Troubleshooting Common UEFI Boot Problems in Windows 11

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is the modern firmware interface for PCs, designed to replace the older BIOS system. It offers faster boot times, enhanced security features (like Secure Boot), and support for larger drives. However, problems with UEFI settings or Windows 11 configuration can prevent your system from booting correctly.

This guide will help you diagnose and fix common UEFI boot issues in Windows 11.

Common UEFI Boot Problems in Windows 11

- Boot device not found or no bootable device

- Windows 11 stuck on UEFI splash screen or black screen

- Windows 11 auto-reboots or fails to load after power cycle

- Windows Boot Manager missing or error messages like “BOOTMGR is missing”

- Secure Boot or other security features preventing boot

- Windows 11 stuck in recovery or automatic repair loop

- UEFI firmware settings reset or not saved

Preliminaries: Preparation Before Troubleshooting

1. Backup Your Data
  If possible, backup important files from your Drive using a live USB or external enclosure.

1. Have Windows 11 Installation Media Ready
  Create a Windows 11 USB installation media with Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, using another PC if necessary.

1. Access UEFI Firmware
  Access UEFI by pressing manufacturer-specific keys at startup (commonly F2, DEL, ESC, F10, or F12).

Step 1: Confirm UEFI Boot Mode Is Enabled and Correct

Windows 11 requires UEFI mode with GPT partition style, not legacy BIOS mode.

How to check and set UEFI mode:

1. Enter UEFI Firmware Settings at startup:
  - - Restart and press the appropriate key (DEL/F2 most common).

1. Locate the Boot Mode Setting:
  - - Find options named Boot Mode, Boot List Option, or UEFI Boot.
  - - Ensure it is set to UEFI and not Legacy/CSM.

1. Disable Legacy/CSM boot:
  - - Compatibility Support Module (CSM) support sometimes causes boot issues if mixing boot modes.

1. Save and Exit:
  - - Save the settings, restart, and try booting Windows 11.

Step 2: Check and Fix Boot Order/Priority

Sometimes, the boot device is not prioritized correctly.

1. In UEFI settings, find Boot Priority or Boot Order.

1. Make sure the system drive (usually labeled as Windows Boot Manager) is first in the boot sequence.

1. If you installed multiple drives, remove unnecessary drives for the troubleshooting step.

Step 3: Disable Secure Boot Temporarily (If Needed)

Secure Boot can sometimes prevent booting due to driver or OS issues.

1. In UEFI firmware, locate Secure Boot under Security or Boot tab.

1. Disable Secure Boot.

1. Save and exit, then try booting Windows 11.

1. If it works, consider troubleshooting signed drivers or reinstalling Windows to fix Secure Boot compatibility.

Step 4: Use Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

If Windows won’t boot properly, use the built-in recovery tools.

To Access WinRE:

- If Windows tries and fails to boot 3 times, WinRE launches automatically.

- Alternatively, boot from Windows 11 USB installation media, select “Repair your computer”, and then Troubleshoot > Advanced options.

Available options:

- Startup Repair: Automatically fix boot problems.

- Command Prompt: Run manual repair commands.

- System Restore: Restore the system to a previous working state.

- UEFI Firmware Settings: Reboot directly into UEFI.

Step 5: Run Boot Repair Commands via Command Prompt

If Windows Boot Manager is missing or corrupted, run these commands from WinRE Command Prompt:

1. Bootrec commands:

sh
bootrec /fixmbr # Fix master boot record
bootrec /fixboot # Write a new boot sector
bootrec /scanos # Scan for Windows installations
bootrec /rebuildbcd # Rebuild Boot Configuration Data

1. bcdboot command:

Rebuild boot files and repair EFI partition:

sh
bcdboot C:\Windows /l en-us /s S: /f UEFI

- Assign EFI partition a drive letter (S) before running the command:

sh
diskpart
list disk
select disk 0 # your system disk
list partition
select partition X # EFI partition, usually ~100MB, FAT32
assign letter=S:
exit

Step 6: Check and Rebuild EFI Partition if Corrupted

The EFI System Partition (ESP) stores boot loaders.

If ESP is missing or corrupted, your PC won’t boot.

Steps:

1. Access Command Prompt in WinRE.

1. Use Diskpart to check partition:

sh
diskpart
list disk
select disk 0
list partition

1. Verify if a small (~100MB) FAT32 partition exists, marked as EFI.

1. If missing or corrupted, recreate and format ESP:

sh
create partition efi size=100
format quick fs=fat32 label=”System”
assign letter=S

Then run bcdboot as above.

Step 7: Reset UEFI Firmware to Default Settings

If changes to UEFI caused issues:

1. Enter UEFI.

1. Find an option for Load Setup Defaults, Load Optimized Defaults, or Reset BIOS Settings.

1. Save and exit.

Step 8: Update UEFI Firmware (BIOS)

Outdated firmware may cause compatibility issues.

1. Identify motherboard/laptop model.

1. Visit manufacturer support page.

1. Download latest UEFI firmware.

1. Carefully follow update instructions—incorrect flashing may brick your device.

Step 9: Reinstall Windows 11 As a Last Resort

If all else fails:

1. Boot from Windows 11 USB media.

1. Choose custom install.

1. Format Windows system partitions.

1. Install fresh Windows 11.

Note: Backup important data before reinstalling.

Additional Tips

- Check if the system drive has GPT partition style:
  Use Disk Management or Diskpart in recovery mode to verify (Legacy BIOS requires MBR, UEFI requires GPT).

- Remove external USB drives and peripherals during troubleshooting.

- Check RAM and hardware components for faults if boot issues persist.

- Disable Fast Startup in Windows as it can sometimes cause boot problems.

Problem	Recommended Fix	Key Commands/Settings
Boot device not found	Check UEFI boot mode and Boot order	UEFI settings: Set Boot Mode to UEFI, priority to Windows boot manager
Secure Boot blocking boot	Disable Secure Boot temporarily	UEFI > Secure Boot > Disable
Missing bootloader	Rebuild Boot Configuration Data	`bootrec /fixboot`, `bootrec /rebuildbcd`, `bcdboot`
EFI partition corrupted	Recreate and format EFI partition	Diskpart create partition, then `bcdboot`
Firmware settings incorrect	Reset UEFI to default settings	Load Setup Defaults in UEFI
Software corruption	Startup Repair or System Restore	WinRE Startup Repair or Restore
Firmware bugs	Update UEFI firmware	Manufacturer’s firmware update

Most UEFI boot problems in Windows 11 arise from incorrect boot mode, boot file corruption, or firmware misconfiguration. Systematic troubleshooting—from checking UEFI settings to rebuilding boot files and updating firmware—will usually resolve the issue without full reinstallation.

If your problem persists after following all steps, seek professional support or contact your device manufacturer.

Updated on July 10, 2025

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