The first thing that runs when we start a computer, mobile phone, tablet or any other electronic device is the BIOS (acronym in English for Basic Input-Output Systemi.e., something like "basic input/output system"). The device takes care of everything, no intervention is necessary. However, sometimes it is helpful to know how to enter BIOS.
La BIOS it is a sequence of execution codes stored on a chip on the motherboard. This small chip is enormously important, since it is the one that is in charge of verifying the different components of the system and allowing it to start.
The importance of the BIOS for the proper functioning of a computer is enormous. When we start the system, it is she who starts the process of fault detection. When this happens, it notifies us with an acoustic signal and displays a message with the error code on the screen.
Why is it important to know how to enter the BIOS? It is not an action that should be done without further ado, there must be a justified reason. Sometimes we are forced to do so in order to configure some hardware parameter (for example, the computer's boot order or processor energy saving mode), but we must always keep in mind that any mistake we make can have as a consequence that our PC does not work correctly.
Having clarified this point, let's see what are the methods to access the BIOS in both Windows 10 and Windows 11:
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Access BIOS (Windows 10)
In previous versions of Windows, the method to enter the BIOS consisted of pressing a certain key insistently until the information appeared on the screen. It wasn't a very sophisticated method, really. Today things are different and we have several ways to perform this operation:
On PC restart
Since the BIOS always starts at turn on or restart the computer, to enter it we have to go to that moment (it is useless to suspend it or put it into hibernation mode). If we choose the option to restart, it will be necessary to execute some previous steps:
- First we go to the menu "Start".
- select "Setting".
- In the next menu, we are going to "Update and security".
- Next, in the menu on the left of the screen we click on "Recovery".
- Finally, we click on "Advanced Start".
By doing this we are starting a special restart that takes us to the following screen:
At this point, to enter the BIOS in Windows 10 we have to select the option "Solve problems" and follow these last two steps:
- First we are going to "Advanced Options".
- To finish, we select "UEFI Firmware Settings".
With this, we get the PC to restart and we can enter the firmware configuration, equivalent to the BIOS.
Using the ESC, F1, etc. keys.
In case of doing a normal reboot (that is, not the advanced one), we will have to use the old resource of pressing the key that gives us access to the BIOS while said reboot is taking place. That key can vary from one PC to another, it can be any of the following: F1, F2, F10, F11, F12, Esc or even key combinations like Control + Alt + Escape.
To play it safe, the most practical thing is to look for this information in the manual of our computer or search Google for the phrase "enter BIOS" next to the make and model of our PC.
The trick of pressing the key insistently has its raison d'être: the "window" that opens during the reboot to access the BIOS lasts just a few seconds. Doing so ensures that we will not lose the opportunity to enter.
Access BIOS (Windows 11)
If you are wondering how to enter the BIOS in Windows 11, you should know that the method differs slightly from the one used for Windows 10. As in the previous case, the first thing to do is restart the operating system to access advanced startup . This is how we should proceed:
- We click on the option "Restart" while holding down the key "Capital letters" on the keyboard.
- After a few seconds, the screen will be displayed."Solve problems".
- There we select "Advanced Options".
- Then we will "UEFI Firmware Settings".
- Finally, we press the button "Restart".*
(*) In some computer models, such as Hewlett Packard, before this button appears, a series of options are shown on the screen that depend on which part of the BIOS we want to access.
To finish, we have to remember that the reasons for entering the BIOS are always to check the status of its configuration or to make changes to it. The latter is quite tricky, even Risky if you don't have the right knowledge. It is only convenient to do it if it is really necessary and if you are completely sure of what you are doing. Otherwise, you run the risk of PC malfunctions.