BIOS / UEFI Error Code
Systems & Devices
BIOS / UEFI

BOOTMGR IS MISSING | Boot loader missing

Industry
Systems & Devices
Canonical
/systems/bios-uefi/error-codes/bootmgr-is-missing/
Last Updated
Feb 27, 2026
Summary

The system cannot find the Windows Boot Manager on the selected boot device.

Advertisement after-summary
Ad Space

What This Code Means

“BOOTMGR is missing” appears early in the boot process when firmware hands off to a bootloader, but the expected boot manager file is not present or cannot be read on the selected boot device. It can result from boot order issues, drive problems, or corruption of boot files.

Where Users Usually See This Code

  • Immediately after powering on a PC
  • After changing boot order, drives, or firmware settings
  • After cloning or repartitioning a drive

Why This Code Appears

  • Boot device selection points to a non-bootable drive
  • Boot files are missing or corrupted
  • Drive or filesystem cannot be read reliably

What Typically Happens Next

  • The system stops booting and waits for user action

What This Code Is Not

  • It is not a Windows “login” problem
  • It is not a GPU/monitor issue

Troubleshooting Checklist

  • Check firmware boot order and select the correct system drive
  • Remove external USB drives that may be taking boot priority
  • Use official OS recovery media to repair boot configuration if needed
  • Back up data before attempting repairs that modify partitions

Notes And Edge Cases

UEFI vs Legacy boot mode mismatches can cause bootloader errors after drive moves or reinstallations.

Related Codes

8 links
Advertisement near-bottom
Ad Space
ErrorCodesIndex logo