Fix: Secure boot can be enabled when system in user mode

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Windows is the most popular operating system in the world, thanks to its accessibility and compatibility with pretty much every piece of hardware you can find. However, a large part of its popularity is also because of the security features that Microsoft has worked so hard to implement over different versions of Windows that we’ve seen over the years.

In this article, we’re talking about how to enable secure boot when the system is in user mode and the reasons why you might face problems doing so.

Also read: Windows error 0x0 0x0: 6 Fixes

What causes the “secure boot can be enabled when system in user mode” error?

As you can likely guess by the error message itself, the issue is caused when user mode isn’t enabled on your system. However, other common reasons include:

Outdated system firmware
Corrupt BCD file
Corrupt system files

How to fix the “secure boot can be enabled when system in user mode” error?

Here are six fixes you can try out.

Enable Secure Boot via BIOS

Follow these steps to enable Secure Boot using your computer’s BIOS.

Step 1: Shut down your PC. Ensure that it’s a full shutdown as well.

What is Secure Boot in Windows? How to disable or enable it?

Step 2: Boot your PC and head over to the BIOS. To do so, press the BIOS key on your keyboard immediately after you press the power button.

The BIOS key varies from computer to computer and manufacturer to manufacturer. On my HP AB522Tx, it is F10 and should be the same on other HP machines as well. Yours might be different.

Step 3: Navigate to Boot options, select Secure Boot and disable/enable the option.

Enable UEFI boot

Pretty much every motherboard offers a legacy and a UEFI boot mode. The legacy mode works better for older operating systems that aren’t compatible with modern-day hardware.

However, this is the opposite of the other way around too. If your boot settings are set to legacy, the bootloader won’t be able to detect the operating system. Head into your BIOS, change the boot mode to UEFI and try again.

Fix the BCD file

A corrupt or damaged BCD file can also trigger this issue. Now to fix this, you’re going to need a bootable version of Windows on either a flash drive or a CD.

Step 1: Boot your computer using the Windows installation media. Click Repair your computer.

Step 2: On the blue screen recovery window, click on Troubleshoot.

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Step 3: Select Advanced options.

Step 4: Then select Command Prompt.

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Step 5: Type the following commands one by one in the Command Prompt.

bootrec /repairbcd
bootrec /osscan

Now restart your computer to check if the error is resolved.

Run an SFC scan

Running an SFC scan can find and fix corrupt or damaged files that may keep your system from booting up properly.

Step 1: Boot your computer using the Windows installation media. Click Repair your computer.

Step 2: On the blue screen recovery window, click on Troubleshoot.

Step 3: Select Advanced options.

Step 4: Then select Command Prompt.

Step 5; Type the following command to run a system file scan.

sfc /scannow

Step 6: Once the SFC command has run, run the following command to restore the system image.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Now try restarting your computer and the error should be gone.

Switch to the GPT partition type

Windows 11 only supports GPT partition types. This means that if you’re using an MBR partition, you’ll be in a host of problems. Here’s how to convert your drive’s partitions.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run prompt. Type cmd and hit enter.

Step 2: Type diskpart and hit enter.

Step 3: Type the list disk command to see all connected drives.

Step 4: Note the number of your SSD/HDD and type the select disk command followed by the drive’s number.

Step 5: Type the following commands one after the other.

clean
convert gpt
create partition primary
format quick fs=ntfs
assign
exit

Now restart your PC, and the error should be gone. Do keep in mind that this will format the partition so be careful when carrying out the operation.

Reinstall Windows

If nothing else works, simply reinstalling or repairing your OS is the best way to eliminate the error.

The Windows Media Creation tool is a great way to install Windows and repair the OS. Using this, you can perform a clean installation or repair your OS without affecting your data.

You can download the Media Creation Tool here

Also read: Fix: The touchpad cursor disappears in Windows 11