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Fix UEFI that will not boot

We'll check boot order, disable Secure Boot, and repair the EFI partition—or tell you when to escalate.

Troubleshooting · Devices & software
20–45 min
What you'll need
  • Recovery USB (Windows or Linux) for EFI repair
  • Access to UEFI setup
Step 1 of 6

Quick triage — pick your path

Quick triage — pick your path

Choose the option that matches what you see. You can jump straight to that section.

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Steps

Goal: Confirm where the boot stops, check boot order, disable Secure Boot, and repair the EFI partition if needed.

  • Power on and watch the output. Note whether you see “No bootable device,” the UEFI logo, or a black screen.
  • Good: You know where it stops. Proceed to Check boot order.
  • Bad: The system boots—no problem.

Check boot order

Goal: Set the OS or Windows Boot Manager as the first boot device.

  • Enter UEFI (F2, Del, F1, or Esc at power-on). Open Boot or Startup Options.
  • Move “Windows Boot Manager” or the OS name to the top of the boot order. Save and exit (usually F10).
  • Reboot. Confirm the system tries to boot the OS.

Disable Secure Boot

Goal: Temporarily disable Secure Boot if it blocks the OS.

  • Enter UEFI. Find “Secure Boot” (often under Security or Boot). Disable it.
  • Save and exit. Reboot. If the OS boots, Secure Boot was blocking it. Re-enable after the OS is working if needed.

Repair EFI

Goal: Repair the EFI partition and boot loader.

  • Boot from a recovery USB (Windows or Linux). For Windows: run bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot, bootrec /rebuildbcd. For Linux: chroot, run grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi, then update-grub.
  • Reboot. Confirm the system boots to the OS.

When to get help

Escalate if:

  • You have corrected boot order, disabled Secure Boot, and repaired the EFI partition but the system still does not boot.
  • The disk may have failed or the firmware may need an update.

Provide: PC model, UEFI version, and steps tried.

Verification

  • The system boots to the OS (Windows or Linux).
  • No “No bootable device” or UEFI hang.
  • Boot order and EFI partition are correct.

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Boot order Set OS or Windows Boot Manager first in UEFI.
  2. Disable Secure Boot Disable Secure Boot temporarily in UEFI.
  3. Repair EFI Boot from recovery USB; run bootrec or grub-install.
  4. Escalate Provide PC model, UEFI version, steps tried.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • PC model and manufacturer
  • UEFI version
  • Last visible message
  • Steps already tried

Where does the boot stop?

UEFI logo, "No bootable device," or black screen—each points to a different fix.

Power on and watch. No bootable device: check boot order; OS may not be first. UEFI logo hang: Secure Boot may block the OS. Black screen: display or firmware issue. OS missing from list: add boot entry or repair EFI.

No bootable device UEFI logo or other

You can change your answer later.

Is the OS first in boot order?

Windows Boot Manager or the OS should be first.

Enter UEFI (F2/Del). Check boot order. Move OS or Windows Boot Manager to the top. Save and exit. Good: OS boots. Bad: OS not in list—repair EFI or add boot entry.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Reboot and test

Reboot. The system should boot to the OS. If not, disable Secure Boot or repair EFI.

Done

Is Secure Boot enabled?

Secure Boot can block unsigned boot loaders.

Enter UEFI. Find Secure Boot. Disable it temporarily. Save and exit. Reboot. Good: OS boots. Bad: still fails—repair EFI partition.

Yes No or unknown

You can change your answer later.

Disable Secure Boot

Disable Secure Boot in UEFI. Save and exit. Reboot. Re-enable after OS is working if needed.

Done

Repair EFI partition

Boot from recovery USB. For Windows: bootrec /fixmbr, /fixboot, /rebuildbcd. For Linux: chroot, grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi, update-grub. See Repair EFI.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why would UEFI not boot?
Wrong boot order, Secure Boot blocking the OS, missing or corrupted EFI boot entry, or a failed EFI partition. Check boot order and Secure Boot first, then repair the EFI partition.
Can I fix UEFI boot without reinstalling?
Yes. Boot from a recovery USB, mount the EFI partition, and repair or reinstall the boot loader (e.g. bcdedit for Windows, grub-install for Linux). No need to reinstall the OS.
When should I escalate a UEFI boot failure?
If you have corrected boot order, disabled Secure Boot, and repaired the EFI partition but the system still does not boot. The disk may have failed or the firmware may need an update.

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