Change Computer BIOS Settings

Knowing how to access and change settings in your BIOS can save you a lot of headaches when troubleshooting a computer. The method varies for every computer, but this guide will show you how to access and change your BIOS settings.

Steps

Enter the BIOS

  1. Boot the computer. As the manufacturer’s logo appears, press the designated setup button to enter the BIOS. The key varies by manufacturer. Typical setups keys are F2, F10, F12, and Del. The key will be displayed on the screen with the manufacturer’s logo.
  2. Rapidly strike the setup key. Newer computers can boot very fast. Once you figure out your setup key, rapidly press it when booting the computer. This will give you a greater chance of entering the BIOS. You may have to repeat the process several times if you have difficulty with the timing.
    • If you are running Windows 8 and cannot access the BIOS, see the Entering Windows 8 Boot Options section.
  3. Wait for your BIOS to load. After successfully hitting the setup key, the BIOS will load. This should only take a few moments. When the loading is complete, you will be taken to the BIOS settings menu.

Adjust Settings

  1. Navigate the BIOS. Every manufacturer has a different layout for their BIOS menu, but most share some common settings. These include power settings, date and time settings, boot order, and more.
    • BIOS menus do not support mouse input. You will need to navigate the menus using your keyboard. Most BIOS allow you to move through menus with the arrow keys, while some use specific keys for specific menus, or + and – keys for navigation.
  2. Change your settings carefully. When adjusting settings in your BIOS, be sure that you certain what the settings will affect. Changing settings incorrectly can lead to system or hardware failure.
  3. Change the boot order. If you want to change what device to boot from, enter the Boot menu. From here, you can designate which device the computer will attempt to boot from first. This is useful for booting from a disc to install or repair an operating system.
  4. Create a BIOS password. You can create a password that will lock the computer from booting unless the correct password is entered.
  5. Change your date and time. Your BIOS’s clock will dictate your Windows clock. If the battery has been recently replaced, your clock will most likely have been reset. You can adjust your clock settings from the BIOS.
  6. Change fan speeds and system voltages. These options are for advanced users only. In this menu, you can overclock your CPU, potentially giving more performance. This should be performed only if you are comfortable with your computer’s hardware. Check out our [[Overclock a PC | guide on overclocking] for more information.
  7. Save and exit. When you are finished adjusting your settings, you will need to save and exit in order for your changes to take effect. When you save and restart, your computer will reboot with the new settings.

Enter Windows 8 Boot Options

  1. Understand what is new with Windows 8 booting. Windows 8 often boots too quickly to manually enter the BIOS menu via the setup key. If you are running a solid state drive, you may have as little as .2 seconds to successfully press the setup key. Windows 8 allow you to enter a new Advanced Startup menu that replaces the functions of the BIOS.
    • This method only works if you have a UEFI-enabled motherboard. These are relatively recent releases, so older systems running Windows 8 will have to enter BIOS the old manual way.
  2. Open Windows Settings. You can do this by pressing the Windows key + C to open the sidebar. Click the Settings button in the sidebar. Once the Settings menu is open, select the General tab.
  3. Restart with Advanced startup. Under the Advanced startup section in the General settings, click Restart Now. This will reboot the computer into the Advanced Startup menu.
    • Alternatively, you can hold down the Shift key while clicking the Restart button in the Shut Down menu.
  4. Adjust your settings. To access the BIOS settings, click the Troubleshoot button. This will open the “Advanced options” menu. From this menu, you can adjust your BIOS settings by clicking UEFI Firmware Settings. If you don’t see this option, you do not have a UEFI-enabled motherboard.
  5. Change the boot device. If you would like to boot from a disc or another drive, return to the main Advanced Startup menu. Click the “Use a device” button. This will allow you to select which device you would like to boot from, such as your DVD drive or a flash drive.

Tips

  • A useful task is to check the boot order. If you have the OS on the hard drive, make sure that the hard drive is the first in the boot order. This can save a few seconds off boot time.
  • Keep a copy of your motherboard's documentation (a.k.a. User Manual) with you in case you can't get in or out of the BIOS, or you need help changing something.
  • Backup your BIOS settings by recording them on paper once your PC is running and before you make any changes to them.

Warnings

  • Don't change anything if you don't know what you're doing.
  • If you are going to flash the BIOS after, do NOT attempt this. If you have already changed settings, you must reset your BIOS. Instructions on how to reset your BIOS can be found here: Reset Your BIOS

Related Articles

  • Enter BIOS
  • Change the Processor Name of Your Computer
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