Bootmgfwefi

Bootmgfw.efi, often written as bootmgfw.efi, is the Windows Boot Manager for systems that use the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). It is an EFI executable that boots the Windows operating system by loading the Windows boot loader (winload.efi) and handing control to the Windows kernel.

It resides on the computer's EFI System Partition (ESP), typically under the path /EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi, and is loaded by the UEFI firmware during system startup. The file works in conjunction with the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store to select which Windows installation to boot and which boot options to apply.

On UEFI systems, bootmgfw.efi replaces the legacy BIOS boot manager (bootmgr). Secure Boot can require that bootmgfw.efi be digitally signed; if the signature is invalid, the firmware may block the boot.

Troubleshooting: If bootmgfw.efi is missing or corrupted, the system may fail to start with error messages related to booting. Recovery options include using Windows installation media to access the Windows Recovery Environment, then running commands such as bcdboot C:\Windows /s S: /f UEFI to recreate the boot files, or rebuilding the BCD with bcdedit. It may also require reactivating or repairing the ESP with diskpart and ensuring the partition is marked as active.

Understanding bootmgfw.efi is part of the broader Windows boot process, which also involves winload.efi, the BCD store, and the EFI System Partition.