The easiest way to enter the BIOS on Windows 10 is from Settings: go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, click Restart now under Advanced startup, then choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart. Your PC restarts straight into the BIOS (UEFI) setup. You can also press the BIOS key as the PC starts, usually F2, Delete, F10, or F1, depending on the brand.
Note: Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) now run until October 12, 2027. These steps still work on Windows 10, but upgrading to Windows 11 is the long-term way to keep getting security fixes.
Method 1: Enter the BIOS from Windows 10 Settings
- Click Start > Settings (or press Windows + I).
- Click Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Advanced startup, click Restart now. Save your work first.
- On the blue Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot.
- Click Advanced options, then UEFI Firmware Settings.
- Click Restart. The PC opens the BIOS setup.
A faster way to reach the blue menu: hold Shift while you click Restart in the Start menu’s power options.
If you don’t see UEFI Firmware Settings, your PC uses an older Legacy BIOS or is set to boot in Legacy mode. Use Method 2 instead.
Method 2: Press the BIOS key at startup
- Shut down the PC completely.
- Press the power button, then immediately tap the BIOS key repeatedly (about twice a second) until the setup screen appears.
| Brand | BIOS key |
|---|---|
| Dell | F2 |
| HP | F10 (or Esc for the startup menu) |
| Lenovo (laptops) | F2 or Fn + F2, or the Novo button |
| Lenovo ThinkPad and desktops | F1 (or Enter, then F1) |
| Acer | F2 or Delete |
| ASUS | F2 (laptops), Delete (desktops) |
| MSI, Gigabyte, ASRock | Delete (F2 also works on some boards) |
| Microsoft Surface | Hold Volume Up, then press and release Power |
| Samsung | F2 |
| Toshiba / Dynabook | F2 |
Many PCs briefly show “Press F2 to enter setup” or a similar message at startup. If the Windows logo appears, you missed the window. Restart and try again. If you only want to start from a USB stick once, the one-time boot menu in booting Windows 10 from USB skips the BIOS screens entirely.
Method 3: Use a command
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
shutdown /r /fw /t 0
This restarts the PC directly into the UEFI firmware settings. It only works on UEFI systems.
Common things to change in the BIOS
| Setting | Why you’d change it | Usually found under |
|---|---|---|
| Boot order / Boot priority | Start from a USB drive to install or repair Windows | Boot |
| TPM (Intel PTT / AMD fTPM) | Windows 11 requirements, BitLocker | Security or Advanced |
| Secure Boot | Windows 11 requirements, some games’ anti-cheat | Boot or Security |
| Virtualization (Intel VT-x / AMD SVM) | Virtual machines, WSL 2, Android emulators | Advanced or CPU Configuration |
| XMP / EXPO memory profile | Run RAM at its rated speed on desktops | Overclocking or AI Tweaker |
| Date and time | Fix a clock that resets after a dead CMOS battery | Main |
Step-by-step guides: enable TPM in the BIOS, change virtualization settings, and switch from Legacy to UEFI.
If something goes wrong after a change
- Go back into the BIOS and choose Load Optimized Defaults or Load Setup Defaults (often F9), then save and exit.
- If the PC won’t start at all, let it try two or three times; many boards restore defaults automatically after failed boots.
- A BitLocker recovery screen after a change is normal. Enter the key from account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey.
- Don’t set a BIOS supervisor password unless you’ll store it safely; forgetting it can lock you out of firmware settings for good.
Can’t get into the BIOS?
- Turn off Fast Startup. It can skip the moment when the BIOS key works. Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do > Change settings that are currently unavailable, and uncheck Turn on fast startup. Or use Method 1, which bypasses it.
- Use a wired keyboard. Some wireless and Bluetooth keyboards don’t work until Windows loads. Plug into a USB port on the back of a desktop.
- Try the Fn key. On laptops, the BIOS key may need Fn held down.
- Check the monitor cable. On desktops with a graphics card, plug the monitor into the card, not the motherboard, or the BIOS screen may not appear.
Be careful inside the BIOS
BIOS settings control how your PC starts and runs. Change only what you need, like boot order, virtualization, TPM, or Secure Boot. If something goes wrong, look for Load Optimized Defaults or Load Setup Defaults (often F9), then save and exit with F10. If the BIOS clock keeps resetting every time the PC is unplugged, learn how to check whether the CMOS battery is failing before you change anything else.
Related: Open Command Prompt from the BIOS.
Related: Make a bootable Windows 10 USB.
You do not have to restart just to see the firmware release, since you can check the BIOS version from inside Windows 10.
Each maker hides the switch in a different menu, and this Windows 10 virtualization walkthrough has a table of where Lenovo, HP and ASUS put it.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between BIOS and UEFI?
UEFI is the modern replacement for the traditional BIOS. Most PCs from the last decade use UEFI, but people still call its settings screen “the BIOS.”
How do I exit the BIOS?
Press F10 to save and exit, or choose Exit > Save Changes and Exit. To leave without saving, choose Discard Changes and Exit.
Does this work on Windows 11?
Yes. In Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now, then follow the same steps.
Can I enter the BIOS without restarting?
No. The BIOS runs before Windows, so the PC always has to restart to open it.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.