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Use Recovery Mode when GRUB still offers the installed Ubuntu system’s recovery entry and you can make the repair from its recovery menu or root shell. Use a live USB when the installed system cannot reach those tools or you need a separate desktop to inspect files and fix a configuration. Neither option automatically repairs every boot failure; choose based on what you can access and what the problem requires.
What is the difference between Recovery Mode and a live USB?
| Recovery Mode | Live USB | |
|---|---|---|
| What it starts | A recovery environment for the installed Ubuntu system, selected through GRUB’s Advanced options. | An Ubuntu desktop preview booted from external USB media. |
| Best fit | GRUB and the installed system’s recovery entry are available, and a focused repair from its recovery menu or root shell is suitable. | The installed system cannot reach recovery tools, or a separate graphical environment would help you access files or work on configuration. |
| Environment | Basic services and recovery options, including a root shell. The root filesystem starts read-only. | A desktop environment separate from the installed system. Ubuntu says the preview can be used without making permanent changes to the PC’s configuration. |
| Preparation | No separate USB image is required. | Create bootable Ubuntu installation media; current Ubuntu documentation recommends a flash drive of 8 GB or larger. |
| Key caution | Remount the root filesystem read/write only if the repair requires it. Other partitions may need to be mounted separately. | Writing the image erases the USB drive’s existing contents. The preview uses open-source drivers and may not include proprietary drivers. |
In short, Recovery Mode works from the installed system; a live USB boots an independent environment. Ubuntu’s Recovery Mode guide describes it as loading “some basic services and drops you into command line mode.” The exact menu and behavior can vary by Ubuntu release.
When should you use Recovery Mode?
Choose Recovery Mode first when you can open GRUB and see an Ubuntu entry ending in (recovery mode), and the repair can be handled using its recovery menu or root shell. It is a practical starting point when normal startup or login is broken but the installed system’s recovery tools remain reachable.
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- Restart the computer and open GRUB. On many BIOS systems, holding Shift during startup reveals GRUB; on many UEFI systems, pressing Escape does. These key sequences are machine-dependent, and firmware fast boot can make the timing difficult.
- In GRUB, choose Advanced options, then select the installed Ubuntu kernel entry ending in (recovery mode). Menu wording and availability may differ between releases.
- From the recovery menu, choose Drop to root shell prompt for command-line repair.
Understand the read-only root filesystem
The root partition initially mounts read-only in Recovery Mode. If your repair needs to write to it, the Ubuntu Wiki guide documents this command:
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mount -o remount,rw /
If /home, /boot, /tmp, or another mount point is on a separate partition, the guide says to run mount --all after remounting root read/write. Do not assume every partition is mounted or that a particular repair command is appropriate without understanding the system’s layout.
When should you use a live USB?
Use a live USB if the installed recovery environment is unavailable or if you need a graphical desktop to inspect files and work on configuration. Ubuntu documents the live preview as a way to repair or fix a broken configuration. An earlier Ubuntu tutorial also explicitly describes accessing and editing files on the computer from the preview; that tutorial is marked as superseded, so use the current desktop guide for the current boot and setup steps.
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- LIVE OR INSTALL - On supported hardware, start the Ubuntu live environment to evaluate it or launch the installer.
- PLATFORM BOUNDARY - Not designed to boot Apple Silicon or other ARM-based computers. Confirm CPU architecture and USB-boot support before purchase.
- BOOT SETTINGS VARY - Boot-menu keys and UEFI settings differ by manufacturer; consult the computer maker's instructions if the USB is not listed.
- BACK UP BEFORE INSTALLING - Disk-partition and installation choices can erase files or operating systems. Disconnect nonessential drives and preserve the USB until it is no longer needed for installation or recovery.
A live session is not the same as booting the installed Ubuntu system. It can provide access to installed files, but what you can safely access depends on the disk, encryption, and system state. Mounting a damaged disk is not risk-free, and booting the preview does not itself repair a filesystem.
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- Use a USB flash drive of 8 GB or larger, as recommended by Ubuntu’s current Desktop documentation.
- Back up any files on the drive. Writing the Ubuntu image destroys the drive’s existing contents; carefully verify the target device before starting.
- Download the Ubuntu image and write it to the USB using a suitable imaging application—not by simply copying the ISO file. Ubuntu’s current guide covers Disks on Ubuntu, Rufus on Windows, and balenaEtcher on macOS.
Boot the preview
- Restart the computer and boot from the USB using the machine’s boot menu or firmware settings. The exact key and menu vary by manufacturer.
- Follow the Ubuntu startup screens and choose Try Ubuntu rather than installing it.
- Use the preview to inspect accessible files or work on a broken configuration. A network connection is optional for the preview, though internet access is needed for a browser and may be useful for downloads.
- When finished, restart and remove the USB when prompted to return to the regular system.
Ubuntu’s guide retrieved on October 4, 2026 describes its preview as based on Ubuntu Desktop 26.04 LTS. Release labels and instructions can change, so follow the current Ubuntu Desktop guide for the release you download.
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- Live USB or install: You can either try on USB or install on hard drive.
Can a live USB tell you whether Ubuntu supports your hardware?
A live preview can help you check how the computer works with Ubuntu, but it uses open-source drivers only. Some proprietary drivers, including certain NVIDIA drivers, are not included. If a device does not work in the preview, that alone does not establish that Ubuntu cannot support it after installation with an appropriate driver.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do you choose if Ubuntu will not boot?
- GRUB opens and offers Recovery Mode: Start there for a focused repair using the installed system’s recovery options or root shell.
- The recovery entry is missing or will not start: Try a live USB to access a separate desktop and inspect files or configuration.
- You need a graphical environment: A live USB is the better fit.
- You only want to check hardware behavior: A live preview can help, with the limitation that proprietary drivers may be absent.
Neither route is a guaranteed fix. The appropriate repair depends on the error, storage layout, encryption, firmware setup, and whether the disk itself is healthy. Avoid making changes or writing to a drive until you understand which disk and partitions are involved.
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Sources
- Ubuntu Wiki: Recovery mode. The page was last edited September 24, 2026, and some details are release-specific or historical.
- Ubuntu Desktop: Try Ubuntu Desktop. Current instructions for preparing and starting the live preview.
- Ubuntu Desktop: Create a bootable USB stick on Ubuntu.
- Ubuntu Desktop: Create a bootable USB stick on Windows.
- Ubuntu Desktop: Create a bootable USB stick on macOS.
- Ubuntu’s earlier live-session tutorial, marked as superseded, for its explicit description of accessing and editing files on the computer.
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