How Do I Get Into My UEFI Settings?

It’s easier than it used to be.

UEFI, which stands for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, is a more powerful and flexible replacement of BIOS, or Basic Input/Output System, from the days of the original IBM PC. (It’s common, by the way, to refer to UEFI as BIOS even though that’s technically incorrect. My theory is that BIOS is easier to pronounce.)

Both UEFI and BIOS are firmware: software stored in hardware physically present in your computer. They’re typically in chips on the main circuit board, or motherboard. Their most common task is to locate, load, and run the software stored on your boot device. In other words, they’re the piece of software that knows how to start the process that loads the operating system when you turn on your machine.

Both have settings you can change. You used to need to know an obscure keystroke to get to BIOS; with UEFI, it’s somewhat easier.

UEFI: three ways in

UEFI (formerly BIOS) controls how your computer starts up, among other things. You can access it in three ways.

• Press a special key when you power on.
• Use the Windows Settings app.
• Type a short command.

Each one works a little differently, but they all get you there.

The goal

The most common reason to access UEFI is to change the boot order — for example, to enable booting from a USB device rather than the internal disk. There are many, many other options within the UEFI configuration, but most are safe to ignore.

This is an example of the UEFI configuration screen we’re looking for. Yours may look different, as there are many different styles.

The obscure keystroke remains

Since other techniques only work if you have Windows already running and installed, there needs to be another way in. You might need this method when dealing with a new “bare metal” (empty hard drive) computer.

Unfortunately, there’s no standard magic keystroke. It varies depending on both the manufacturer and the specific computer model.1 In a very rough order of commonality:

• Delete or Del
• F2
• F10
• F1
• F12 (more often used to display a boot choice menu)
• Esc

On some laptops, the “F” keys may or may not need an “Fn” key to be held down at the same time.

Timing is everything. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the keystroke method is knowing when to type or hold down the key. In general, the sequence is:

• Turn on the machine.
• Immediately type or hold down the magic key.
• If a UEFI or BIOS screen appears, look for information indicating which key to type (e.g., “Press Del to enter UEFI”), and then immediately type that key.
• If the Windows logo appears, it’s too late.

When it works, you should find yourself at a UEFI configuration screen. If not, you’ll be booted into Windows or receive an error message about there not being anything to boot from. You’ll need to try again.

The Windows way

If Windows is running, you can use a different approach. It might require several steps, but it’s not dependent on knowing a magic keystroke or typing it at just the right time.

It all starts in the Settings app. Navigate to:

• System
• Recovery
• Advanced Startup

Clicking “Restart now” will reboot your computer. You’ll find yourself in a blue interface with several options. Once again, these options may differ between computers, but the general sequence to the UEFI screen is:

• Troubleshoot
• Advanced settings
• UEFI Firmware Settings

Click on that, and after a confirmation, the computer will reboot again. Then you’ll find yourself at your UEFI configuration screen.

The Command Prompt way

This does not work on all computers, but it’s a handy approach when it does.

In an administrative Command Prompt or PowerShell, type:

shutdown /r /fw /t 1

The parameters:

• /r: reboot
• /fw: enter firmware on reboot (firmware being the UEFI settings)
• /t 1: delay 1 second before rebooting

Run the command, your computer will reboot, and you’ll find yourself in the UEFI settings.

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