How do I fix Windows boot manager overriding GRUB after dual-boot setup?

[Luke57]

I’ve been trying to set up a dual-boot system with Windows 11 and Ubuntu on my new laptop, but the Windows boot manager keeps taking over every time. I followed a guide to use GRUB as the main bootloader, but after a Windows update, it just defaults back to the Windows boot screen and I can’t see the Linux option anymore.

[Ava37]

I’ve been there. After a Windows update, the boot screen would go straight to Windows Boot Manager and Linux vanished from the menu. It really felt like the update rewrote the boot entries and kicked the bootloader out on reboot.

[MatthewT]

Maybe the root cause isn’t the bootloader at all. On some laptops the firmware rules. Secure Boot, fast startup, or the boot order in UEFI can override what you see.

[GeorgeR]

Did you check the firmware settings to see if Windows Boot Manager is the first entry? If yes, that would explain why you don’t see Linux.

[SofiaJ]

I tried something similar and ended up keeping Windows as the primary and putting Ubuntu on a separate drive. It made updates easier but meant a manual boot selection sometimes.