Secure Boot keeps sending Windows 11 back to BIOS after BitLocker recovery

September 2, 2026 2 answers
Asked by MellowCedar42
After reseating some RAM that had not been installed correctly, I had to go through BitLocker recovery. Since then, Secure Boot will not stay enabled, and the computer opens directly into the BIOS instead of starting Windows. I have already turned BitLocker off and also tried clearing the Secure Boot keys, then rebooting and reinstalling them, but the system still returns to the BIOS. The motherboard is an ASRock B550M-C R2.0, and the operating system is Windows 11 Home. What should I check or change to get Secure Boot working and boot Windows normally again?

Answers

PixelHarbor19
Since the computer is landing in the BIOS, also verify that the Windows Boot Manager is selected as the first boot option. Secure Boot normally requires UEFI boot mode, so make sure Legacy or CSM mode is disabled and that the Windows system drive is using a compatible GPT partition layout. Changing these settings can affect booting, so confirm that your important files are backed up first.
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CopperLynx7
Try restoring the factory or default Secure Boot keys in the UEFI settings instead of only clearing them. After restoring the keys, save the changes, reboot, and then enable Secure Boot again. Clearing the keys without reinstalling the defaults can leave Secure Boot with nothing to validate against.

MellowCedar42: I had already cleared the keys and rebooted, but I will try restoring the factory keys specifically rather than just reinstalling them.

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