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BIOS/UEFI and boot menu keys

The key to enter the BIOS/UEFI or open the boot menu varies by manufacturer, and sometimes by product line. Type a brand or a model: for example thinkpad, dell or rog.

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    These keys were cross-checked against online sources (including the support pages of ASUS and Samsung, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, Microsoft, Apple, LG, Huawei, Framework and Intel). They can vary with the exact model and year: if it fails, check the manual or the model's support page. A wrong change in the BIOS can prevent the PC from booting: write down the original settings. On a company-managed PC, access may be password-protected: don't bypass it without authorization, ask your IT department.

    Good to know

    Boot menu or BIOS, which one?

    The boot menu picks the boot device just once: an installation USB drive, a diagnostic tool. It is the simplest way to reinstall a system. The BIOS/UEFI gives access to permanent settings: boot order, Secure Boot, TPM, virtualization, SATA mode. This is where you enable, for example, the TPM 2.0 required by Windows 11.

    Enter UEFI from the operating system

    On a PC that boots in UEFI mode, you can ask the system to restart directly into the firmware, without guessing the key. Windows 11: Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now, then Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings. Windows 10: Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup, then the same sequence of options. From the command line:

    shutdown /r /fw /t 0

    Windows, in an elevated command prompt.

    systemctl reboot --firmware-setup

    Linux (systemd).

    If the key doesn't respond

    Recent PCs boot so fast that the window to press the key is very short. Tap the key repeatedly as soon as you power on instead of holding it. Shut down completely rather than restarting (with Windows Fast Startup a shutdown is not a full one: Shift + click on Shut down forces a full shutdown). On a laptop, try Fn (Fn + F2). Use a wired keyboard plugged directly into the PC.

    Full list

    Show all 23 entries

    • Acer

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 (Del on some desktops) | Boot menu : F12

      Aspire, Swift, Nitro, Predator, TravelMate, Extensa

    • ASUS : VivoBook

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 (held down while pressing Power) | Boot menu : Esc held down while pressing Power, released when the menu appears

      VivoBook, ZenBook, ExpertBook, laptops in general

    • ASUS : ROG

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 | Boot menu : Esc held down at startup

      ROG, TUF Gaming (laptops)

    • ASUS : Motherboards and desktops

      BIOS/UEFI : Del (or F2) | Boot menu : F8

      Motherboards and desktops

    • Dell

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 | Boot menu : F12

      Latitude, XPS, Inspiron, Vostro, Precision, OptiPlex

    • HP

      BIOS/UEFI : Esc then F10 | Boot menu : Esc then F9

      Pavilion, EliteBook, ProBook, ZBook, Omen, Envy, Spectre

    • Lenovo : ThinkPad

      BIOS/UEFI : Enter then F1 (or F1 directly) | Boot menu : Enter then F12 (or F12 directly)

      ThinkPad

    • Lenovo : ThinkCentre

      BIOS/UEFI : F1 | Boot menu : F12

      ThinkCentre, ThinkStation

    • Lenovo : IdeaPad

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 (or Fn + F2) | Boot menu : F12 (or Fn + F12)

      IdeaPad, Yoga, Legion (laptops)

    • MSI

      BIOS/UEFI : Del | Boot menu : F11

      Motherboards, desktops, laptops

    • Gigabyte, Aorus : Motherboards and desktops

      BIOS/UEFI : Del | Boot menu : F12

      Motherboards and desktops

    • Gigabyte, Aorus : Laptops

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 | Boot menu : F12

      Laptops

    • ASRock

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 or Del | Boot menu : F11

      Motherboards

    • Microsoft

      BIOS/UEFI : Hold Volume + then press Power | Boot menu : Hold Volume − then press Power

      Surface Pro 6 and later, Laptop 2 and later, Go 2 and later, Book 2 and 3

    • Apple : Intel Mac

      BIOS/UEFI : No BIOS | Boot menu : Hold Option (⌥) at startup

      Intel Mac

    • Apple : Apple Silicon Mac (M1 and later)

      BIOS/UEFI : No BIOS | Boot menu : Hold the power button until the startup options appear

      Apple Silicon Mac (M1 and later)

    • Samsung

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 | Boot menu : F10 (or Esc depending on the model)

      Galaxy Book, laptops

    • Toshiba, Dynabook

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 (or F1) | Boot menu : F12

      Satellite, Tecra, Portégé

    • Fujitsu

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 | Boot menu : F12

      Lifebook, Esprimo

    • LG

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 | Boot menu : F10

      gram

    • Huawei

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 | Boot menu : F12

      MateBook

    • Framework

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 | Boot menu : F12

      Framework Laptop

    • Intel

      BIOS/UEFI : F2 | Boot menu : F10

      NUC

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