How to Get to BIOS in Windows 11

Windows lets customers customise how they work together with their PCs in plenty of methods. But there are some options that may solely be accessed from particular screens like BIOS.

The BIOS is a crucial program that hosts a number of core customizations, similar to enabling safe boot or altering boot choices, and will be accessed in some ways. But what’s it precisely, how is it totally different from UEFI, and how are you going to entry it on Windows 11?

In this information, we clarify what the BIOS is, how to entry it on totally different OEM techniques, and tackle just a few queries in regards to the BIOS.

What is the BIOS?

The Basic Input/Output System, or BIOS, is a program that lives in a small chip in your pc’s motherboard. As the title suggests, it’s a system that manages knowledge circulation between the working system (Windows) and the related {hardware}, such because the drives, show, mouse, and many others, and readies it for bootup. It additionally hosts just a few settings and customization choices that can not be accessed from every other display screen.

The actual structure of the BIOS can differ primarily based in your OEM and motherboard producer. However, the choices supplied in all BIOS interfaces are kind of the identical.

2 methods to get to BIOS in Windows 11

There are just a few methods to entry the BIOS. Let’s check out them one after the other.

Method 1: Pressing BIOS key at Startup

One of the first methods to entry the BIOS is by urgent a chosen key, such because the F2, F10, F12, or Del, at startup. Here’s how to go about it:

Turn in your pc. At the primary indicators of your pc beginning, repeatedly press the BIOS key. There is barely a small window of alternative through which your keystroke must be registered and the BIOS to run. If you see the Windows emblem, you will have missed your window. Turn off your system and take a look at once more.

This is the tried and true formulation that has turn into the default technique to entry the BIOS. As talked about earlier than, the important thing might differ primarily based in your OEM or motherboard producer.

Here is an inventory of some fashionable OEMs and their designated BIOS hotkeys:

HP: F10
Dell: F2 or F12
Gigabyte, MSI, Zotac: Del
Asus: Del, F10 or F9
Acer: Del or F2
Lenovo: F2, Fn + F2, F1, or Enter adopted by F1
Surface Pro: Press and maintain Volume Up

If that is your first time accessing the BIOS, it might take a few tries earlier than you get it proper and are capable of entry the BIOS display screen.

Method 2: From the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

You may also get to the BIOS display screen from Windows itself. For this, you will want to get to the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) first. Here are just a few methods to take action.

Step 1: Access WinRE (using any of the 4 methods)

Here are the 4 methods to entry Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Once you attain that, you may observe Step 2 beneath to get to BIOS from WinRE.

Option 1: Access WinRE from Settings

Press Win+I to open the Settings app. With ‘System’ chosen within the left pane, scroll down on the best and click on on Recovery.
Click on Restart now next to ‘Advanced startup’.
This will restart your PC and boot to the recovery setting.
Once you might be in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), observe Step 2 beneath to get to BIOS.

The restart button can be utilized as a shortcut to accessing WinRE to get to the BIOS. Here’s how:

Press Start and click on on the Power button.
Then, whereas holding down the Shift key, click on on Restart.
Alternatively, when you’re on the login display screen, click on on the Power button.
Now, whereas holding down the Shift key, click on on Restart.
When restarting with the superior setting as such, you can be led straight to the Windows Recovery Environment. From right here, the steps to accessing the BIOS are the identical as proven above.
Once you might be in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), observe Step 2 beneath to get to BIOS.

Option 3: Access WinRE from Command Prompt (CMD)

A terminal app such because the command immediate or PowerShell may also be used to execute a sophisticated startup to achieve the BIOS. Here’s how:

Press Start, kind cmd, after which click on on Command Prompt.

Note: You may also use PowerShell if that’s to your liking because the command is similar for each command terminals.
Type the next command: shutdown /r /o
Once the system restarts, you’ll be on the WinRE display screen. Follow the steps given above to get to the BIOS.
Once you might be in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), observe Step 2 beneath to get to BIOS.

Option 4: Access WinRE with a shortcut

If you’re continuously going to entry the BIOS from inside Windows, making a shortcut can be the sensible factor to do to avoid wasting just a few clicks. Here’s how to take action:

Right-click on the desktop, choose New, then click on on Shortcut.
In the create shortcut wizard, enter the next command within the discipline: shutdown /r /o
Then click on Next.
Give this shortcut a reputation, then click on on Finish.
Now at any time when you must rapidly entry the recovery setting, merely double-click this shortcut.
Then proceed with the identical steps as earlier than to get to the BIOS.
Once you might be in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), observe Step 2 beneath to get to BIOS.

Option 5: Access WinRE from RUN

The RUN field may also be used to advance restart your PC and get to WinRE.

To achieve this, press Win+R to open the RUN field. Then kind the identical command: shutdown /r /o
And hit Enter. Once you might be in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), observe Step 2 beneath to get to BIOS.

Step 2: Get to BIOS from Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

Once you might be in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), click on on Troubleshoot.
Then Advanced choices.
Now choose UEFI Firmware Settings.
Now click on on Restart.
Your PC will boot to the BIOS display screen.

How to reset your BIOS

Changes within the BIOS must be made with utmost warning and correct information of what it’s that you just’re doing. If you’ve made some modifications that you just wish to undo, resetting the BIOS is a fast and straightforward means out. To find out about why and the way you need to reset BIOS, learn our information on How to reset BIOS in Windows 11.

Here are a few methods to reset your BIOS in short.

1. With the Power Button

Most fashionable techniques have an in-built security characteristic that allows you to reset the BOIS if issues go awry. To make use of this, merely press and maintain down the Power button for greater than ten seconds. For laptop computer customers, keep holding the ability button till the battery charging gentle goes out. This is indicative of the BIOS being reset.

For desktop customers, you might have to depend on your motherboard’s show, if accessible. Furthermore, you too can verify your OEM’s web site to find out about how to reset your BIOS.

2. From the BIOS itself

A BIOS reset will be carried out from throughout the BIOS itself, when you handle to get in with none issues. In the BIOS, search for ‘Load Setup Defaults’ after which execute it by urgent Enter.

Depending in your OEM, it might be titled ‘Reset to Default’, or ‘Setup Defaults’, or one thing comparable.

UEFI vs BIOS: How are they totally different?

The UEFI and the BIOS are generally used interchangeably, and never with out good motive. Although they each are interfaces that enable the working system and the {hardware} to work together with one another, they’re totally different in different, more practical methods.

The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) will be seen as a step up from the legacy Basic In/Out System (BIOS). The UEFI is a contemporary model of BIOS that has more reminiscence, more options, and a wide range of customizable choices.

UEFI additionally makes use of the GPT (GUID Partition Table) disk format whereas the BIOS makes use of the legacy MBR (Master Boot Record) format. The former is a a lot better system that continuously checks the disks for corruption, and is anticipated to interchange BIOS fully in just a few years.

How to verify the BIOS model

If you wish to verify your BIOS model, right here’s how to take action:

Press Start, kind CMD, and hit Enter.
Now kind the next command: wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion
Hit Enter. You will now see your BIOS model.

Another technique to verify the BIOS model is to open the System Information instrument. Here’s how:

Press Start, kind msinfo32, and hit Enter.
Once the System Information instrument opens, discover the BIOS Version/Date.

How to allow virtualization in BIOS

Virtualization permits customers to put in a number of visitor working techniques on their PC. If you’re going to make use of instruments like VirtualBox, develop and check apps on totally different working techniques, or set up outdated video games, virtualization is one thing you can not do with out. Windows 11 makes use of the Hyper-V characteristic for this which will be enabled within the BIOS itself. Here’s how to take action:

Access the BIOS by the strategies given above. Then use the arrow keys to get to ‘Configuration’.

Note: The virtualization choice could also be discovered inside a distinct tab, relying in your producer. It might be beneath ‘Security’, ‘Advanced’, ‘Device/System Configuration’, or some such part.
Then choose Virtualization Technology.
Enable it.
Once carried out, jump over to the ‘Exit’ tab and choose Save modifications and Exit.

To know more about discovering and enabling virtualization expertise, check with our information on How to allow virtualization in BIOS on Windows 11 or 10.

What is Secure Boot?

Secure Boot is a UEFI protocol that secures the Windows boot course of by making certain that solely the signed drivers are loaded when the system boots up. Starting with Windows 11, Microsoft has made it a prerequisite for techniques putting in Windows 11, despite the fact that there are a selection of workarounds for that.

Nevertheless, if you’d like your PC to have most safety, it’s best to have it enabled.

How to allow Secure Boot from BIOS

Access the BIOS through the use of the strategies given on this information. Then, use the arrow keys to get to the Boot choices tab (or the part that has the same title).
Then choose Secure Boot by urgent Enter on it.
Make certain it’s Enabled, then hit Enter.
Now go to the “Exit” tab and select Save modifications and Exit.

FIX: Can’t entry BIOS or Advanced Startup on Windows 11

If you’re not capable of entry the BIOS and even the Advanced Startup display screen on Windows 11, you might have to vary a setting within the “System Configuration” app. Here’s how:

Press Start, kind msconfig, and hit Enter.
Now, beneath the “General” tab, choose Normal startup and click on OK.

You ought to now be capable to entry the BIOS from the startup display screen or the recovery setting.

FAQs

In this part, we glance to reply just a few generally requested queries in regards to the BIOS:

Can I entry BIOS with out restarting?

The BIOS can solely be accessed earlier than your working system boots up. So, even when you’re not using the WinRE setting to restart your system and get to the BIOS, you’ll nonetheless have to make use of the designated key throughout startup, for which, a restart is inevitable.

Yes, you may update your BIOS. To achieve this, you’ll have to know your BIOS model, go to your producer’s web site, and obtain the most recent update in your BIOS model. To update, check with the producer’s information on the identical.

The BIOS (or UEFI) is a extremely essential interface that covers essential groundwork for Windows besides earlier than giving up management to it. Accessing it may be carried out in plenty of methods, and we hope you now understand how to take action, no matter your PC’s producer.

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