No Bootable Devices Found in Windows 11

Seeing the “No Bootable Devices Found” error on your Windows 11 computer can be alarming, especially if you have important files stored on your device. This message usually appears immediately after turning on your PC, preventing Windows from loading normally. Instead of starting Windows, your computer displays a warning stating that it cannot find a bootable device or operating system.

In many cases, the issue is caused by incorrect BIOS settings, damaged boot files, a loose storage connection, or a drive that is no longer being detected properly. Fortunately, you do not always need to reinstall Windows or replace your computer.

This guide explains the most effective methods for fixing the “No Bootable Devices Found” error in Windows 11.

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No Bootable Devices Found in Windows 11 [Fix]

The No Bootable Devices Found error means your computer cannot locate a drive that contains a working Windows installation. During startup, your computer checks the configured storage devices for boot information. If it cannot find valid boot files, it displays this error and stops loading Windows.

Several factors can cause this problem. Your SSD or hard drive may not be detected, the boot order may have changed, Windows boot files could be corrupted, or recent hardware changes may have affected the startup process. In some situations, the storage drive itself may be failing.

Work through the following solutions in order.

Step 1: Remove External Devices and Restart Your Computer

The first thing you should do is disconnect every unnecessary external device connected to your PC.

USB flash drives, external hard drives, memory cards, DVDs, and even certain USB accessories can sometimes confuse the startup process. Your computer may attempt to boot from one of these devices instead of your Windows drive.

Turn off your computer completely. Remove every external storage device except your keyboard and mouse. Wait for about 30 seconds before turning the computer back on.

If Windows starts normally after disconnecting these devices, reconnect them one at a time later to determine which one caused the issue.

Although this solution sounds simple, it resolves the problem surprisingly often, especially after using a bootable USB drive or installing Windows from external media.

Step 2: Check Whether Your SSD or Hard Drive Is Detected

If removing external devices does not help, verify that your internal storage drive is being detected by the system.

Turn on your computer and immediately press the key that opens the BIOS or UEFI settings. Depending on your computer manufacturer, this may be F2, Delete, Esc, F10, or another key displayed during startup.

Once inside the BIOS, locate the Storage, Main, or Information section. Look for your SSD or hard drive.

If your drive appears in the list, Windows may have damaged boot files rather than a hardware problem.

If the drive does not appear at all, shut down the computer and, if you are comfortable doing so, check that the storage drive is connected securely. On desktop computers, reseating the SATA cable and power cable often solves the issue. For laptops, you should only remove and reconnect the drive if your model allows easy access and you are familiar with the process.

If the drive is still missing after reconnecting it, the storage device could be defective.

Step 3: Verify the Boot Order

An incorrect Boot Order is another common reason for this error.

Inside the BIOS or UEFI settings, locate the Boot menu. Here you will see a list of devices your computer checks when starting.

Ensure that your Windows SSD or hard drive is listed as the first boot device. If a USB device, DVD drive, or network boot option appears above your Windows drive, move the Windows drive to the top of the list.

Save the changes and exit the BIOS.

Your computer will restart automatically. If the incorrect boot order caused the problem, Windows should now load normally.

Step 4: Restore Default BIOS Settings

Incorrect BIOS settings can prevent Windows from starting even when the storage drive is working properly.

Open the BIOS again and locate the option called Load Setup Defaults, Restore Defaults, or Load Optimized Defaults. The exact wording varies depending on your motherboard manufacturer.

Select the option to restore the default configuration.

Save the settings and restart your computer.

Resetting the BIOS removes incorrect startup settings that may have been changed accidentally after a BIOS update, hardware upgrade, or manual configuration.

Step 5: Repair the Windows Boot Files

Damaged boot files are one of the most common causes of startup errors.

You will need a Windows 11 installation USB to access the recovery tools.

Start your computer using the installation media.

When the Windows Setup screen appears, select your language and choose Repair your computer instead of Install Now.

Navigate to Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options, and finally select Startup Repair.

Windows will automatically scan for startup problems and repair missing or corrupted boot files.

Allow the repair process to finish without interrupting it. Once completed, restart your computer to see whether Windows loads successfully.

Step 6: Rebuild the Boot Configuration Data

If Startup Repair cannot fix the issue, rebuilding the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) may help.

Return to Advanced Options and open Command Prompt.

Run the following commands one at a time.

bootrec /fixmbr

bootrec /fixboot

bootrec /scanos

bootrec /rebuildbcd

Press Enter after each command and wait for it to complete.

These commands repair the Master Boot Record, scan for Windows installations, and rebuild the startup configuration that Windows uses during boot.

After completing the commands, close Command Prompt and restart your computer.

Step 7: Check the Drive for File System Errors

A damaged file system may prevent Windows from loading correctly.

Open Command Prompt from the Windows Recovery Environment.

Run the following command.

chkdsk C: /f /r

If your Windows installation uses another drive letter inside recovery mode, replace C with the correct letter.

The scan may take a long time depending on the size of your storage drive.

Allow the scan to finish completely before restarting the computer.

This process repairs file system errors and attempts to recover data from damaged disk sectors.

Step 8: Repair Windows System Files

Corrupted Windows system files can also trigger startup failures.

While still in Command Prompt, run the following command.

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows

This command checks important Windows files and replaces corrupted versions with healthy copies.

After the scan finishes, restart the computer and check whether Windows starts normally.

Step 9: Check Whether the SSD or Hard Drive Is Failing

If none of the software repairs work, the storage drive itself may be failing.

Warning signs include unusual clicking sounds from hard drives, repeated startup failures, extremely slow performance before the error appeared, or frequent file corruption.

You can connect the drive to another computer using a SATA connection or USB enclosure to determine whether it is still readable.

If the drive is accessible, immediately copy your important files to another storage device.

If the drive cannot be detected on another computer either, replacement is usually necessary.

Step 10: Reinstall Windows 11

If every repair method fails but your storage drive is still healthy, reinstalling Windows may be the final solution.

Create a Windows 11 installation USB on another computer.

Boot from the installation media and follow the setup process to install Windows.

If your drive still contains important files, choose repair or recovery options first whenever possible before performing a clean installation.

A fresh installation replaces damaged operating system files and creates a new boot environment.

FAQs

Why does Windows 11 say No Bootable Devices Found?

This error appears when the computer cannot detect a storage device containing a valid Windows installation or boot files.

Can corrupted boot files cause this error?

Yes. Damaged Boot Configuration Data, missing boot files, or a corrupted Master Boot Record frequently cause this startup problem.

Will I lose my files while fixing this error?

Most repair methods, including Startup Repair, rebuilding the BCD, and checking the disk, do not erase personal files. However, it is always recommended to back up important data whenever possible.

How do I know if my SSD has failed?

If the SSD does not appear in the BIOS, cannot be detected on another computer, or repeatedly disconnects, it may be failing and should be tested or replaced.

Should I reinstall Windows immediately?

No. Try all repair methods first because many startup issues can be resolved without reinstalling Windows or deleting your files.

Summary

The No Bootable Devices Found error in Windows 11 usually indicates that your computer cannot locate the operating system required to start normally. While the message may seem serious, it is often caused by something as simple as an incorrect boot order, damaged startup files, or a disconnected storage drive.

Begin with the simplest solutions, such as removing external devices, checking whether your SSD is detected, and verifying the boot order. If these methods do not resolve the issue, use Startup Repair, rebuild the Boot Configuration Data, repair disk errors, and scan Windows system files.

Only consider reinstalling Windows after every other repair option has been exhausted.