How to Enter UEFI/BIOS on Windows 11 (and Fix Boot-to-BIOS Loops)

The quickest way to reach UEFI firmware settings on Windows 11 is Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now, then Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings. You can also press your manufacturer’s setup key (usually F2, Del or F10) at power-on, or run shutdown /r /fw /t 0 as an administrator.

UEFI vs BIOS: what is the difference?

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is the modern replacement for the old BIOS. Both are firmware that start your hardware and hand over to the operating system, but UEFI supports GPT drives larger than 2 TB, Secure Boot, faster start-up and a mouse-driven interface. Most people still say “BIOS” when they mean UEFI.

The distinction matters for Windows 11. Microsoft lists UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability as a minimum requirement, alongside TPM 2.0. If you are checking whether an older PC qualifies, our guide to Windows 11 system requirements, TPM and Secure Boot covers each check in detail.

To see which mode your PC uses, press Win + R, type msinfo32 and look at BIOS Mode. “UEFI” means you can use every method below; “Legacy” means you will need the key-press method.

How to enter UEFI from Windows 11 Settings

Use Advanced startup in Settings. It restarts the PC into the Windows Recovery Environment, where a UEFI Firmware Settings option reboots you straight into the firmware. This is the most reliable route on laptops with fast boot, where the setup key is easy to miss.

1. Save your work and close open apps.
2. Open Settings (Win + I) and go to System > Recovery.
3. Next to Advanced startup, select Restart now, then confirm with Restart now again.
4. On the blue “Choose an option” screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
5. Select UEFI Firmware Settings, then Restart. The PC reboots into the firmware setup.

If UEFI Firmware Settings is missing from the menu, your PC is almost certainly running in Legacy/CSM mode, or the firmware does not expose the option. Use the manufacturer key instead. The option is also unavailable during a Remote Desktop session.

BIOS keys by manufacturer

If Windows will not start, press the setup key repeatedly from the moment you power on until the firmware screen appears. F2 and Del cover most machines; HP uses F10 and Lenovo desktops use F1. A fully shut down PC (not a restart from sleep) gives you the best chance.

Keys change between product lines, so treat this table as a starting point and check the start-up splash screen or your model’s manual if nothing works. On laptops with a function-key row that defaults to media controls, you may need to hold Fn as well, or toggle Fn Lock (often Fn + Esc) first.

Other ways in: command line and the sign-in screen

There are two more shortcuts. From an administrator Terminal, shutdown /r /fw /t 0 restarts straight into firmware. From the sign-in or Start menu power button, hold Shift while clicking Restart to open the recovery menu without signing in to Settings.

Using the shutdown command

1. Right-click Start and choose Terminal (Admin).
2. Type shutdown /r /fw /t 0 and press Enter.

The switches, documented in Microsoft’s shutdown command reference, mean restart (/r), go to firmware (/fw) and wait zero seconds (/t 0). If you get an error, the system is probably booting in Legacy mode; shutdown /r /o /t 0 opens the Advanced startup menu instead.

Using Shift + Restart

Hold Shift, click Power > Restart on the Start menu or sign-in screen, then follow Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings. This is handy if you have forgotten a password or Settings will not open.

PC keeps booting to BIOS? How to fix it

A PC that lands in the BIOS/UEFI screen every time it starts usually cannot find a bootable drive. The cause is normally a wrong boot order, a missing Windows Boot Manager entry, a firmware reset that changed the boot mode, or a drive that is disconnected or failing.

Work through these checks in order. Most are quick and none of them touch your files.

1. Check the drive is detected. In the firmware, look at the storage or NVMe information page. If the drive is not listed, power off, unplug, and reseat the SATA or M.2 drive (desktops), or contact the manufacturer if it is a sealed laptop.
2. Set Windows Boot Manager first. In the Boot tab, move Windows Boot Manager to the top of the boot priority list. A USB stick or a network boot (PXE/IPv4) entry above it can stall start-up.
3. Match the boot mode to how Windows was installed. If a CMOS reset or firmware update switched CSM/Legacy on, a GPT Windows 11 install will not start. Set boot mode to UEFI and disable CSM, then save.
4. Remove USB drives and discs and try again. Some firmware drops to setup if it finds a non-bootable device first.
5. Check the CMOS battery. If the clock resets and you see settings or checksum warnings at every start, the coin-cell battery on a desktop board may need replacing.
6. Load optimised defaults, then reapply UEFI mode and the boot order. Save with F10 (on most boards) and restart.
7. Repair the boot files. If the drive is visible but Windows Boot Manager is not, boot from a Windows 11 USB, choose Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Command Prompt, and rebuild the boot files with bcdboot C:\Windows (replace C: with the letter of your Windows partition in that environment).

If you do not have install media to hand, our walkthrough to create a Windows 11 bootable USB takes about 20 minutes. If the drive is detected intermittently or makes noises, back up your data before anything else; a failing drive often shows up first as this exact symptom.

Once Windows starts again and you have run a system file repair such as DISM /RestoreHealth, it is worth confirming that Windows 11 is still activated.

Which UEFI settings are safe to change?

Boot order, boot mode, Secure Boot, TPM (often called PTT on Intel or fTPM on AMD), virtualisation and fan settings are generally safe to change. Avoid voltage, memory timing and overclocking options unless you know exactly what they do, and always note the original value first.

A few practical points from support tickets we see regularly:

• BitLocker: changing Secure Boot or TPM settings can trigger a BitLocker recovery prompt at next start. Make sure you know where your recovery key is before you change them.
• Virtualisation: Intel VT-x or AMD SVM must be enabled in UEFI before Hyper-V, WSL or Android emulators will run.
• Firmware updates: only install them from your PC or motherboard maker’s support site, and keep the laptop on mains power throughout.
• Activation: firmware settings do not change your Windows licence. A new motherboard does, which is covered in our guide to Windows activation after a hardware change.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get into BIOS on Windows 11 without restarting?

You cannot. Firmware settings only load before Windows starts, so a restart is always required. The quickest route is Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now, then Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings, which avoids having to time a key press during start-up.

Why is UEFI Firmware Settings missing from Advanced options?

The option only appears when Windows booted in UEFI mode and the firmware supports restarting into setup. If your PC is in Legacy/CSM mode, or the manufacturer has not implemented the feature, it is hidden. Check BIOS Mode in msinfo32, and use your manufacturer’s setup key instead.

Is UEFI the same as BIOS?

Not quite. UEFI replaced the traditional BIOS on most PCs built since around 2012, adding Secure Boot, GPT drive support and faster start-up. People still call the UEFI setup screen “the BIOS”, and many manufacturers label it that way, so the terms are used interchangeably in everyday speech.

Why does my computer keep booting into BIOS?

It usually cannot find a bootable drive. Check that the drive appears in the firmware, put Windows Boot Manager first in the boot order, make sure boot mode is UEFI rather than Legacy, and remove USB devices. If the drive is not detected at all, it may be loose or failing.

Will changing BIOS settings deactivate Windows?

No. Boot order, Secure Boot, TPM and similar settings do not affect activation. Windows checks your hardware, mainly the motherboard, so only a board replacement normally causes a problem. Changing TPM or Secure Boot can trigger a BitLocker recovery prompt, though, so keep your recovery key available.

What does shutdown /r /fw do?

It restarts the PC and tells the firmware to open its setup screen on the next boot. Run it from an administrator Terminal as shutdown /r /fw /t 0 to restart immediately. It only works on PCs booting in UEFI mode; Legacy systems return an error instead.

The bottom line

On any UEFI-based Windows 11 PC, Advanced startup in Settings is the easiest way into the firmware, with the setup key or shutdown /r /fw as fallbacks. If the PC keeps landing in BIOS, fix the boot order and boot mode before assuming the worst. For a clean rebuild afterwards, follow our Windows 11 download, install and activation guide.

Useful links