To open BIOS on Windows 11, the easiest route is through Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup, which reboots your PC into a menu where you can choose UEFI Firmware Settings. If your PC won’t boot normally, you can also get there by pressing a specific key (like F2, Del, or Esc) right as the machine starts up. This guide covers every method, including what to do if your PC seems to skip the BIOS screen entirely.
Quick steps
- Open Settings, go to System, then Recovery.
- Next to Advanced startup, select Restart now.
- When the blue menu appears, choose Troubleshoot, then Advanced options.
- Select UEFI Firmware Settings, then click Restart.
- Your PC will reboot straight into the BIOS or UEFI firmware screen.
Before you start
A few things worth knowing before you try to get into BIOS on Windows 11:
- Most modern PCs running Windows 11 actually use UEFI firmware rather than old-style BIOS, but Microsoft and PC makers still commonly call the settings screen “BIOS” out of habit, and the methods below work for both.
- The exact look of the firmware screen, and which key opens it, depends entirely on your PC manufacturer (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, and so on). There’s no single universal key.
- Inside BIOS/UEFI you’ll find options like boot order, Secure Boot, and TPM settings. Changing these incorrectly can stop your PC from starting normally, so only change what you understand.
- If you plan to disable Secure Boot for any reason, do this carefully and only if you know why you need to, since it’s a setting Microsoft documents specifically because it affects which operating systems and hardware will work.
- Save any open work first. Several of these methods restart your PC immediately.
Method 1: From Windows Settings (works when Windows starts normally)
This is the most reliable way to enter BIOS settings on Windows 11 if your PC boots into the desktop fine.
- Open Settings (press Windows key + I, or click the Start menu and select the gear icon).
- Select System in the left-hand menu.
- Scroll down and click Recovery.
- Under Advanced startup, click the Restart now button.
- Your PC will restart into a blue “Choose an option” screen. Select Troubleshoot.
- Select Advanced options.
- Select UEFI Firmware Settings.
- Click Restart to confirm.
- Your PC will reboot directly into its BIOS or UEFI setup screen.
Method 2: From the sign-in or Start menu (Shift + Restart)
If you’d rather not dig through Settings, you can trigger the same recovery menu from the power options.
- Click the Start button, or go to the Windows sign-in screen.
- Click the Power icon.
- Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click Restart at the same time.
- Keep holding Shift until the blue recovery screen appears.
- Choose Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then UEFI Firmware Settings.
- Click Restart, and your PC will boot straight into BIOS.
This works from both the desktop and the lock/sign-in screen, which is handy if you can log in but Settings is slow to open.
Method 3: Press a key during startup (works even if Windows won’t load)
If Windows won’t start at all, or you just prefer the old-school approach, you can get into BIOS by pressing a key the moment the PC powers on, before Windows begins to load.
- Shut down your PC completely.
- Turn it back on.
- As soon as the manufacturer’s logo or startup screen appears, start pressing the BIOS entry key repeatedly. Common keys include F2, F10, F12, Delete, or Esc, depending on the brand of your PC or motherboard.
- If you time it right, the BIOS/UEFI setup screen will open instead of Windows loading.
Check your PC or motherboard manufacturer’s website or manual for the exact key, since this isn’t standardized across brands. On many laptops the logo and BIOS prompt flash by very quickly, so you may need a couple of attempts, and on fast-booting systems with Secure Boot enabled it can be tricky to catch the window in time, which is part of why Microsoft recommends the Settings-based route for modern PCs.
Method 4: Using a command from Windows
If you’re comfortable with the command line, you can jump straight to the firmware restart option without going through menus.
- Open the Start menu, type cmd, and open Command Prompt (you don’t need to run it as administrator for this).
- Type the following and press Enter:
shutdown /r /fw /t 0
- Your PC will restart immediately and boot into the BIOS/UEFI firmware screen.
This is useful for IT admins or anyone scripting a reboot into firmware settings across several machines, since it skips the graphical menus entirely.
If Windows won’t boot at all
If your PC can’t reach the desktop and you can’t get to Settings, you’ll need to rely on the key-press method from Method 3, since there’s no Windows interface to use. If the PC boots into an automatic repair screen or the Windows Recovery Environment instead of the desktop, look for Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then UEFI Firmware Settings, the same path used in Method 1. This recovery environment can appear automatically after a couple of failed boot attempts, and it’s the same environment used for tasks like repair installs via Windows PE, Microsoft’s small recovery operating system built for exactly this kind of troubleshooting.
If it doesn’t work
The PC boots straight to Windows and skips the key-press window
Fast SSDs and Fast Startup mean many Windows 11 PCs boot too quickly to catch the BIOS key. Use Method 1 or Method 2 instead, since they tell the PC to boot into firmware on the next restart rather than relying on timing.
You don’t see “UEFI Firmware Settings” as an option
This option only appears on PCs with UEFI firmware, which covers the vast majority of Windows 11 machines since Windows 11 requires UEFI and Secure Boot support. If it’s missing, check with your PC manufacturer, since some systems hide this entry or require a direct key press instead (Method 3).
Pressing the key does nothing
Double check you’re pressing it immediately after power-on, before the Windows logo appears. If you’re not sure which key your PC uses, check the manufacturer’s support site for your exact model, or try common keys like F2, F10, F12, Esc, or Delete one at a time on separate restarts.
You’re worried about Secure Boot after visiting BIOS
If you accidentally changed a Secure Boot setting and now have driver, hardware, or dual-boot issues, Microsoft’s own guidance explains that disabling Secure Boot is sometimes necessary for certain hardware, graphics cards, or operating systems like Linux, but it should be turned back on once you no longer need it off, to keep your PC protected.
Frequently asked questions
Is BIOS the same as UEFI on Windows 11?
Not technically, but they’re used interchangeably in everyday conversation. Windows 11 PCs almost always use UEFI firmware, which is the modern replacement for traditional BIOS, but people (and even some manufacturers) still call the settings screen “BIOS.”
What key opens BIOS on Windows 11?
There’s no single key that works on every PC. Common options are F2, F10, F12, Delete, or Esc, and the correct one depends on who made your PC or motherboard. Check your manufacturer’s documentation if you’re not sure.
Why can’t I get into BIOS on my Windows 11 laptop?
Fast boot times often mean the key-press window passes before you can react. Try the Settings method instead (Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now), which reboots directly into the firmware screen without needing perfect timing.
Can I open BIOS without restarting my PC?
No. BIOS/UEFI settings can only be accessed during the startup process, before the Windows operating system loads, so every method here involves a restart of some kind.
Do I need administrator rights to open BIOS on Windows 11?
You generally don’t need admin rights to use the Settings or Shift+Restart methods on a personal PC. On managed or work devices, your IT department may restrict access to firmware settings, in which case you’ll need to contact them.
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