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Secure Boot Failure: How to Bypass This Error

Adjust BIOS settings if you encounter Security Boot fail

6 min. read

Updated onOctober 22, 2024

updated onOctober 22, 2024

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Key notes

Secure Boot prevents malware from affecting your bootloader, but what if Secure Boot failure occurs? If this happens, your PC won’t be protected against these attacks.

This can be a problem since malware can run on your PC even before Windows starts, so it’s essential to fix this issue as soon as possible. and this guide is going to show you how to do it.

How do I fix Secure Boot failure?

How do I fix Secure Boot failure?

1. Turn Off Windows 10 Secure Boot

In certain instances, you may have to additionally change other firmware to enable legacy support and load the Compatibility Support Module (CSM).

Overall, since you disable Secure Boot via the PC’s BIOS menus, the procedure for disabling varies among PC manufacturers.

If the PC denies you the option to enable SecureBoot, do a factory reset (see the steps later).

2. Use System Restore

Alternatively, you can always rely onprofessional third-party softwaredesigned to initiate a complete system restore and optimize your device.

This type of tool performs this complex action automatically, without harming your user data in any way.

3. Run Startup Repair

4. Run SFC

In some instances,sfc /scannow can stop, but that can be easily fixed.

5. Recover Windows 10 from the from a System Image

In case you’re not familiar with disk images, we have a great guide onwhat is a disk imagethat can give you more information.

6. Reset the PC

7. Perform a clean install of Windows 10

If all fails, it could be time to do a fresh installation ofWindows 10. And while this will take more time than the previous solutions, it’s 100% guaranteed to work.

For a step-by-step guide on clean install the OS, follow the instructions listed inWindows 10 reinstallguide.

You will, of course, need to reinstall everything, including hardware drivers.  You can always your files from the backup in theWindows.oldfolder.

Is Secure Boot really necessary?

While the feature is helpful for its security benefits, it’s not mandatory to use it, but unless you’re using dual boot or uncertified software, there’s no reason to disable it.

Secure boot failure can leave your system vulnerable, so addressing this issue as soon as possible is essential. This isn’t the only issue, and many reported thatSecure Boot is enabled, but not active, and others aSECURE_BOOT_VIOLATIONerror but we tackled these issues in separate guides.

What method did you use to fix this issue? Let us know in the comments below.

More about the topics:windows 10 fix

Madalina Dinita

Networking & Security Specialist

Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer.

She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies – AI and DNA computing in particular.

Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.

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Madalina Dinita

Networking & Security Specialist

Madalina is a Windows fan since forever, especially interested in AI, emerging technologies, privacy, and security.

Reviewed byAlex Serban