How to Access BIOS in Windows 11

To access BIOS in Windows 11, open Settings → System → Recovery, select Restart now next to Advanced startup, then choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → UEFI Firmware Settings → Restart. The PC reboots straight into its firmware setup screen. If Windows won't load, press your manufacturer's setup key (often F2 or Delete) repeatedly as the PC powers on.

What Is the BIOS, and Is It Different from UEFI?

The BIOS is the firmware built into your motherboard that starts the hardware before Windows loads; on every PC sold for Windows 11, that firmware is UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), the modern replacement for the old BIOS. People still say "BIOS" out of habit, and many manufacturers label the screen "BIOS Setup", but they mean the same settings page.

The difference matters for Windows 11. The Windows 11 requirements include UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability and TPM 2.0. Because Windows 11 boots in UEFI mode, Windows can hand control to the firmware on request, which is what the "UEFI Firmware Settings" option does. On a legacy-BIOS PC that option does not exist, so you have to use a key at startup instead.

Common reasons to enter firmware setup include enabling TPM or Secure Boot, turning on CPU virtualisation, changing the boot order to start from a USB drive, and enabling XMP/EXPO memory profiles on gaming PCs.

How Do You Access BIOS from Windows 11 Settings?

The Settings method works on any UEFI PC and avoids racing a key press at boot, which is hard on fast-booting SSD systems.

1. Save your work and close open apps.
2. Open Settings → System → Recovery.
3. Next to Advanced startup, select Restart now, then confirm.
4. On the blue Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.
5. Select Advanced options → UEFI Firmware Settings.
6. Select Restart. The PC reboots directly into the firmware setup screen.

Microsoft's Windows recovery environment page lists UEFI Firmware Settings among the recovery tools. Two shortcuts reach the same blue menu: hold Shift while you click Power → Restart (from the Start menu or the sign-in screen), or run shutdown /r /o in an administrator Command Prompt. From there, follow steps 4 to 6.

How Do You Access BIOS with a Key at Startup?

Press the firmware setup key repeatedly from the moment you power on, before the Windows logo appears. Tap it about once a second rather than holding it down.

1. Shut the PC down fully. Hold Shift while clicking Shut down to stop Fast Startup from skipping the firmware screen.
2. Press the power button.
3. Immediately start tapping the setup key for your PC (see the table below).
4. If Windows starts loading, wait for it to finish, shut down and try again, or use the Settings method above.

Keys vary by manufacturer and even by model, so the table is a starting point; the logo screen or your manual shows the exact key.

How Do You Access BIOS on Windows 10?

On Windows 10 the method is the same apart from where Advanced startup lives: open Settings → Update & Security → Recovery and select Restart now under Advanced startup.

1. Open Settings → Update & Security → Recovery.
2. Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.
3. Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → UEFI Firmware Settings → Restart.

The Shift + Restart shortcut and the startup keys work the same way on Windows 10. If you're entering the firmware to switch on Secure Boot, our step-by-step guide on enabling Secure Boot in Windows 10 covers the settings to change. Windows 10 itself reached end of support on 14 October 2025, so this is also a good moment to check whether your PC can move to Windows 11.

Why Is UEFI Firmware Settings Missing from Advanced Options?

The option only appears when Windows was started in UEFI mode, so if it is missing, the PC is almost certainly booting in legacy BIOS mode (also called CSM).

• Check the boot mode: press Windows + R, type msinfo32 and look at BIOS Mode. "Legacy" means the option will not appear.
• Disk partition style: UEFI boot needs a GPT disk. Older installations on MBR disks boot in legacy mode.
• Recovery environment problems: the option is shown by the Windows Recovery Environment, so if that is disabled or damaged, use the startup key instead.

In all three cases the firmware is still there; you just reach it with the key at power-on rather than from Windows.

What Should You Check Before Changing BIOS Settings?

Check BitLocker first. Changing Secure Boot, TPM or boot-mode settings can make BitLocker ask for its 48-digit recovery key on the next start, and without it you are locked out of your own drive.

1. Open Control Panel → System and Security → BitLocker Drive Encryption (or search "Manage BitLocker").
2. If BitLocker or device encryption is on, select Suspend protection before making firmware changes. Protection resumes after a restart.
3. Make sure your recovery key is saved in your Microsoft account or printed.
4. Change one setting at a time and choose Save and Exit (often F10).

Our guide on turning off BitLocker in Windows 11 explains suspend versus decrypt in more detail. Also, avoid flashing a firmware update unless the manufacturer recommends it for your problem, and keep a laptop plugged in if you do.

A Common Mistake We See

A lot of Windows 11 upgrade questions start with "my PC says it doesn't meet the requirements" on hardware that actually has a TPM. In many cases the chip is present but switched off in the firmware, often labelled Intel PTT or AMD fTPM rather than "TPM". Entering firmware setup and enabling it is usually all that is needed; our guide to enabling TPM 2.0 for Windows 11 lists the common menu names.

The second mistake is switching the boot mode from Legacy to UEFI on an existing installation without converting the disk to GPT first. Windows then fails to start. Convert the disk with Microsoft's MBR2GPT tool before you flip that setting, or leave it alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access BIOS in Windows 11 without restarting manually?

Run shutdown /r /fw /t 0 from an administrator Command Prompt or Terminal. On a UEFI PC, Windows restarts and opens the firmware setup screen directly, without the Advanced startup menu or any key presses. Save your work first, because the restart happens immediately with a zero-second timer.

What key do I press to enter BIOS on Windows 11?

There is no single key; it depends on the manufacturer. Dell uses F2, most self-built desktop motherboards use Delete or F2, and other laptops commonly use F2, F10, F1 or Esc. Surface devices use the volume-up button instead. The Settings method avoids the guesswork entirely.

How do I access the BIOS on Windows 10?

Go to Settings → Update & Security → Recovery, select Restart now under Advanced startup, then choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → UEFI Firmware Settings → Restart. You can also tap your PC's setup key at power-on, exactly as on Windows 11.

Why does my PC boot straight into Windows when I press F2?

Fast-booting SSD systems and Windows Fast Startup can skip the window where the key is read. Hold Shift while clicking Shut down to do a full shutdown, then power on and tap the key immediately, or use the UEFI Firmware Settings option from Advanced startup instead.

Is it safe to change settings in the BIOS?

Viewing settings is safe, and common changes such as enabling TPM, Secure Boot or virtualisation are routine. Problems come from changing several things at once or altering boot mode and storage settings. Suspend BitLocker first, change one setting at a time, and use the "Load Defaults" option if something goes wrong.

Will entering the BIOS affect my Windows activation?

No. Opening firmware setup and changing settings such as TPM or Secure Boot does not affect your Windows licence. Activation is tied to the hardware and your digital licence, not to firmware settings. Replacing the motherboard is different, and may need the licence to be reactivated.

Conclusion

The easiest way to access BIOS in Windows 11 is Settings → System → Recovery → Advanced startup → Restart now, then UEFI Firmware Settings; fall back to the startup key if that option is missing. Once TPM and Secure Boot are enabled, your PC is ready for an upgrade, and our Windows 11 collection has genuine Home and Pro product keys delivered instantly by email.

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