Use bcdedit /timeout <seconds> to control how long Windows Boot Manager waits at the boot menu, and bcdedit /default <ID> to choose which boot entry starts automatically when that wait ends. They complement each other: /default selects the entry, while /timeout sets the time available to make a different choice.
BCDEdit edits Windows Boot Configuration Data (BCD), so open an elevated Command Prompt before changing either setting. Microsoft documents BCDEdit as a built-in Windows utility and requires administrative privileges for modifications (Microsoft Learn: bcdedit).
What the two options change
| Option | Value supplied | Effect | When it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
/timeout |
Number of seconds | Sets how long Boot Manager displays the boot menu before selecting the default entry | During the countdown before automatic startup |
/default |
Boot-entry identifier | Chooses the entry Boot Manager starts when the timeout expires | At the end of the countdown |
Microsoft describes the timeout value as “time to wait, in seconds” and the selected item as the “default entry” (/timeout reference; /default reference).
Before you edit the BCD store
- Sign in with an account that can approve administrator prompts.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator: press Start, type Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator, and approve User Account Control.
- List the entries on this computer before selecting an identifier:
bcdedit /enum
The output contains identifiers for the local entries. Use the identifier shown on your own system; do not copy a GUID from a documentation example. Names such as {current} and {default} have different meanings: {current} refers to the operating system currently running, while {default} refers to Boot Manager’s default application entry (Boot Options Identifiers).
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Set the boot-menu wait with /timeout
Command
bcdedit /timeout <timeout>
Replace <timeout> with seconds. For example:
bcdedit /timeout 30
This sets a 30-second Boot Manager countdown. When 30 seconds pass without a selection, Windows starts the entry configured as default. A shorter value makes routine boots faster but leaves less time to choose another listed system; a longer value keeps the menu available for troubleshooting or switching operating systems. Microsoft gives 30 seconds as an example and explains the trade-off between quicker test cycles and more selection time (Microsoft Learn: BCDEdit /timeout; Edit Boot Options in Windows Using BCDEdit).
Choose the automatic entry with /default
Command
bcdedit /default <ID>
First run bcdedit /enum, identify the entry you want, then substitute its identifier. A typical command has this form:
bcdedit /default {GUID-from-your-enum-output}
The braces and identifier must match the entry displayed on your computer. Microsoft’s GUID in an example is illustrative, not a universal identifier. You can also use a documented well-known identifier when it matches your intent, but remember that {current} means the running operating system and {default} means the boot manager’s current default entry; they are not interchangeable (Microsoft Learn: BCDEdit /default; Changing the Default Boot Entry).
Change both settings safely
- Display and read the local entries:
bcdedit /enum - Set the entry that should start automatically:
bcdedit /default {your-entry-identifier} - Set the amount of time available at the menu:
bcdedit /timeout 10 - Close the elevated Command Prompt.
- Perform a normal Windows shutdown and restart. Microsoft’s command reference says a shutdown and reboot are necessary so BCD changes are flushed to disk (bcdedit command reference).
Choose the timeout independently of the default. For example, a 10-second timeout and a Windows 11 entry as default means that entry starts after 10 seconds unless you select another item first.
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Safety checks and recovery considerations
Use an administrator prompt
Without elevation, BCDEdit may refuse to write the store. Reopen Command Prompt with Run as administrator rather than retrying from a standard window.
Consider BitLocker and Secure Boot state
Microsoft notes that BitLocker may need to be suspended and Secure Boot disabled before setting some BCDEdit options. That is configuration-dependent, not a universal instruction to turn either feature off. Follow the guidance for the specific option and recovery environment involved (Microsoft’s boot-option guidance).
Understand the risk
Microsoft warns: “Changing some boot entry options by using the BCDEdit /set command could make your computer inoperable.” That warning is specifically about /set; it does not mean these two boot-manager options always produce that result. Nevertheless, verify the identifier from bcdedit /enum, avoid editing unrelated entries, and make sure you can reach Windows recovery tools before making boot changes (BCDEdit Command-Line Options).
If you prefer a graphical tool
For readers who do not want to edit BCD directly, Microsoft points to System Configuration (MSConfig) as an alternative for changing boot settings (Edit Boot Options in Windows Using BCDEdit).
Quick Recap
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Common mistakes
- Using the wrong identifier: copying a GUID from a web page instead of reading the local
bcdedit /enumoutput. - Confusing the settings:
/timeoutchanges only the countdown; it does not choose another operating system. - Expecting immediate behavior: restart normally after editing so Windows writes and uses the updated BCD store.
- Removing the selection window unintentionally: a very short timeout can make it difficult to choose another entry during startup.
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