How to Enter BIOS on Windows 10 and 11 PC Without Restarting

Quick Tips

• On Windows 11: Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.
• On Windows 10: Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Restart now > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.

What Is BIOS and How Does It Work?

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) loads and executes the boot loader (usually the hard drive) when the computer is powered on, which loads and executes the operating system. The BIOS sets up the hardware and boots the operating system.

It does this by providing a set of routines that the OS can use to perform basic tasks such as reading and writing to disk, communicating with the keyboard and screen, and so on. However, you must be careful when accessing the BIOS as some options can damage your computer physically.

Is UEFI the Same as BIOS?

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) functions similarly to a BIOS, but it stores all startup and initialization information in a .efi file instead of a firmware file. This is a newer type of BIOS that has several advantages over traditional BIOS, like being faster, more flexible, and easier to update than BIOS.

Note: The BIOS key is not the same for all computer manufacturers. It depends on your computer’s brand. For example, you need to press F2 on newer Dell systems, whereas on HP, F10 and ESC are the BIOS keys. Hence, we recommend checking your instruction manual or the manufacturer’s website. The first splash screen you see when you turn on your computer also contains this information. However, not all computer and laptop models display this information.

How to Access the BIOS on a Windows 11 PC

Step 1: Open Settings or press Win Key + I.

Step 2: Go to System and click on Recovery.

Step 3: Click on Advanced startup.

Note: This step will restart your computer.

Step 4: Now, go to Troubleshoot and click on Advanced options.

Step 5: Click on UEFI Firmware Settings and click on Restart.

It will boot Windows 11’s UEFI BIOS since you are not running on a legacy BIOS.

How to Get Into the BIOS on a Windows 10 PC

Step 1: Open Settings or press Win Key + I.

Step 2: Go to Update & Security.

Step 3: Select Recovery from the sidebar and click Restart now, under Advanced startup.

The following steps are identical to Windows 11. As you choose Advanced startup, you can access boot options.

Step 4: Go to Troubleshoot.

Step 5: Now, click on Advanced options.

Step 6: Click on UEFI Firmware Settings and click on Restart.

There you go, your Windows will boot into UEFI BIOS, and you can take it from there.

FAQs Related to BIOS on Windows

BIOS has been an integral part of Windows since its inception. Before Windows 8, the BIOS was difficult to access because each manufacturer had different keys that needed to be pressed. The way things are done has changed dramatically and has become much more effortless.