• Order Status
  • Customer Service
  • My HP Rewards
  • Sign in/Register My Account

Before you go...

Check out today's top deals.

Plus, get free shipping and easy returns.

HP TECH TAKES /...

How to Enter BIOS Setup on Windows PCs

How to Enter BIOS Setup on Windows PCs

Person on PC Entering BIOS

What is BIOS?

New developments in bios technology.

New Developments in BIOS Technology

What are the basic functions of BIOS?

2. cmos setup, 3. bootstrap loader.

Person Turning a PC ON

4. BIOS drivers

How to enter bios in windows 10, method #1: use hotkey during boot-up.

  • Acer: F2 or DEL
  • ASUS: F2 for all PCs, F2 or DEL for motherboards
  • Dell: F2 or F12
  • HP: ESC or F10
  • Lenovo: F2 or Fn + F2
  • Lenovo (Desktops): F1
  • Lenovo (ThinkPads): Enter + F1.
  • MSI: DEL for motherboards and PCs
  • Microsoft Surface Tablets: Press and hold volume up button.
  • Origin PC: F2
  • Samsung: F2
  • Sony: F1, F2, or F3
  • Toshiba: F2

Method #2: Use Windows 10’s start menu

Use Windows 10 Start Menu

How to access Windows 7, Vista, and XP BIOS

I can’t access bios, what do i do.

Bring your PC back to life via USB drive

Troubleshoot method #1: Disable fast startup

Troubleshoot method #2: use an emergency boot disk, about the author.

Tulie Finley-Moise is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Tulie is a digital content creation specialist based in San Diego, California with a passion for the latest tech and digital media news.

Popular articles

  • 10 Best Minecraft Seeds for 2024

How to Screenshot on HP Laptop or Desktop Computers

How Do I Fix a Laptop that Won’t Turn On?

  • 3 Different Ways to Charge a Laptop without a Charger

How to Boot from a USB Drive on Windows 10 PCs

  • 7 Ways to Improve Your Computer Performance
  • 10 Best Minecraft Shaders for 2024
  • How to Turn Keyboard Lighting On / Off
  • Lag! Top 5 Reasons your Ping is so High

Related tags

  • computer maintenance
  • operating systems
  • pc security

The HP Garage

Article archives

  • 2023 Articles
  • 2022 Articles
  • 2021 Articles
  • 2020 Articles
  • 2019 Articles
  • 2018 Articles

Recommended articles

new pc bios setup

How Do I Print Screen on My PC?

new pc bios setup

The Top 10 Worst Computer Viruses in History

new pc bios setup

Why is My Laptop so Slow and How Can I Fix It?

new pc bios setup

How to Clean Your Laptop Screen

new pc bios setup

What is a CMOS Battery? How to Remove and Replace One in a Laptop

new pc bios setup

How to Reset BIOS Settings on Windows PCs

new pc bios setup

How to Stop Laptop Screen Flickering

new pc bios setup

How to Factory Reset a Windows Laptop

new pc bios setup

How to Fix a Laptop That Won't Charge

new pc bios setup

Do It Yourself Laptop Screen Repair

new pc bios setup

How to Replace a Hard Drive and Reinstall an Operating System

  • HP Fraud Alert
  • 14 Inch Laptop Deals
  • 14 Inch Touch Screen Laptop
  • 16GB RAM Laptop
  • HP OMEN Gaming Laptop
  • HP Laptop 15 Inch i5 Processor
  • 15 Inch i7 Laptop
  • 15 Inch Laptop
  • 15 Inch Laptop Deals
  • 15 Inch Touch Screen Laptop
  • Laptop 16GB RAM 1TB Hard Drive
  • 16GB RAM Gaming
  • 16GB Laptop
  • 16GB Laptop Deals
  • 17 Laptop 16GB RAM
  • 17 Inch Laptop 32GB RAM
  • 17 Inch Gaming Laptop
  • 17 Core i5 Laptop
  • 17 Core i7 Laptop

Disclosure: Our site may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page.

new pc bios setup

FREE shipping & Easy returns

new pc bios setup

Order by Phone 877-203-4758

new pc bios setup

Student discounts

new pc bios setup

HP for Business

Offers subject to change, not combinable with all other offers, and exclusions may apply, while supplies last. HP may impose a purchase quantity limit (for example, 3 units per order). Taxes, shipping, and other fees may apply as applicable. HP reserves the right to cancel orders arising from pricing or other errors. Prices, specifications, availability, and terms of offers may change without notice. Price protection, price matching or price guarantees do not apply to Intra-day, Daily Deals or limited-time promotions. These terms apply only to products sold by HP.com; reseller offers may vary. Items sold by HP.com are not for immediate resale. Orders that do not comply with HP.com terms, conditions, and limitations may be cancelled. Contract and volume customers not eligible.

HP’s MSRP is subject to discount. HP’s MSRP price is shown as either a stand-alone price or as a strike-through price with a discounted or promotional price also listed. Discounted or promotional pricing is indicated by the presence of an additional higher MSRP strike-through price.

Microsoft and Windows are US registered of Microsoft Corporation. Ultrabook, Celeron, Celeron Inside, Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Intel Evo, Intel Optane, Iris, Itanium, MAX, Pentium, Pentium Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, Xeon Phi and Xeon Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Not all features are available in all editions or versions of Windows. Systems may require upgraded and/or separately purchased hardware, drivers, software or BIOS update to take full advantage of Windows functionality. Windows is automatically updated and enabled. High speed internet and Microsoft account required. ISP fees may apply and additional requirements may apply over time for updates. See http://www.windows.com.

Earn HP Rewards on select products from the following categories: Laptops, Desktops, Printers, Business PC’s, select Accessories, and select Ink, Toner & Paper. Exclusions apply, and program membership required. See details HP Rewards

The personal information you provide will be used according to the HP Privacy Statement

  • iPhone 15 Plus vs. Pro Max
  • 3 Key Tech Trends to Watch in 2024

How to Enter BIOS

Enter the BIOS setup utility to change BIOS settings

new pc bios setup

  • Emporia State University

new pc bios setup

In This Article

Jump to a Section

  • Tips & More Information
  • Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

  • You may need to enter BIOS to install new hardware or enable or disable features built in to your computer.
  • To do this, restart your computer and look for the "setup" or "BIOS" message telling you which key to press.
  • Common keys include Esc , Tab , Del , or one of the function keys, often F2 or F10 .

The steps below can be used to access the BIOS setup utility on your PC, no matter what operating system is installed. This is because the BIOS is part of your motherboard hardware and has nothing at all to do with what's on your hard drive.

Getting into BIOS isn't at all hard, but it can be tricky on some systems. Check out our extensive list of tips at the bottom of the page if you're struggling after giving it a shot.

Restart your computer , or turn it on if it's already off.

Watch for an "entering setup" message in the first few seconds after turning on your computer. This message varies greatly from computer to computer and also includes the key or keys you need to press to enter BIOS.

Here are some common ways you might see this BIOS access message:

  • Press [key] to enter setup
  • Setup: [key]
  • Enter BIOS by pressing [key]
  • Press [key] to enter BIOS setup
  • Press [key] to access BIOS
  • Press [key] to access system configuration

Quickly press the key or keys instructed by the previous message.

You may need to press the BIOS access key several times to enter BIOS. Don't hold the key down or press it too many times or your system may error or lock up. If that happens, just restart and try again.

If you don't catch the key sequence needed to get into BIOS, reference one of these lists or check out the tips below:

  • BIOS Setup Utility Access Keys for Popular Computer Systems
  • BIOS Setup Utility Access Keys for Popular Motherboards
  • BIOS Setup Utility Access Keys for Major BIOS Manufacturers

Use the BIOS setup utility as required.

That might mean managing memory settings, configuring a new hard drive, changing the boot order , resetting the BIOS password, or other tasks.

Tips & More Information About Entering BIOS

Entering BIOS can be tricky, so here's some more help based on some common scenarios that we've seen:

There's a Picture Instead of a Message

Your computer may be configured to show your computer's logo instead of important BIOS messages. Press Esc or Tab while the logo is showing to remove it.

You Didn't Catch Which Key to Press

Some computers start too quickly to see the BIOS access message. If this happens, press the Pause / Break key on your keyboard to freeze the screen during startup. Press any key to "unpause" your computer and continue booting.

Trouble Pausing the Startup Screen

If you're having problems pressing that pause button in time, turn on your computer with your keyboard unplugged . You should receive a keyboard error which will pause the startup process long enough for you to see the keys necessary to enter BIOS!

Using a USB Keyboard on an Older Computer

Some PCs with both PS/2 and USB connections are configured to only allow USB input after the POST . This means that if you're using a USB keyboard, it could be impossible to access BIOS. In that case, you'd need to connect an older PS/2 keyboard to your PC to access BIOS.

The easiest way to reset the BIOS is to reset it to factory default. The wording may be different depending on your BIOS manufacturer but should be worded something similar to factory default, reset BIOS, clear BIOS, and more.

The process to update will vary depending on your motherboard's manufacturer. After you've backed up your data, go to the manufacturer's website and download the installer. Follow the instructions they have provided.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day

  • How to Access BIOS Setup Utility for Major BIOS Manufacturers
  • What Is BIOS (Basic Input Output System)?
  • What Settings Are in the BIOS?
  • How to Enable XMP
  • What Is Boot Sequence?
  • How to Disable the Function Key on a Dell Laptop
  • How to Find Your Dell Laptop Model Number
  • How to Enter BIOS on Windows 10
  • Change the Boot Order in BIOS
  • How to Turn on a Laptop Without the Power Button
  • How to Control the CPU Fan on Windows 11
  • How to Fix a Computer That Turns on but Displays Nothing
  • How to Fix the 'Operating System Not Found' Error
  • How to Troubleshoot Beep Codes

How to Enter the BIOS on Any PC: Access Keys by Manufacturer

Get into the UEFI / BIOS setup menu and make changes.

Delete key

Windows or Linux may be your operating system of choice, but no matter which platform you choose, your computer's  BIOS  (Basic Input / Output System) is calling all the shots behind the scenes. 

The BIOS, sometimes referred to as  UEFI  firmware on newer computers, tells your PC what storage drives you have and which one to boot from, what processor you have, how much RAM, and much more. You'll likely need to access the BIOS menus to overclock your CPU , enable virtualization, set your memory speed or enable TPM encryption. 

There are a few different ways to access the BIOS menus on a PC whether it involves hitting a hotkey at POST time, using Windows' Advanced Startup menu or issuing a Linux command. We'll detail all these methods below and, if you need to get a new version of your firmware, see our tutorial on how to update your BIOS .

Method 1: Use a BIOS Key

When you first power-on a computer, it goes through a very quick POST (power on self test). If you can hit the correct key before the POST is completed (or hold it down as you hit the power button), you will get into the BIOS menu. However, some computers go through POST so fast that they don't recognize input from the keyboard in time for you to a hit key. For those, skip to method #2 below.

Annoyingly, different PC brands use different BIOS keys. Most modern  motherboards  use the DEL key, but  ultrabooks , gaming laptops  and  gaming PCs  are less consistent. For example, hitting F2 might work on an Asus, but you'll need F10 on an Acer computer.

If you don't know the hotkey for your computer, you can look and see if a message comes up during POST, telling you what key to press or you can try hitting one of the 12 function keys, the DEL key, the Enter key or the ESC key since it is always one of those. You may have to try a few times to determine which one it is. In our research, DEL and F2 were, by far, the most common.

BIOS Keys by Manufacturer

Here's a list of common BIOS keys by brand. Depending on the age of your model, the key may be different.

  • ASRock: F2 or DEL
  • ASUS: F2 for all PCs, F2 or DEL for Motherboards
  • Acer: F2 or DEL
  • Dell: F2 or F12
  • Gigabyte / Aorus: F2 or DEL
  • Lenovo (Consumer Laptops): F2 or Fn + F2
  • Lenovo (Desktops): F1
  • Lenovo (ThinkPads): Enter then F1.
  • MSI: DEL for motherboards and PCs
  • Microsoft Surface Tablets: Press and hold volume up button.
  • Origin PC: F2
  • Samsung: F2
  • Toshiba: F2

Method 2: Use Windows 11 or 10's Advanced Start Menu

Unfortunately, some computers go through POST so quickly that there's no time to hit a key. Some desktops won't even recognize input from a USB keyboard until after POST is completed (though they will see input from an old PS2-style keyboard). If you can't use a BIOS key and you have  Windows 11 or 10, you can use the "Advanced startup" feature to get there.

Note that the screen shots below are from Windows 11, but the same steps apply to Windows 10.

1.   Navigate to the Advanced Startup section of Settings. The easiest way to get there is by searching for "advanced startup" in Windows search and clicking the top result. 

2. Click Restart now under the Advanced startup header.

Your computer will reboot and a new menu eventually appears.

3.  Click Troubleshoot.

4. Click Advanced options. 

5. Click UEFI Firmware Settings.

6. Click Restart to confirm.

Method 3: Use a Linux Command

If you're running a modern version of Linux such as Ubuntu, you may be able to get to the BIOS by typing "sudo systemctl reboot --firmware" at the command prompt.

What if you can't boot your OS or hit a BIOS key?

If your computer can't load an operating system, because it doesn't detect a bootable drive, it will usually pause, beep and give you the option to enter the BIOS, which it will often call "setup."

However, the biggest problems occur when the system POSTs too fast for you to hit a key and then Windows or Linux tries to boot and fails. I've had this problem when I had a missing or corrupted bootloader, I got the Windows splash screen and then a blue screen of death .

To force the BIOS to appear under these circumstances, you can try using an emergency boot disk, provided that you can either select a boot device at startup or your computer has set an external USB drive as a higher boot priority than its internal storage drive(s).

You can use a Windows install disk as an emergency boot disk. Once the USB boots, you need to click "Repair your computer" instead of install and then click Troubleshoot -> UEFI Firmware Settings -> Restart .

Finally, if you can't boot off of an emergency disk, you can try to cause a system halting error that would prevent your computer from attempting to boot off of its internal drives. Then, you'll be given the option to enter the BIOS menu.

Many desktop computers will give an error message if there's no keyboard plugged in (if you need help finding one, check our out Best Gaming Keyboards list) or if the keyboard buffer is overloaded from holding down too many keys at start. Pulling out your primary internal storage drive would also cause an error that would let you into the BIOS, but if that drive has a non-booting OS on it, your problems might resume once you plug it back in.

Bottom Line

Whatever method you use to access your BIOS, be careful when making changes to your settings there. You could end up disabling key components.

Stay on the Cutting Edge

Join the experts who read Tom's Hardware for the inside track on enthusiast PC tech news — and have for over 25 years. We'll send breaking news and in-depth reviews of CPUs, GPUs, AI, maker hardware and more straight to your inbox.

Avram Piltch

An ordinary squirt of canned air achieves supersonic speeds - engineer spots telltale shock diamonds

Enthusiast builds PC with 1200 watts of RGB lighting, includes dual 360mm liquid coolers just for the LED lights — pumps out eye-searing 100,000 lumens

Creality Ender 3 V3 KE Review: Open Source, Affordable, Fast

  • jimmysmitty A slight correction, Asus is normally DEL or F2 for their motherboards currently. Reply
  • funguseater Oh man, you forgot my all time favorite: CTRL ALT + Turbo XT button, Blazing 8 MHz speed. Reply
  • Martell1977 I've encountered some older HP's that used F1 for BIOS. This is a handy list, though dangerous. Should add the caveat that it can be dangerous to change things in the BIOS if your not familiar with what the settings are for. Might want to make an article about resetting BIOS, for the amateurs that use this list and mess their computers up. Otherwise, we might see a flood of threads asking why their computers wont start, even to the BIOS. This could get real ugly, real fast. Reply
  • islandwalker @martell1977, that's a very valid point. We tried to cover it in the last sentence. But the story could use a mention of how to reset to fail-safe defaults. Thanks. Reply
  • Simon Anderson Method 1B: if post too quick, start hitting bios key over and over again as soon as you restart :P Reply
  • termathor Good article. Also, on SteamOS, there is a grub boot entry called "Setup" that reboots in UEFI mode. Very handy as my PC indeed posts very fast ... There are also tools to force reboot in UEFI, depending on mobos OEM ... Reply
  • thebigt42 HP Servers are ESC not F10 Reply
21235491 said: Method 1B: if post too quick, start hitting bios key over and over again as soon as you restart :P
  • tazmo8448 Well if resetting things in the BIOS makes it go belly up then all should know about taking the CMOS battery out for 30 seconds or more (this resets the BIOS to Default) then all you have to do is set the correct time & date an you're back in business...removing the battery is to me easier than pulling the CMOS pin out an going thru that option as the battery is a lot more obvious. Reply
  • daddywalter My HP Pavilion laptop (2013-14 vintage) uses the ESC key. Reply
  • View All 11 Comments

Most Popular

By Sammy Ekaran January 04, 2024

By Sammy Ekaran December 24, 2023

By Sammy Ekaran December 23, 2023

By Les Pounder December 10, 2023

By Les Pounder December 05, 2023

By Sammy Ekaran December 04, 2023

By Sammy Ekaran December 02, 2023

By Sammy Ekaran November 06, 2023

By Sammy Ekaran November 05, 2023

By Les Pounder November 04, 2023

By Sammy Ekaran November 03, 2023

How to enter UEFI (BIOS) on Windows 10 PCs

If you need to change the UEFI (BIOS) settings of your computer, in this guide, we'll show you two ways to perform this task on Windows 10.

Windows 10 enter BIOS option

On Computers, the Basic Input Output System (BIOS) is an essential low-level software that sits on one of the chips of the motherboard, and it's responsible for basic operations, such as booting and configuring hardware (mouse, keyboard, memory, processor, etc.). The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is a modern software designed to replace the legacy BIOS with additional benefits, such as improved security, faster boot times, large capacity hard drive support, and more.

Although these are different technologies, modern devices now use UEFI, but to avoid confusion, sometimes you'll continue to hear the term "BIOS" to refer to "UEFI."

If you use a Windows 10 device, usually, the firmware works automatically. However, sometimes you may still need to enter the motherboard BIOS to troubleshoot problems, enable or disable features (such as virtualization, RAID array, and secure boot), adjust memory and processor advanced settings, and more.

The only caveat is that the BIOS is a startup environment, which means that you can't access it when Windows 10 is running. However, if you have to change some system settings, there are multiple methods to access the motherboard firmware.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to enter the BIOS/UEFI on your computer to change advanced system settings.

How to access UEFI (BIOS) using Settings

How to access uefi (bios) using boot key option.

To enter the UEFI firmware from Windows 10, use these steps:

Warning: Changing the wrong firmware settings can prevent your computer from starting correctly. You should only access the motherboard firmware when you have an excellent reason. It's assumed that you know what you're doing.

  • Open Settings .
  • Click on Update & Security .
  • Click on Recovery .
  • Under the "Advanced startup" section, click the Restart now button.
  • Click on Troubleshoot .
  • Click on Advanced options .
  • Click the UEFI Firmware settings option.
  • Click the Restart button.

Once you complete the steps, the device will restart and boot into the UEFI firmware allowing you to change advanced settings, such as to disable or enable secure boot, change boot order, set up a hardware RAID array, enable virtualization, and other settings depending on the motherboard support.

If you don't have access to the Windows 10 desktop or you're using a device with a legacy BIOS, then you can still access the firmware during boot.

To enter the UEFI or legacy BIOS during boot, use these steps:

  • Press the Power button.
  • See the screen splash to identify the key you must press to enter the firmware (if applicable).
  • Press the required key repeatedly until you enter the setup mode. Usually, you need to press the ESC , Delete , or one of the Function keys (F1, F2, F10, etc.).

After you complete the steps, the device will access the BIOS or UEFI firmware, depending on the motherboard support. If you don't see the information on the screen or the device boots too fast, restart the device again, and as soon as the boot starts, press the required key multiple times quickly.

If you can't make the computer to access the firmware using the keyboard, you may need to check your device manufacturer to find out the key that you need to press during boot.

Here are some computer brands and their respective keys to access the motherboard firmware:

  • Dell: F2 or F12.
  • HP: ESC or F10.
  • Acer: F2 or Delete.
  • ASUS: F2 or Delete.
  • Lenovo: F1 or F2.
  • MSI: Delete.
  • Toshiba: F2.
  • Samsung: F2.
  • Surface: Press and hold volume up button.

In the case that your device is using a UEFI firmware, and you can't seem to access it during startup, then it's recommended to use the Settings option from within Windows 10.

Get the Windows Central Newsletter

All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.

Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community.

  • 2 NVIDIA finally dumps mandatory login for GeForce Experience and merges with the Control Panel app
  • 3 Sony is working to bring PlayStation VR2 to Windows PC
  • 4 For less than 50 cents per game, you can grab an Xbox Series S and 3 months of Game Pass Ultimate
  • 5 Microsoft is forcefully auto-upgrading 'eligible' users running older versions of Windows 11 to 23H2 ahead of 'Moment 5'

new pc bios setup

How to Get into BIOS in Windows 10 – BIOS Setup PC Guide

BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. It is embedded into computers as a motherboard chip and is primarily responsible for booting the computer system.

Apart from booting up your computer, BIOS is responsible for a lot of other functionality behind the scenes – like managing data flow between an operating system and attached hardware devices such as printers, mouse, keyboard hard disk, and scanners.

Once everything has been certified OK during startup, your computer will boot successfully. Otherwise, an error message such as the BSOD (blue screen of death) or several others will be displayed.

If you can access BIOS on your PC, you can do various things such as change hard drive settings, create a password for BIOS to make your computer more secure, change the boot order, and more.

So, in this article, I’m going to show you two ways you can get into BIOS in Windows 10.

How to Get into BIOS in Windows 10 Through Settings

ss-1-3

Step 5 : After your PC reboots, you'll see a blue background menu containing options like “Continue”, “Troubleshoot”, and “Turn off your PC”. Click on Troubleshoot.

Step 6 : Click on “Advanced options”

Step 7 : Select “UEFI Firmware Settings” to finally enter your computer BIOS.

And that's it - you should be in.

If you don’t find UEFI Firmware Settings, using hotkeys to enter BIOS will come to the rescue. Let's look at how to use them now.

How to Get into BIOS in Windows 10 Through Hotkeys

Some computer manufacturers give users several keys or key combinations to press while booting so they can enter BIOS. This is typically the F2 key on many devices, but there are a few exceptions.

The table below shows the hotkeys for entering BIOS in different brands of computers.

HP: ESC (Escape) to enter startup menu, then F10 or F12.

In this guide, you learned how to get into BIOS in Windows 10, so you can have more control over your device. It also lets you dive into more settings you might not find in the Settings app.

Windows 10 Settings provides a better way to enter BIOS on modern computers, but if you are using older devices, using hotkeys might be your best bet to get into BIOS.

If you are wondering what UEFI is, it stands for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. It works like BIOS but provides faster boot time, and can support drive sizes up to 9 zettabytes, whereas BIOS only supports up to 2.2 terabytes.

Be careful what you do while in BIOS because whatever you tamper with might have a long-lasting effect on your Computer.

Thank you for reading.

Web developer and technical writer focusing on frontend technologies. I also dabble in a lot of other technologies.

If you read this far, thank the author to show them you care. Say Thanks

Learn to code for free. freeCodeCamp's open source curriculum has helped more than 40,000 people get jobs as developers. Get started

  • Accessories
  • Entertainment
  • PCs & Components
  • Wi-Fi & Networks
  • All Coupon Codes
  • eBay Coupon
  • HP Coupon Code
  • OnePlus Coupon
  • Samsung Promo Code
  • Microsoft Coupon
  • Dell Coupon Code
  • Motley Fool Discount
  • GoPro Promo Code
  • Starz Promo Code
  • AT&T Wireless Promo Code
  • Newsletters
  • Digital Magazine – Subscribe
  • Digital Magazine – Log in
  • Best laptops
  • Laptop deals
  • Desktop PC deals
  • Best monitors

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn't affect our editorial independence .

How to enter your PC’s BIOS

bios screen closeup

BIOS stands for “basic input/output system.” This software checks the health of your computer’s hardware and allows Windows to start. When you turn on your PC, its BIOS runs a power-on self-test (POST) to ensure that the machine’s devices (hard drive, sound card, keyboard, and the like) are connected and working properly. If the test finds no problems, the BIOS turns over control of your PC to another piece of software, typically the operating system.

Every PC has a BIOS, and you may need to access yours from time to time. Inside the BIOS you can set a password, manage hardware, and change the boot sequence. The BIOS user interface is straightforward and easy to access, but you should take caution when exploring the BIOS–don’t change settings if you don’t know what they do.

Step by Step: Entering the BIOS

1. Get ready to act quickly: You need to start the computer and press a key on the keyboard before the BIOS hands over control to Windows. You have only a few seconds to perform this step.

2. Boot (or restart) the PC: Pay close attention to the first screen that appears. Look for a message that indicates which key you need to press in order to access the BIOS. That key is likely to be:

–A Function key (such as F1 , F2 , or F3 )

–The Esc key

–The Delete key

dell bios startup select

On this PC, you’d press F2 to enter the BIOS setup menu.

On some PCs, entering the BIOS may require pressing another key or a combination of keys. Keep your eyes open for an on-screen message that says something like:

–‘Press F1 to enter setup’

–‘BIOS settings: Esc’

–‘Setup = Del’

–‘System configuration: F2’

If you don’t catch it the first time, simply try again. Your computer’s documentation may also tell you which key to press.

3. When you know the right key, start the computer again and press the key when the first screen pops up: You may hear a confirmation beep or see a new message. If you timed it correctly, you’ll be in the BIOS within a few seconds.

Additional Tips

Remember, don’t make changes unless you’ve done your homework. Check out “ Make Your PC Boot Faster With These BIOS Tweaks ” for some ideas about tweaking the BIOS for speed.

Keep your BIOS current. The process of updating the BIOS is fast and simple. Note the existing version of the BIOS, and check the support section of your computer manufacturer’s website for updates. For a step-by-step guide, read “ How to Update Your BIOS .”

Coupon Codes

  • Samsung Promo Code Samsung discount code for +5% Off sitewide
  • Motley Fool Discount Motley Fool discount: 60% Off Stock Advisor
  • eBay Coupon eBay Best Price Guarantee: Save 10% on any item
  • Peacock TV Promo Codes Peacock TV Promo Code for up to 50% Off Premium
  • Garmin Discount Code Garmin discount code: 10% Off when you register a device
  • Verizon Promo Code Find all Verizon discounts and codes for February
  • PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
  • EDIT Edit this Article
  • EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
  • Browse Articles
  • Learn Something New
  • Quizzes Hot
  • This Or That Game New
  • Train Your Brain
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Operating Systems

How to Enter BIOS

Last Updated: January 8, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA . Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,109,254 times. Learn more...

Do you need to change your PC's boot order or reset your system clock? Once you learn how to access your PC's BIOS or UEFI (the updated version of the BIOS), making changes to the configuration is quick and easy. Entering the BIOS or UEFI varies from computer to computer, but the basic process is always the same. This wikiHow article will teach you how to boot into the BIOS on any Windows PC using a setup key or through your Windows settings.

Using the Setup Key

Step 1 Reboot...

  • Entering the BIOS requires you to restart your PC. Save your work and shut down other programs before you continue with this method.

Step 2 Press the Setup...

  • Acer: F2 or DEL
  • ASUS: F2 or Del
  • Dell: F2 or F12
  • HP: ESC or F10
  • Lenovo: F2 or Fn + F2
  • Lenovo Desktops: F1
  • Lenovo ThinkPads: Enter + F1.
  • MSI: DEL for motherboards and PCs
  • Microsoft Surface Tablets: Press and hold the volume-up button.
  • Origin PC: F2
  • Samsung: F2
  • Sony: F1, F2, or F3
  • Toshiba: F2
  • If you don’t hit the key in time, Windows will load and you will have to reboot and retry.

Step 3 Navigate the BIOS.

Using Windows 10

Step 1 Open your Windows Settings icon.

  • If you don't see this option, you'll need to use the Using the Setup Key method.

Step 7 Click Restart.

  • Once you're in the BIOS or UEFI, use the arrow keys on your keyboard (or your mouse, if it works) to navigate and make menu selections. [3] X Research source

Using Windows 8 and 8.1

Step 1 Open the Charms bar.

  • Entering the BIOS requires you to restart your PC. Save your work and shut down other programs before you continue with this method. [4] X Research source

Step 2 Click Settings icon.

  • If you're using Windows 8 and haven't updated to 8.1, select General in the left panel instead. [5] X Research source

Step 5 Click Recovery (Windows 8.1 only).

  • Once you're in the BIOS or UEFI, use your mouse to navigate and make menu selections. [6] X Research source

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • Don’t change any settings with the BIOS unless you are sure about what you are doing. Thanks Helpful 32 Not Helpful 13

You Might Also Like

Change Computer BIOS Settings

  • ↑ https://support.dynabook.com/support/viewContentDetail?contentId=4009232
  • ↑ https://store.hp.com/us/en/tech-takes/how-to-enter-bios-setup-windows-pcs
  • ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBKe5V26yQs

About This Article

Nicole Levine, MFA

1. Open your Windows Settings. 2. Click Update & Security . 3. Click Recovery . 4. Click Restart Now . 5. Click Troubleshoot . 6. Click UEFI Firmware Settings . 7. Click Restart . Did this summary help you? Yes No

  • Send fan mail to authors

Is this article up to date?

new pc bios setup

Featured Articles

Start a Text Conversation with a Girl

Trending Articles

How to Take the Perfect Thirst Trap

How-To Geek

What is uefi, and how is it different from bios.

BIOS is dead, long live UEFI.

Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek

Quick Links

What do the bios and uefi do, what is a bios, why the bios is outdated, how uefi replaces and improves on the bios, how to access uefi settings on modern pcs, why do i still see bios all the time, key takeaways.

  • UEFI is a modern replacement for BIOS, offering faster boot times, larger hard drive support, and a user interface, while still providing backwards compatibility with older BIOS systems.
  • UEFI behaves similarly to a tiny operating system, offering features like Secure Boot and networking capabilities that were absent in BIOS.

Way back in 2017, Intel announced plans to completely replace BIOS with UEFI on all their chipsets, and the industry quickly followed suit. The classic BIOS is now firmly a relic of the past. But what is UEFI, and how is it different from the BIOS we're all familiar with?

Both the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) and BIOS are low-level software that starts when you boot your PC before booting your operating system, but UEFI is a more modern solution, supporting larger hard drives, faster boot times, more security features, and—conveniently—graphics and mouse cursors.

We've seen newer PCs that ship with UEFI still refer to it as the "BIOS" to avoid confusing people who are used to a traditional PC BIOS. Even if your PC uses the term "BIOS", modern PCs you buy today almost certainly ship with UEFI firmware instead of a BIOS. Here's why.

BIOS is short for Basic Input-Output system . It's low-level software that resides in a chip on your computer's motherboard. The BIOS loads when your computer starts up, and the BIOS is responsible for waking up your computer's hardware components, ensures they're functioning properly, and then runs the bootloader that boots Windows or whatever other operating system you have installed.

You can configure various settings in the BIOS setup screen. Settings like your computer's hardware configuration, system time, and boot order are located here. You can access this screen by pressing a specific key—different on different computers, but often Esc, F2, F10, or Delete—while the computer boots. When you save a setting, it's saved to the memory on your motherboard itself. When you boot your computer, the BIOS will configure your PC with the saved settings.

The BIOS goes through a POST, or Power-On Self Test , before booting your operating system. It checks to ensure your hardware configuration is valid and working properly. If something is wrong, you'll see an error message or hear a cryptic series of beep codes. You'll have to look up what different sequences of beeps mean in the computer's manual.

When your computer boots—and after the POST finishes—the BIOS looks for a Master Boot Record , or MBR, stored on the boot device and uses it to launch the bootloader.

You may also see the acronym CMOS , which stands for Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor. This refers to the battery-backed memory where the BIOS stores various settings on the motherboard. It's actually not accurate anymore, since this method has been replaced with flash memory (also referred to as EEPROM) in contemporary systems.

The BIOS has been around for a long time, and hasn't evolved much. Even MS-DOS PCs released in the 1980s had a BIOS!

Of course, the BIOS has evolved and improved over time. Some extensions were developed, including ACPI, the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface. This allows the BIOS to more easily configure devices and perform advanced power management functions, like sleep . But the BIOS hasn't advanced and improved nearly as much as other PC technology has since the days of MS-DOS.

The traditional BIOS still has serious limitations. It can only boot from drives of 2.1 TB or less. 8 TB drives are now common, and a computer with a BIOS can't boot from them. That limitation is due to the way the BIOS's Master Boot Record system works.

The BIOS must run in 16-bit processor mode, and only has 1 MB of space to execute in. It has trouble initializing multiple hardware devices at once, which leads to a slower boot process when initializing all the hardware interfaces and devices on a modern PC.

The BIOS has needed replacement for a long time. Intel started work on the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) specification back in 1998. Apple chose EFI when it switched to the Intel architecture on its Macs in 2006, but other PC manufacturers didn't follow.

In 2007, Intel, AMD, Microsoft, and PC manufacturers agreed on a new Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) specification. This is an industry-wide standard managed by the Unified Extended Firmware Interface Forum , and isn't solely driven by Intel. UEFI support was introduced to Windows with Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows 7. The vast majority of computers you can buy today now use UEFI rather than a traditional BIOS.

UEFI replaces the traditional BIOS on PCs. There's no way to switch from BIOS to UEFI on an existing PC. You need to buy new hardware that supports and includes UEFI, as new computers do. Most UEFI implementations provide BIOS emulation so you can choose to install and boot old operating systems that expect a BIOS instead of UEFI, so they're backwards compatible.

This new standard avoids the limitations of the BIOS. The UEFI firmware can boot from drives of 2.2TB or larger—in fact, the theoretical limit is 9.4 zettabytes. That is an appreciable percentage of all of the information on the Internet! That's because UEFI uses the GPT partitioning scheme instead of MBR . It also boots in a more standardized way, launching EFI executables rather than running code from a drive's master boot record.

UEFI can run in 32-bit or 64-bit mode and has more addressable address space than BIOS, which means your boot process is faster. It also means that UEFI setup screens can be slicker than BIOS settings screens, including graphics and mouse cursor support. However, this isn't mandatory. Many PCs still ship with text-mode UEFI settings interfaces that look and work like an old BIOS setup screen.

UEFI is packed with other features. It supports Secure Boot , which means the operating system can be checked for validity to ensure no malware has tampered with the boot process. It can support networking features right in the UEFI firmware itself, which can aid in remote troubleshooting and configuration. With a traditional BIOS, you have to be sitting in front of a physical computer to configure it.

It's not just a BIOS replacement, either. UEFI is essentially a tiny operating system that runs on top of the PC's firmware, and it can do a lot more than a BIOS. It may be stored in flash memory on the motherboard, or it may be loaded from a hard drive or network share at boot.

Different PCs with UEFI will have different interfaces and features. It's all up to your PC manufacturer, but the basics will be the same on each PC.

If you're a normal PC user, switching to a computer with UEFI won't be a noticeable change. Your new computer will boot up and shut down faster than it would have with a BIOS, and you can use drives of 2.2 TB or more in size.

If you need to access low-level settings, there may be a slight difference. You may need to access the UEFI settings screen through the Windows boot options menu rather than pressing a key while your computer starts. With PCs now booting so quickly, PC manufacturers don't want to slow down the boot process by waiting to see if you press a key. However, we've also seen PCs with UEFI that allow you to access the BIOS in the same way, by pressing a key during the boot-up process.

UEFI has seamlessly replaced BIOS on all modern computers, so why does everyone still call UEFI the BIOS? A number of factors contributed (or may have contributed) to why the term UEFI hasn't caught on as much.

  • Habit. The term BIOS has been in use for decades, and it takes time for the linguistic habits of millions of people to change.
  • BIOS is easier to say. Most people have heard or would readily guess how "BIOS" is pronounced. But UEFI? How do you say that, anyway? Yoo-eee-fee? Yoo-ee-fi? Uh-ee-fi? Yoo-fee? There really isn't a consensus here, either. A term that is hard to say is not going to be adopted as easily as one that rolls off the tongue.
  • The transition from the BIOS to UEFI was largely behind the scenes and was pretty painless, and the fundamental job of UEFI is the same as the BIOS. People didn't notice UEFI came into existence and it doesn't affect them, so why bother to learn the new word?

Whatever the reason, BIOS has remained a common term, though it is typically now used to refer to UEFI. It may just be one of those terms that sticks around—like "hanging" up a telephone—for much longer than it is technically accurate.

While UEFI is a big upgrade, it's largely in the background. Most PC users will never notice—or need to care—that their new PCs use UEFI instead of a traditional BIOS. They'll just work better and support more modern hardware and features.

For more detailed information about UEFI, read Adam Williamson of Red Hat's explanation of how the UEFI boot process is different . You can also read the official UEFI FAQ .

  • Support Home
  • Printer Support
  • Computer Support
  • Poly Collaboration Devices
  • Software and Drivers
  • Printer Diagonostic Tools
  • Computer Diagnostic Tools
  • Windows Support
  • Print and Scan Doctor
  • HP PC Hardware Diagnostics
  • Create a new case
  • Find an existing case
  • Manage contracts and warranties
  • Register an account
  • MyHPSupport Help
  • Security Bulletins
  • My HP Dashboard
  • HP Account benefits

HP Notebook PCs - Recovering the BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

The BIOS is the first firmware to run after turning on the computer. If the BIOS on your computer becomes corrupted, the computer fails to boot to Windows.

The BIOS can be corrupted during normal operation, through environmental conditions (such as a power surge or outage), from a failed BIOS upgrade, or damage from a virus. If the BIOS is corrupted, the system automatically attempts to restore the BIOS from a hidden partition when the computer is restarted. This document covers other steps to restore the BIOS if the automatic BIOS restoration does not work.

If your computer enters the automatic BIOS recovery process, the screen either remains black or a pop-up window displays the progress of the BIOS recovery. If the restoration is successful, the computer displays the following message:

System BIOS recovery message

To dismiss the message, press enter .

If you do not press enter , the computer automatically restarts after 15 to 20 seconds.

If you experience any of the following symptoms after restarting the computer, recover the BIOS.

Windows does not start and the caps lock or num lock keys blink, or the computer beeps 2 times

Power light or charging light continues to blink

A BIOS APPLICATION ERROR 501 is displayed

The computer stops at a black or blank screen when turned on

The computer turns on and you might hear the internal fan, but the display is blank and Windows does not start

For business computers, your IT department or local IT service might manage BIOS settings. Confirm this if you cannot access BIOS settings or restore the BIOS.

HP PCs with the HP Sure Start security feature do not support BIOS recovery using the manual, 4-in-1 USB key, or USB recovery drive methods. HP Sure Start automatically repairs HP BIOS and HP firmware corruption using the HP Endpoint Security Controller-isolated backup copy of the HP BIOS and HP firmware.

To determine if your PC was released with HP Sure Start, check the product specifications for the PC model. PCs with HP Sure Start indicate that it is enabled on the HP logo screen when the computer is started.

HP Sure Start was enabled for business notebooks in the following generations and later.

Perform a hard reset

Performing a hard reset erases all the information that is stored in your computer's temporary memory. This forces Windows to do a complete scan of the system, including the battery. Perform a power reset (or hard reset) of your computer to clear information from the computer memory without erasing personal data.

Performing a Hard or Forced Reset on Your HP Notebook (Fixed Battery)

Turn off the computer.

Disconnect the AC adapter.

Remove any discs from the disc drive.

Remove memory cards from the card reader slot.

Disconnect all nonessential peripheral devices, such as printers, scanners, external hard drives, and USB flash drives.

Do not disconnect your mouse, keyboard, or monitor.

With the AC adapter unplugged, press and hold the power button for approximately 15 seconds.

Reconnect the AC adapter, and then turn on the computer.

Reset the CMOS

In some cases, the automatic BIOS recovery fails because the Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) data is corrupted. The CMOS stores BIOS settings. Use this procedure to reset the CMOS and recover the BIOS.

Press and hold the power button for 25 seconds, and then turn the computer on.

After the completion of a successful CMOS reset, a message similar to the following one might be displayed, depending on your system. As long as the system turns on, the CMOS reset was successful.

Successful CMOS reset button message

Press enter to restart the computer.

If this does not recover your computer, see Recover the BIOS .

Manually recover the BIOS

If your computer BIOS still does not reset, you can try to recover the BIOS using a key press combination or a USB recovery drive.

These recovery processes are not supported on computers with the HP Sure Start feature.

Recover the BIOS using a key press combination

Learn how to recover the BIOS using a key press combination.

Many HP computers have an HP BIOS Restore tool that might be able to recover the BIOS from an earlier version and restore basic function. This tool might not be able to recover the BIOS, depending on the cause of the corruption.

This recovery process is not supported on computers with the HP Sure Start feature.

Restoring the BIOS on HP Computers with a Key Press Combination

Turn off the computer and be sure that the AC adapter is connected to power.

Press and hold the Windows + b keys, and then simultaneously press the power button.

Keyboard highlighting the key presses for BIOS recovery

After 2 to 3 seconds, continue to press and hold the Windows + b keys, but release the power button. You might hear a series of beeps.

If the HP BIOS Update screen is not displayed, repeat the previous steps but press the Windows + v keys. If the screen is still not displayed, your computer might not support the feature or there is a hard drive issue.

If the power light turns off, the power button was held too long. Repeat the previous steps, making sure that you press and hold the power button for only 2 to 3 seconds.

If a BIOS recovery message is displayed repeatedly, see Recover the BIOS using a USB recovery drive .

If a message displays that the computer improperly shut down or a boot problem is detected, follow the on-screen instructions to resolve the error.

If Windows starts, update to the latest BIOS version. Go to HP Consumer Notebook PCs - Updating the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) (Windows) or HP Business Notebook PCs - Updating the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) for more information.

The HP BIOS Update screen is displayed and the recovery begins automatically.

HP BIOS Update recovery in progress

If this recovery method fails, use another working computer to create a BIOS recovery flash drive to install the latest BIOS file.

Recover the BIOS using a USB recovery drive

If you are unable to recover the last working BIOS version, install a BIOS recovery file from the HP website using a USB flash drive.

Create a USB recovery drive

Use a second working computer with an active internet connection to create a BIOS recovery USB flash drive. To recover the BIOS, the necessary BIOS binary recovery files must be present on a storage device connected to the failed system.

Creating a BIOS Recovery Flash Drive for HP Notebooks

Get the product number for the original notebook that requires a BIOS recovery. This number is typically found on a label on the bottom of the notebook or on the box it shipped in.

Go to Find product and serial numbers for HP PCs, printers, and accessories for additional options.

The general or series name near the keyboard or on the frame around the screen is not specific enough to identify the correct download files.

Notebook computer label enlarged to show product information

Insert a blank USB flash drive into an available port on the second computer.

Do not use a USB Type-C flash drive on Intel platforms. USB Type-C flash drives are not supported for crisis recovery because of design limitations.

Go to the HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads page.

Navigate to the product page for your computer.

Select BIOS , and then review the details of the latest available version or the specific version recommended for the recovery. Confirm that it is the correct BIOS update before proceeding.

Read the Details section to confirm that it applies to the computer. Installing the wrong BIOS could cause the computer to stop working.

Click Download > Run .

Click Yes on the User Account Control screen.

Clicking Yes to allow the update to install

On the InstallShield Wizard window, click Next .

InstallShield Wizard

Select I accept the terms in the license agreement , and then click Next .

Agreeing to End User License Agreement

In the HP BIOS Update and Recovery window, click Next .

Clicking Next in HP BIOS Update and Recovery

Select Create Recovery USB flash drive , and then click Next .

HP Consumer Notebook PCs

Create Recovery USB flash drive in HP System BIOS Update Utility

HP Business Notebook PCs

Create Recovery USB flash drive in HP System BIOS Update

Select your USB flash drive, and then click Next .

Selecting the USB flash drive

Wait while the BIOS files copy to the drive.

Copying BIOS files to the USB flash drive

When The recovery flash drive was created successfully message is displayed, click Finish .

Clicking Finish

If necessary, click Cancel to close the update utility.

Clicking Cancel to close the update utility

Remove the USB flash drive from the computer.

Install the BIOS recovery file

Use the HP emergency BIOS recovery feature with the recovery flash drive to recover the BIOS.

Restoring the BIOS with a Recovery Flash Drive on HP Notebooks

Turn off the notebook that requires the BIOS recovery, and then wait 5 to 10 seconds.

Make sure that the AC adapter is connected to the notebook during the recovery process.

Insert the USB flash drive with the BIOS file into an available USB port on the notebook.

Press and hold the Windows + b keys, and then simultaneously press and hold the power button.

On some notebook models, you instead might need to press and hold the Windows + v keys.

If a message is displayed that the computer improperly shut down or a boot problem is detected, follow the on-screen instructions to resolve the error.

If HP BIOS Update is not displayed or the issue persists, your computer might not support this function or there is a hard drive issue. Contact HP Customer Support for assistance.

The HP BIOS Update screen is displayed and the recovery begins automatically. Follow any on-screen prompts to continue the startup and complete the recovery.

Additional support options

Try one of our automated tools or diagnostics

Enter a topic to search our knowledge library

IMAGES

  1. new pc bios setup

    new pc bios setup

  2. GIGABYTE BIOS is back with an awesome new design

    new pc bios setup

  3. How To: A Guide to BIOS Settings

    new pc bios setup

  4. NE#35 New PC BIOS Setup and Windows 10 Install

    new pc bios setup

  5. BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

    new pc bios setup

  6. BIOS (What It Is and How to Use It)

    new pc bios setup

VIDEO

  1. How to update your MSI PC Bios

  2. Guide you how to Bios and install Windows quickly

  3. pc bios

  4. How To Open Bios/🥺💯 In Windows 10/Bios// Setup Utility Part 11

  5. HOW TO SETUP BIOS MSI GAMING SMALL PC AND INSTALL WINDOWS 10/UEFI LAGAXY BOOT CHNAGE

  6. How to Get into PC BIOS #pc #pcgaming #windows

COMMENTS

  1. BIOS Basics: How to Configure Your PC's Firmware for First Use

    1. How to Check Out and Change the Boot Order in Your BIOS/UEFI Let's say you have a new PC build, replete with a new, clean M.2 or 2.5-inch SSD, or a hard drive. And let's say you have an...

  2. How to Enter BIOS Setup on Windows PCs

    In order to access BIOS on a Windows PC, you must press your BIOS key set by your manufacturer which could be F10, F2, F12, F1, or DEL. If your PC goes through its power on self-test startup too quickly, you can also enter BIOS through Windows 10 's advanced start menu recovery settings.

  3. How to Enter the BIOS Setup Utility on Most Computers

    What to Know You may need to enter BIOS to install new hardware or enable or disable features built in to your computer. To do this, restart your computer and look for the "setup" or "BIOS" message telling you which key to press. Common keys include Esc, Tab, Del, or one of the function keys, often F2 or F10. How to Enter BIOS

  4. How to Update the BIOS on a PC: 3 Ways to Get New Firmware

    published 12 February 2023 You may be able to upgrade, without even booting. Comments (4) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) Your PC's BIOS (also called its UEFI or its firmware) is the low-level...

  5. How to Enter the BIOS on Any PC: Access Keys by Manufacturer

    How-to By Avram Piltch last updated 26 April 2023 Get into the UEFI / BIOS setup menu and make changes. Comments (11) (Image credit: Shutterstock) Windows or Linux may be your operating...

  6. How to Enter the BIOS on Windows 10

    There are a handful of ways to access the BIOS from Windows 10. The simplest way to access the BIOS is with the Start button. Click the Start button, hit the power icon, and then hold Shift while you click "Restart." Alternatively, you can hit the Start button, in the search bar type "Change Advanced Startup Options" and then hit Enter.

  7. How to enter UEFI (BIOS) on Windows 10 PCs

    To enter the UEFI firmware from Windows 10, use these steps: Warning: Changing the wrong firmware settings can prevent your computer from starting correctly. You should only access the...

  8. HP Desktop PCs

    What can we help you with? Learn to open and navigate general BIOS menus and settings. Specific menus and functions vary by computer model.

  9. HP Consumer Notebook PCs

    Use the backup file stored on the hard drive: Turn on the computer, and then immediately press and hold the Windows key and the B key at the same time until you hear 8 beeps. The BIOS Update utility opens to perform a BIOS recovery. Download the same or newer BIOS file: Go to HP Notebook PCs - Recovering the BIOS (Basic Input Output System), and then follow the instructions to create a BIOS ...

  10. How to Get into BIOS in Windows 10

    Step 1: Click on Start and select Settings to open up the Settings app. Or simply press WIN (Windows key) + I. Step 2: Click on "Update and Security". Step 3: Select "Recovery". Step 4: Under "Advanced startup", Click on "Restart now". This will allow you to reboot your computer for restoration and some configurations.

  11. How to Update the BIOS on Your Windows PC: Step-By-Step

    Download Article 1 Open Start . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. You can also press the ⊞ Win key to access the Start menu. 2 Open System Information. Type msinfo into the Start window, then click System Information at the top of the Start window. 3 Click System Summary.

  12. How to Change BIOS Settings on Windows 8, 10, and 11

    1 Turn on your computer. You'll only be able to access the BIOS upon startup. [1] If your computer is already on, you'll need to restart your computer. 2 Press Del or F2 to enter setup. You can press and hold or repeatedly press this button. The setup button is usually Del or F2, but this could vary depending on your device.

  13. How to Enter the BIOS on Your Windows 11 PC

    Key Takeaways. Easily enter the BIOS (UEFI) on your Windows 11 PC by pressing a key like F2 or Delete during startup or restart through the Recovery page in Settings. You can access the BIOS using Windows Terminal by typing a specific command in PowerShell or Command Prompt and navigating through the Troubleshoot menu in the "Choose an Option ...

  14. How to Boot to BIOS in Windows 11

    Option 1: From the Start Menu. Click the Windows Start menu, then the Power button. While pressing down the Shift key, click the Restart button. This will take you to the Windows Troubleshooting ...

  15. How to enter your PC's BIOS

    On some PCs, entering the BIOS may require pressing another key or a combination of keys. Keep your eyes open for an on-screen message that says something like: -'Press F1 to enter setup ...

  16. 3 Ways to Enter BIOS

    Method 1 Using the Setup Key Download Article 1 Reboot your computer. If you're using an earlier version of Windows or weren't able to use the steps in the Windows 10 or Windows 8 and 8.1 methods, you can enter the BIOS by pressing a special key on your keyboard right after the computer restarts. [1]

  17. How to Update BIOS

    From Windows 10 or 11, you can access the BIOS by opening the Settings menu and navigating to the Recovery tab. On the Recovery screen, find the "Advanced Startup" heading and click "Restart Now.". From the following blue restart options screen, click "Troubleshoot," then "Advanced Options.". Now you can select "UEFI Firmware ...

  18. Got a New PC? 11 Things to Do Right Away

    First Start (Credit: PCMag) After you've made the basic initial connections (power, plus monitor, keyboard, and mouse as needed), Windows will ask you to do various things, like setting your...

  19. What Does a PC's BIOS Do, and When Should I Use It?

    Common keys you may need to press include Delete, F1, F2, and Escape. Some PCs with UEFI firmware also require you to press one of these keys during the boot-up process to access the UEFI firmware settings screen. To find the exact key you need to press, consult your PC's manual. If you built your own PC, consult your motherboard's manual.

  20. What To Do AFTER Building a Gaming PC! [BIOS, Drivers ...

    GeekaWhat 189K subscribers Subscribe Subscribed 583K views 10 months ago If you've just build a gaming PC, you're probably wondering what to do next! In this video I'll be guiding you through how...

  21. What Is UEFI, and How Is It Different from BIOS?

    You can configure various settings in the BIOS setup screen. Settings like your computer's hardware configuration, system time, and boot order are located here. You can access this screen by pressing a specific key—different on different computers, but often Esc, F2, F10, or Delete—while the computer boots.

  22. HP Notebook PCs

    The BIOS is the first firmware to run after turning on the computer. If the BIOS on your computer becomes corrupted, the computer fails to boot to Windows. The BIOS can be corrupted during normal operation, through environmental conditions (such as a power surge or outage), from a failed BIOS upgrade, or damage from a virus. If the BIOS is ...