How to Boot to UEFI Firmware Settings from inside Windows 10


UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a standard firmware interface for PCs, designed to replace BIOS (basic input/output system). This standard was created by over 140 technology companies as part of the UEFI consortium, including Microsoft. It's designed to improve software interoperability and address limitations of BIOS.

See also:

• Boot to UEFI Mode or legacy BIOS mode | Microsoft Docs
• How do I use the BIOS/UEFI on Surface devices | Surface Support

This tutorial will show you how to boot directly to your motherboard's UEFI firmware settings from inside Windows 10.

This only applies if your PC's motherboard has a UEFI firmware chip instead of a BIOS chipset.

This only applies if Windows 10 was installed using UEFI, and not legacy BIOS (CSM).

See: How to Check if Windows 10 is using UEFI or Legacy BIOS

Contents

• Option One: Boot to BIOS or UEFI Firmware Settings from Sign-in Screen
• Option Two: Boot to BIOS or UEFI Firmware Settings from Start Menu
• Option Three: Boot to BIOS or UEFI Firmware Settings from Settings
• Option Four: Boot to BIOS or UEFI Firmware Settings from Command Prompt

EXAMPLE: UEFI Firmware Settings for ASRock X79 Extreme11

OPTION ONE

Boot to BIOS or UEFI Firmware Settings from Sign-in Screen

1 While on the Sign-in screen, click/tap on the Power button. (see screenshot below)

2 Press and hold the Shift key, click/tap on Restart, and release the Shift key.

3 Continue at step 3 in option 3 below.

OPTION TWO

Boot to BIOS or UEFI Firmware Settings from Start Menu

1 Open the Start menu .
2 Click/tap on the Power button. (see screenshot below)

2 Press and hold the Shift key, click/tap on Restart, and release the Shift key.

3 Continue at step 3 in option 3 below.

OPTION THREE

Boot to BIOS or UEFI Firmware Settings from Settings

1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Update & security icon.

2 Click/tap on Recovery on the left side, and click/tap on Restart now under Advanced startup. (see screenshot below)

3 After the PC restarts, click/tap on Troubleshoot. (see screenshot below)

4 Click/tap on Advanced options. (see screenshot below)

5 Click/tap on UEFI Firmware Settings. (see screenshot below)

6 Click/tap on Restart to boot into your UEFI firmware settings. (see screenshot below)

OPTION FOUR

Boot to BIOS or UEFI Firmware Settings from Command Prompt

1 Open an elevated command prompt.

2 Type the command below you want to use into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

(with message)
shutdown /r /fw

OR

(instant without message)
shutdown /r /fw /t 0

3 If you used the first command, you will now get a You're about to be signed out message before the PC automatically restarts and boots directly to your BIOS or UEFI firmware settings. (see screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn Brink

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