Review this tutorial for a stepwise guide to Open BIOS In Windows 7, 10, and Mac. Get to know different solutions if unable to enter BIOS:
Whatever be your Operating System, it is always your BIOS that calls the shots. Whether you want to fix or change something integral on your system, you will need to get into BIOS.
Inside it, you can set a password, change the boot sequence, manage hardware, etc. It is easy to get into BIOS but you should be careful while you are making changes. One wrong click and you can mess up your system. So, when you are in there, don’t change anything if you don’t know anything about them.
In this article, we will tell you how to open BIOS easily and swiftly. We will also tell you which hotkeys to use and what to do if you encounter any errors while opening the BIOS.
Table of Contents:
What Is BIOS
Basic Input/Output System or BIOS, as we know it, is the built-in core processor software. It is the motherboard of your system. It controls the booting of your system and acts as a catalyst for the functions of your PC. The system manages the data flow between the OS and attached devices like mouse, hard drive, printer, keyboard, video adapter, etc.
It is stored on a memory chip that retains data when you turn off the system. When you turn on your PC, BIOS goes through a process to determine if the attached devices are in the proper place and running properly. The process is called Power-On Self Test, or POST.
If everything is fine, your system starts as usual. And if it detects a problem, you will see an error screen or beeping sounds, indicating there is something wrong with your system.
Recommended Reading =>> Complete guide to Update BIOS on Windows
How To Open BIOS: Step-by-Step Guide
Here we will discuss the step-by-step process of entering BIOS in both Windows 10 and Windows 7. And we will also talk about opening BIOS in Mac.
Opening BIOS In Windows 10
Follow these steps to open BIOS in Windows 10:
#1) Go to the Start menu and find the PC settings.
#2) Go to ‘Update and recovery’ or ‘Update and security.
#3) Click on recovery
#4) Next, click on restart now.
#5) After the system restarts, instead of your typical login, you will see a different screen. Select Troubleshoot.
#6) Click on the Advanced Options.
#7) Select UEFI Firmware Settings in the Advanced Option window.
This will take you inside the BIOS of Windows 10. This is how to open BIOS in Windows 8 as well.
Opening BIOS In Windows 7
Opening BIOS in Windows 7 is a little complicated as compared to Windows 10.
Follow the steps below to open the BIOS menu in Windows 7:
#1) Turn off your system. In Windows 7, you can only open the BIOS before you see the logo of MS Windows 7.
#2) Turn on your system and press the BIOS key combination. Different brands use different BIOS keys. Modern motherboards usually use the DEL key.
If you have no idea about the hotkey for your computer, try to look if a message comes up during the reboot telling you which key to press for entering BIOS. Or, you can hit the function keys. The DEL key, enter key, or the ESC key. Usually, it is one of these keys. Here’s a list of BIOS hotkeys by brand. And do not release the function key until you see the BIOS screen display.
F2 key for:
- ASRock
- ASUS PCs and Motherboards
- Acer
- Dell
- Gigabyte / Aorus
- Lenovo Laptops
- Origin PC
- Samsung
- Toshiba
DEL key for:
- ASRock
- ASUS Motherboards
- Acer
- ECS
- Gigabyte / Aorus
- MSI
- Zotac
F12 key for Del
F10 for HP
F1 for Lenovo Desktops
Enter then F1 for Lenovo Thinkpads
Press and hold volume up button Microsoft Surface Tablets.
#3) Use the arrow keys to highlight an option and hit enter to select it.
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#4) Use + and – keys or page up and page down keys to change a setting. And use ESC to return to the previous menu. Usually, you will find all the information about hotkeys at the bottom of the BIOS screen.
#5) When you are done with BIOS, click F10 to save the settings and reboot your system.
Opening BIOS In Mac
Technically, Macbooks don’t come with BIOS, but they have a similar boot firmware called Open firmware or Extensible Firmware Interface. They serve the same purpose as BIOS. You should be extra careful while you are making changes to this interface. One mistake can damage your Macbook permanently.
- Turn off your Macbook.
- Power it on.
- Now hold down command and option keys and letters O and F before the system starts up.
- Hold down the keys until you see a prompt screen.
You are in the BIOS settings of your Macbook.
Unable to Enter BIOS: Solutions
Many Windows users have reported issues while opening the BIOS. What should be done in such cases?
You might get various error messages like:
- Boot failure
- Missing OS
- Invalid system disk
- NT boot loader missing
- Hard disk error, etc.
Let’s start with the simplest solutions and move to more complicated ones.
#1) Disconnect All USB Drives
If you have configured a USB device to be the first bootable device and you have left a non-bootable USB drive plugged in your system, your system will not boot. Just remove the USB drive and try again. When you are able to access BIOS, you can change the settings to skip the USB as a bootable device.
Also Read =>> USB Drive not showing up error
#2) Check And Change Drive Boot Order
You should change the boot order on Windows 7 if you use USB to speed up your system with the Windows ReadyBoost feature. Or, you frequently use it to shuttle information between systems. Or, you use USB frequently for any other reason.
But leave it at the top of the boot order if you run diagnostic programs or install OS from USB frequently, or you don’t or rarely use them for data transfer. To change the boot order, go to BIOS, select set the drive boot order, and put the optical drive first, followed by the hard disk. You will never face this error again.
#3) Remove BIOS Battery
This method is a little complicated since you will need to open up your laptop or PC. If you don’t have any experience with pulling the system apart, visit the authorized repair shop.
For a Laptop,
- Shut down your system.
- Remove all the external hardware and cables.
- Remove the external battery.
- Unplug the device from the wall socket.
- Open the back panel of your laptop.
- Inside a special enclosure will be the BIOS battery, plugged into the motherboard with a white connector.
- Unplug the connector and plug it back in.
- Put the battery in.
- Start your laptop and try opening the BIOS again.
For a Desktop,
- Shut down your system.
- Remove all the external hardware like HDMI cables and USB.
- Unplug the power cord.
- Remove the casing.
- The location of the BIOS battery will depend on the motherboard model you are using.
- Look for a flat battery, like the ones in the watches.
- Carefully remove that battery.
- Wait for 15 minutes and insert the battery again.
- Fix the panel and start your system and try opening the BIOS again.
This should sort out your issues in opening the BIOS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q #1) Can I enter BIOS without restarting my system?
Answer: Not Really. But if you have Windows 10, you don’t have to keep pressing a button to boot in BIOS. From the Settings, go to Update and Security or Update and Recovery. Go to Recovery and select Restart Now from under the Advanced Startup menu.
The system will restart in recovery mode, click on Troubleshoot, go to Advanced Option and select UEFI Firmware Settings. You will be in the BIOS of Window 10.
Q #2) What is UEFI mode?
Answer: UEFI or, Unified Extensible Firmware Interface is a specification defining a software interface linking the platform firmware and OS. It supports remote diagnostics along with repairing the computers even when you don’t have an OS installed.
Q #3) How to reset the BIOS Settings?
Answer: Enter the BIOS setup. By pressing F9, you can automatically load the default factory settings. Highlight what you want to change and press enter. To save the changes and to exit the BIOS setup, press F10.
Q #4) Can I get into BIOS without UEFI?
Answer: Yes, you can. Just hold down the shift key when you are shutting down your system. It will bypass Windows 10 fast startup and the computer will shut down to an absolute power-off state.
Now, if you restart, your system will complete the startup before it reboots. And when it restarts, you will need to press a key repeatedly to enter the BIOS setup. The key is often displayed on the startup or you can find out from your manufacturer.
Conclusion
BIOS is the base of your system. Open it only when it is absolutely necessary and make changes only when you are sure about what you are doing. One wrong change and your system will be damaged beyond your capacities of repair. Sometimes, the damage could be permanent. So, if you have no idea about the BIOS, the best thing to do is call an expert.