Stuck at grub rescue>? Get your Linux back

Seeing grub rescue> means GRUB, the Linux bootloader, can't find its files. This usually happens after resizing partitions, installing Windows next to Linux, or a failed update. Your files are almost always fine.

The reliable fix: reinstall GRUB from a live USB

1. Boot from a Linux live USB (the same distro is easiest) and choose Try.
2. Open a terminal and find your Linux root partition:

lsblk -f

Look for the ext4 partition with your system, e.g. /dev/nvme0n1p5. On UEFI systems, also note the small vfat EFI partition, e.g. /dev/nvme0n1p1.

3. Mount it and switch into it:

sudo mount /dev/nvme0n1p5 /mnt
sudo mount /dev/nvme0n1p1 /mnt/boot/efi    # UEFI only
for d in dev proc sys run; do sudo mount --bind /$d /mnt/$d; done
sudo chroot /mnt

4. Reinstall and regenerate GRUB:

grub-install /dev/nvme0n1
update-grub
exit

5. Reboot and remove the USB.

Dual boot and Windows is missing?

Inside the chroot, enable OS detection and run update-grub again:

echo 'GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=false' >> /etc/default/grub
update-grub

Not comfortable in the terminal? Our Linux Lab does boot repairs the same day.