How to Change Computer BIOS Settings on a Windows PC: Guide

Do you need to change or set up your computer's BIOS settings? The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) boots up your computer and manages the data flow between the operating system (OS) and attached devices. Since the BIOS is tied to a computer's motherboard, the appearance of each BIOS will vary slightly by manufacturer. This wikiHow will show you how to access and adjust the BIOS settings for your Windows 8, 10, or 11 computer. We've also spoken with some computer specialists and included some of their best BIOS tips.

Changing BIOS Settings

The most common way to access the BIOS settings is to press a specific key at startup. The key varies depending on what kind of computer you have, but it's typically F2, F10, Del, or Esc. You'll usually see it displayed during the power-on self-test (POST).

Section 1 of 4:

Entering the BIOS on Startup

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Turn on your computer. You'll only be able to access the BIOS upon startup.^{[1]
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- If your computer is already on, you'll need to restart your computer.
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Press Del or F2 to enter setup. You can press and hold or repeatedly press this button. According to computer and tech specialist Luigi Oppido, the BIOS button could be F1, F2, F10, F12, or Del, but this could vary depending on your device.^{[2]
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- Here's a list of some of the most common setup keys by manufacturer:
  - Acer: F2 or Del
  - ASUS: F2 or Del
  - Dell: F2
  - HP: Esc or F10
  - Lenovo: F1
    - According to computer repair specialist Blain Gunter, some Lenovo computers have a reset hole on the bottom. You can use a paperclip to press this button for 30 seconds, which will clear the BIOS. However, not every Lenovo has this button.^{[3]
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  - MSI: Del
  - Microsoft Surface Tablets: Press and hold the volume-up button.
  - Origin PC: Del
  - Samsung: F2
  - Sony: F2
  - Toshiba: F2
- It's best to start pressing the setup key as soon as the computer begins to restart.
- If you see "Press [key] to enter setup" or something similar flash across the bottom of the screen and then disappear, you'll need to restart your computer and try again.
- Look at your computer model's manual or online support page to confirm your computer's BIOS key.
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Wait for your BIOS to load. After successfully hitting the setup key, the BIOS will load. This should only take a few moments. When the loading is complete, you will be taken to the BIOS settings menu.
- You can now update your computer's BIOS.
- This is the quickest way to enter the BIOS, but you can also access the BIOS through the Windows Settings.

Section 2 of 4:

Entering the BIOS with Settings

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Open Settings on your computer. Click the Start menu, then click the cog icon to open Settings.^{[4]
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- Use this method to enter the BIOS from your Windows Settings rather than a setup key.
This will be towards the bottom of the screen.
This is in the left panel, underneath Troubleshoot.
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Click Restart now. This will be underneath the Advanced startup header.
- Your computer will restart, then load a special menu.
Within the Troubleshoot window, select Advanced Options, then UEFI Firmware Settings.^{[5]
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Your computer will restart and enter the BIOS.^{[6]
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Section 3 of 4:

Changing BIOS Settings

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Since BIOS menus don't support mouse input, you'll need to use the arrow keys and other computer-specific keys to navigate the BIOS. You can usually find a list of controls in the bottom-right corner of the BIOS homepage.
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Change your settings carefully. When adjusting your BIOS settings, be sure you are certain what the settings will affect. Changing settings incorrectly can lead to system or hardware failure.
- If you don't know what you want to change coming into the BIOS, you probably shouldn't change anything.
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Change the boot order. If you want to change what device to boot from, enter the Boot menu. From here, you can designate which device the computer will attempt to boot from first. This is useful for booting from a disc or flash drive to install or repair an operating system.
- You'll typically use the arrow keys to go over to the Boot tab to start this process.
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Create a BIOS password. You can create a password that will lock the computer from booting unless the correct password is entered.
- You can always reset your BIOS password later.
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Change your date and time. Your BIOS’s clock will dictate your Windows clock. If you replace your computer's battery, your BIOS clock will most likely be reset.
- According to the computer and phone repair specialists at Mobile Kangaroo, you can also change your BIOS settings to turn your computer on at a specific time. Look for "RTC Alarm" or "Power On Alarm" to change this setting.^{[7]
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These options are for advanced users only. In this menu, you can overclock your CPU, potentially allowing for higher performance. This should be performed only if you are comfortable with your computer’s hardware.
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Save and exit. When you are finished adjusting your settings, you will need to save and exit by using your BIOS' "Save and Exit" key in order for your changes to take effect. When you save and restart, your computer will reboot with the new settings.
- Check the BIOS key legend to see which key is the "Save and Exit" key.

Section 4 of 4:

FAQ

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What is the BIOS? BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is firmware, which is embedded software that acts as an interface between the operating system software and the computer hardware. The BIOS makes sure your computer hardware is working properly before the operating system loads, and it manages the data flow between your OS, hard drives, and peripherals (your mouse, keyboard, etc.).
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What is the difference between BIOS and UEFI? BIOS and UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) are both firmware and have a similar function. UEFI has replaced BIOS, but they are compatible with one another.^{[8]
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- Despite UEFI replacing BIOS, many people colloquially still refer to UEFI as BIOS. This can be confusing, especially with the advent of Windows 11. Windows 10 has both UEFI and Legacy BIOS modes, but Windows 11 only supports UEFI mode.^{[9]
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What happens if I change my BIOS settings? Changing your BIOS settings can make your computer faster and more stable, but it can also make your computer completely unusable. Only change BIOS settings if you're 100% certain changing a setting won't wreck your system.
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How do I reset my BIOS settings? The easiest way to reset your BIOS settings is to remove the CMOS battery. There is a coin battery on your motherboard called the CMOS battery. This battery stores your BIOS settings as well as the date and time. First, power down your computer. Then, open up your case and press down on the lever to remove the CMOS battery. After a few seconds, put the battery back in. Your BIOS settings will be reset to the default.
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Do I ever need to update my BIOS? While BIOS updates exist, you rarely need to install them. Updating (also called flashing) your BIOS can be risky if you don't know what you're doing, and can leave your computer completely unusable. You should only update your BIOS if your motherboard manufacturer recommends it, for compatibility with newer CPUs and GPUs, or if your computer is encountering an issue that is known to be fixed by a BIOS update.

Community Q&A

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Question

I cannot change my BIOS settings. I can still access it, but it's all grayed out. I can only change the date and time. What can I do to fix this?

TFG

Community Answer

If all your BIOS items are grayed out (but you can still access it), you probably have the administrator (or setup) password set. To unlock your BIOS, go to the Security tab , find the "Unlock Setup" (or similar) row and type your password into the box. Note that if you enter the password wrong 3 times, you will have to restart your computer, enter the BIOS and then try again.

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How can I bypass the BIOS setup screen so that my PC will start up more quickly?

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You simply cannot. Starting BIOS is a vital part of the start up process of your computer, so you can't skip it.

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How do I access BIOS in Windows 8.1?

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The BIOS depends on your computer's hardware. Try doing a Google search for how to access the BIOS for your computer.

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Tips

Your computer's BIOS settings may be significantly more limited than another computer's BIOS settings.

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Windows 8, 10, and 11 computers tend to have motherboards that make accessing the BIOS incredibly difficult. You'll likely have to restart and try again several times before you reach the BIOS.

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A useful task is to check the boot order. If you have the OS on the hard drive, make sure that the hard drive is the first in the boot order. This can save a few seconds off boot time.

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Warnings

Don't change any settings that you aren't sure about.

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If you are going to flash the BIOS after, do not attempt this. If you have already changed settings, you must reset your BIOS.

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