: 2026-05-26T18:45:15.438875Z
---

# How to Change the Startup Script on a Vultr Optimized Cloud Compute Instance

Startup scripts allow you to automate specific configurations during the operating system installation. Changing the startup script on an instance wipes the file system and reinstalls the default operating system.

Follow this guide to change the startup script on a Vultr Optimized Cloud Compute instance using the Vultr Console, or Terraform.

> [!WARNING]
> Changing the startup script on an instance will wipe all data and reinstall the operating system.

=== "Vultr Console"

    1. Navigate to **Products** and click **Compute**.
    1. Click your target Vultr Optimized Cloud Compute instance to open its management page.
    1. Navigate to the **Settings** tab.
    1. Find and click **Change StartUp Script** on the left navigation menu. 
    1. Click **Add Startup Script**.
    1. Enter a new script name and click the **Type** drop down to select the script type.
    1. Add your startup script data and click **Add Script** to apply the script to your instance.
    1. Navigate to **Change StartUp Script** in your instance settings to verify that the new script is added.
    1. Select the startup script and click **Change Startup Script**.
    1. Check the confirmation prompt and click **Change Startup Script** to apply the new script.

=== "Terraform"

    1. Open your Terraform configuration for the existing Optimized Cloud Compute instance.

    1. Create or reference a `vultr_startup_script` resource and attach it to the instance.

        ```terraform
        # Create a new startup script
        resource "vultr_startup_script" "init" {
            name = "init-nginx"
            type = "boot"  # boot | pxeboot
            script = <<-EOT
            #!/bin/bash
            apt-get update -y
            apt-get install -y nginx
            systemctl enable --now nginx
            EOT
        }

        # Attach the startup script to the instance
        resource "vultr_instance" "occ" {
            # ...existing fields (region, plan, os_id, label, etc.)

            script_id = vultr_startup_script.init.id
        }
        ```

    1. Apply the configuration and observe the following output:

        ```
        Apply complete! Resources: 0 added, 1 changed, 0 destroyed.
        ```