Whether you are using Windows, Linux, or even no operating system at all, the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), or its modern successor UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), is the foundational software that starts your computer. Understanding How To Open Bios is crucial for various tasks, from optimizing system performance through CPU overclocking and setting memory speeds to enabling virtualization and configuring boot order. The BIOS acts as the initial setup program, identifying your hardware components like storage drives, processor, and RAM, and dictating the boot process.
Accessing the BIOS menu is often necessary for customizing your computer’s fundamental settings. Fortunately, there are several methods available to open BIOS, accommodating different PC configurations and operating systems. This guide will walk you through the primary techniques to access your BIOS, ensuring you can confidently manage your system’s firmware settings.
Method 1: Using BIOS Keys at Startup (POST)
The most traditional method to open BIOS involves pressing a specific key during the Power-On Self Test (POST). POST is a quick diagnostic sequence that your computer runs immediately after powering on. If you can press the correct BIOS key before POST completes, you will enter the BIOS setup utility. However, modern computers often boot so rapidly that there is a very short window to press this key.
To use this method effectively, you need to repeatedly press the designated BIOS key as soon as you power on your computer. The BIOS key is specific to your motherboard manufacturer. While the DEL (Delete) key is the most common for desktop motherboards, laptops, ultrabooks, and gaming PCs can vary. Function keys (F1, F2, F10, F12), the ESC key, and the Enter key are also frequently used.
If you are unsure which key to press, observe your screen closely during startup. Some systems display a brief message indicating the BIOS key. If no message appears, try pressing keys like DEL, F2, F12, ESC, or F1 multiple times immediately after powering on. Experimenting with these keys is usually sufficient to find the correct one. DEL and F2 are overwhelmingly the most common BIOS keys across different brands.
Here is a table listing common BIOS keys for various manufacturers to help you quickly open BIOS:
| Manufacturer | BIOS Key(s) |
|---|---|
| ASRock | F2 or DEL |
| ASUS (PCs & Motherboards) | F2 (PCs), F2 or DEL (Motherboards) |
| Acer | F2 or DEL |
| Dell | F2 or F12 |
| ECS | DEL |
| Gigabyte / Aorus | F2 or DEL |
| HP | F10 |
| Lenovo (Consumer Laptops) | F2 or Fn + F2 |
| Lenovo (Desktops) | F1 |
| Lenovo (ThinkPads) | Enter then F1 |
| MSI (Motherboards & PCs) | DEL |
| Microsoft Surface Tablets | Press and hold volume up button |
| Origin PC | F2 |
| Samsung | F2 |
| Toshiba | F2 |
| Zotac | DEL |
Method 2: Accessing BIOS Through Windows Advanced Startup
For systems that boot too quickly to recognize BIOS key presses, or when using USB keyboards that might not initialize in time during POST, Windows offers an alternative method to open BIOS through the Advanced Startup menu. This method works for both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
1. Navigate to Windows Advanced Startup: The quickest way to access Advanced Startup options is by using the Windows search bar. Type “advanced startup” and select the “Change advanced startup options” system setting.
2. Initiate Restart into Advanced Startup: Under the “Advanced startup” section, click the “Restart now” button. This will prepare your computer to boot into the Advanced Startup menu upon the next restart.
3. Choose Troubleshoot Options: After your computer reboots, you will be presented with the “Choose an option” screen. Select “Troubleshoot” to proceed to advanced options.
4. Access Advanced Options: In the “Troubleshoot” menu, click on “Advanced options” to see a range of recovery and startup settings.
5. Select UEFI Firmware Settings: Among the advanced options, you will find “UEFI Firmware Settings”. Click this option. This is the pathway to access your BIOS (UEFI) settings directly from within Windows.
6. Confirm Restart to BIOS: Finally, click “Restart” to confirm that you want to reboot your system into the UEFI Firmware Settings (BIOS). Your computer will restart one last time and boot directly into the BIOS menu.
Method 3: Using a Linux Command to Access BIOS
If your system is running a modern Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu, there’s a command-line method to open BIOS. This method leverages systemd to reboot directly into the firmware interface.
Open a terminal window in your Linux distribution and type the following command:
sudo systemctl reboot --firmwarePress Enter, and you may be prompted to enter your administrator password. After authentication, your system will reboot and directly boot into the BIOS setup utility. This command is a convenient way to access BIOS without needing to time key presses during startup, provided your Linux distribution supports systemd.
Troubleshooting: What to Do If You Can’t Access BIOS
In situations where your operating system fails to boot, or if you are unable to enter BIOS using the methods above, there are still options to open BIOS.
If your computer fails to detect a bootable operating system, it will often pause during startup and display a message prompting you to enter “setup” or BIOS. In this case, follow any on-screen prompts to enter BIOS.
For scenarios where the system POSTs too quickly and then fails to boot the OS (perhaps due to a corrupted bootloader, leading to errors like a blue screen of death in Windows), forcing the system to bypass the normal boot process can help.
One approach is to use an emergency boot disk, such as a Windows installation USB drive. Boot from the USB drive, and when the Windows setup screen appears, select “Repair your computer” instead of “Install now”. Then navigate through Troubleshoot -> UEFI Firmware Settings -> Restart, similar to Method 2, to access the BIOS.
Another technique to force BIOS access is to intentionally create a system error that halts the boot process before OS loading. For desktop PCs, disconnecting the keyboard can sometimes trigger an error message during POST, giving you an option to enter BIOS. Alternatively, on some systems, starting the computer without a primary internal storage drive connected can also lead to an error, prompting BIOS access. However, exercise caution when disconnecting hardware and ensure you reconnect everything properly afterward.
Conclusion
Knowing how to open BIOS is an essential skill for anyone managing their computer’s hardware and system settings. Whether you prefer the traditional method of BIOS keys, the convenience of Windows Advanced Startup, or the command-line approach in Linux, you now have a comprehensive toolkit to access your system’s firmware. Remember to proceed with caution when making changes within the BIOS menu to avoid unintended consequences to your system’s operation.
