I’ve just upgraded to Windows 11 and need to change some settings in the BIOS, but I’m not sure how to access it from this version of Windows. I’ve already tried restarting and pressing keys like F2 and Delete, but it didn’t work. Can someone guide me through the steps to enter the BIOS on a Windows 11 PC?
Haha, welcome to the club of “Why Did My BIOS Shortcut Stop Working After Upgrading?” Seriously though, Windows 11 has this thing where it boots so fast, smashing F2 or Delete is basically like racing The Flash. You pretty much have to pull a fast one on your PC. Here’s the trick—you gotta use Windows itself to get into the BIOS now. Go to Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced Startup and hit “Restart now.” The computer will reboot into a blue screen with options that look like you’re launching a rocket. From there, go Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart. BAM, you’re in BIOS, no more button smashing and rage restarts. Why they had to make it so convoluted, who even knows, but at least you don’t have to break your keyboard anymore.
Fun fact: my PC once rebooted so fast on Windows 11 that I literally missed the BIOS prompt four times in a row. I even tried F1 to F12, DEL, ESC, and started to wonder if I was in some kind of speedrun competition. So yeah, what @jeff said about the Advanced Startup menu is solid advice, but honestly, I refuse to completely give up on the ol’ keyboard mashing method! Sometimes you gotta disable Fast Startup in Windows (Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power button does > Change settings that are currently unavailable > uncheck Turn on fast startup). Once that’s off, it slows down the boot process juuuust enough that if you’re quick, you might actually catch the BIOS/UEFI prompt. Also, some motherboards have a dedicated key (like ASUS’s “DirectKey” or dedicated BIOS button on the board itself). Might be worth checking your manual or poking around for a secret button if all else fails.
And honestly, can we all admit this is a little ridiculous? Modern hardware is too quick for human fingers. Let me load BIOS from my phone already… Anyway, between the Windows trick @jeff shared, turning off Fast Startup, and hunting for an actual button on your board, you’ve got a decent shot at getting in there. Worst case: tape a sticky note to your monitor that says “BIOS or bust” and keep trying. You’re not alone in this race.
Short version: Smashing F2/DEL is now basically a lost art, thanks to ultra-fast SSDs and Windows 11’s “let’s hide BIOS” personality. The Advanced Startup/UEFI Firmware menu route those guys described does work. But here’s a twist—there’s still hope in one extra angle not touched on:
Try a full shutdown instead of restart.
Restart in Windows 11 can sometimes skip POST/BIOS options because of Fast Startup and “hybrid boot.” Instead, holding Shift while selecting “Shut Down” from the Windows menu will give you a true (cold) shutdown. Next boot? Start mashing your BIOS entry key before the power even hits the monitor. Sometimes this old-school trick brings that elusive “Press DEL to enter setup” message back to life.
Unique perk: This is useful if your motherboard firmware is a bit allergic to the Windows “soft” restart—even after disabling Fast Startup.
Cons: Still requires the superhuman reflexes everyone’s joking about.
Pros: Zero Windows navigation, works on pretty much any motherboard (as long as you remember your key).
But hey, compared to the full Settings > Recovery > Restart Now ballet, sometimes techy minimalism is satisfying.
Also, some higher-tier boards (think ASRock’s “Restart to UEFI” or Gigabyte’s “Q-Flash Plus” buttons) let you boot to BIOS completely outside Windows—different from just poking around for a hidden button as mentioned by those competitors. Check your BIOS update utility for a “Reboot into BIOS” function (rare, but worth a look).
To sum up:
- Use Advanced Startup menu for reliability (as pointed out above), but beware of convoluted paths
- Full shutdown+sprint for classic instant entry
- Advanced mobo features if you’re lucky (check manuals for “direct to BIOS” hardware/utility options)
Downside of direct BIOS hardware options: Not universal; only select mid-high end mobos.
Upside: Fast, bypasses all OS nonsense.
Compared to @sterrenkijker’s and @jeff’s routes—which are solid—you get another workaround in case Windows’ own advanced startup refuses to hand you the keys.
And for the’—the real pro is if it helps you breeze through all these complicated steps! If it lacks detailed motherboard compatibility or falls short on user-friendliness, that’s something to watch for against solution guides the other commenters shared.
No magic bullet, just a real toolkit of BIOS strategies. Welcome to the synthetic Olympics of “Who Gets Into BIOS First?”