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To “activate BIOS,” restart your computer and open its BIOS/UEFI setup utility, then change only the setting you need. On Windows 11, use Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now, followed by Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart. If Windows will not start, use the startup key specified for your exact computer model.
BIOS is the familiar name many people use for firmware setup; modern PCs commonly present the interface as UEFI. There is no universal key or menu layout, and entering the utility does not itself activate a license or make a setting available.
What BIOS or UEFI setup does
Firmware starts before Windows and provides controls for startup and certain hardware and security features. Depending on the computer, setup may let you choose a startup device, configure Secure Boot or TPM, or enable processor virtualization. Manufacturers and models vary: an option may have a different name, be absent, or be restricted. Use the documentation for your precise model to identify the correct setting and procedure.
Microsoft advises: “Only change what you need to in the UEFI (or BIOS).” Microsoft’s virtualization instructions explain how to reach firmware settings and direct users to maker-specific guidance.
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How do I enter UEFI settings in Windows 11?
- Save your work and close open applications.
- Open Settings > System > Recovery.
- Beside Advanced startup, select Restart now.
- In Windows Recovery Environment, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.
The computer restarts into its firmware utility. It may label the menu BIOS, UEFI, or UEFI Firmware Settings. If UEFI Firmware Settings is not shown, consult the computer maker’s documentation; availability and recovery-menu options depend on the device.
Windows 10 route
In Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, then use the Advanced startup restart option. Continue through the recovery menus to UEFI Firmware Settings if that option is available. Menu wording can vary by Windows version and device.
Which key opens BIOS on my computer?
The startup-key method is useful when Windows does not start, or when you prefer to enter setup during startup. The key depends on the model; examples below apply only to the devices described by each manufacturer:
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- ASUS: Hold F2 while powering on; ASUS also documents Delete for some older desktop models. See ASUS’s BIOS entry instructions.
- Dell: Tap F2 when the Dell logo appears. See Dell’s setup instructions.
- Lenovo ThinkPad T490: Press F1 at the logo, as described in the T490 instructions.
These examples are not a universal brand-wide key list. Check the support page or manual for your exact model, and follow its timing instructions. If the key does not open setup, the wrong key, timing, or model-specific procedure may be the cause.
What to do before changing a firmware setting
- Identify the goal. Find the manufacturer’s instructions for the exact option and model rather than exploring unrelated advanced settings.
- Save work and note the original value. Record the current setting before changing it so you can restore it if startup behavior changes.
- Change one setting at a time. This makes it easier to identify and reverse a change that causes a problem.
- Check encryption recovery access. If BitLocker is enabled, have its recovery key available before changing Secure Boot, TPM, or boot mode. On a work or school device, the organization’s IT team may hold the key.
If you are only inspecting the menus, exit without saving. Dell notes that exiting without saving does not itself trigger BitLocker; its warning concerns changes to particular firmware settings.
How do I enable virtualization in BIOS?
First confirm that you need virtualization for a supported virtual machine or Windows feature. Restart into firmware setup using one of the methods above, then follow the instructions for your computer model to locate and enable its processor-virtualization setting. The option name and menu location are not the same on every PC, and some firmware may not expose it.
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For the Windows virtualization workflow covered by Microsoft’s guide, enabling firmware virtualization may not be the only step: you may also need to turn on Virtual Machine Platform under Windows Features and restart. Follow the requirements for the particular Windows feature or software you intend to use.
How do I turn on Secure Boot?
Secure Boot is a boot-time security control, not a performance toggle. Microsoft describes it as a feature that “helps prevent malicious software from loading when a Windows PC starts up” by allowing trusted, digitally signed software to run during startup. Read Microsoft’s Secure Boot guidance and your computer maker’s instructions before changing it.
If Secure Boot is unavailable, firmware may be configured for Legacy or Compatibility Support Module (CSM) boot rather than UEFI. Microsoft’s enablement guidance notes that a system in Legacy/CSM mode may need to switch to UEFI, or make UEFI the first or only boot option. Do not treat that as a casual toggle: changing boot mode can affect whether the installed operating system starts. Follow device-specific instructions and make sure you understand any disk-format or reinstall implications before proceeding.
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For a Windows 10 PC upgrading to Windows 11, Microsoft distinguishes Secure Boot capability through UEFI/BIOS from the choice to turn Secure Boot on. Capability is the stated requirement; the guidance does not mean it must be enabled for every upgrade.
Disabling Secure Boot may be necessary for some hardware or operating systems, but do so only when there is a specific need. Microsoft Learn’s Secure Boot guidance warns that re-enabling it after software or hardware changes can require returning the system to its factory state. It also explains that using CSM/legacy support may involve MBR disk formatting and reinstalling Windows.
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Boot order, TPM, and other firmware options
Depending on the model, firmware may include a startup-device selector, TPM controls, or other hardware and security settings. Their presence, labels, and location vary; a setting described in general instructions may not exist on your computer. Consult the exact model’s manual rather than assuming another PC’s menu path applies.
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Will changing BIOS settings affect BitLocker or stop Windows from booting?
It can. A change to Secure Boot, TPM, or boot mode may be detected as a hardware change and cause BitLocker to request its 48-digit recovery key at the next startup. Dell documents this warning in its BIOS/UEFI setup guidance. Keep the key available before making such a change; Microsoft also warns that changing unrelated UEFI settings can prevent Windows from starting.
If a Secure Boot change prevents startup, Microsoft Learn advises returning to firmware settings and disabling Secure Boot to try booting again. This is not guaranteed to resolve every startup problem. If the device remains unable to start, contact its manufacturer for model-specific recovery advice.
How to leave setup without changing anything
If you opened firmware settings by mistake or only wanted to inspect them, use the on-screen option to exit without saving. If you made a change, save only after confirming it is the intended setting and that you followed the manufacturer’s instructions. If the computer behaves differently afterward, return to setup and restore the recorded original value where possible.
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