How to Enter Bios on Your Motherboard?[Updated 2023]
All PC users must access different systems settings quickly. This is to help process information faster and more efficiently. While Linux and Windows operating systems provide options to make adjustments easier on your computer, some changes can only be done through a System BIOS. However, accessing the System BIOS isn’t the same for all systems and it depends on the different motherboard brands.
This Guide will talk about the BIOS setup, different commands to access BIOS, and different ways to access BIOS depending on the Motherboard.
What is a BIOS Setup?
BIOS means Basic Input Output System and is software that can be found on a memory chip on your Motherboard. It is normal to hear the terms, PC BIOS, ROM BIOS, or System BIOS. They all mean the same thing.
BIOS is the initial software that is activated when you power on your system and it performs a diagnostic test on your hardware. This is done to ensure there are no issues and that your computer hardware is in good condition. BIOS can be called firmware which is stored on the ROM and allows computer users to access and set up their system easily.
With Newer versions of PC’s motherboard needed to store information, this has proven too complex for older BIOS software. Because of these limitations, UEFI was developed for higher-powered booting. The UEFI (Unified Extended Firmware Interface Forum) can run on 32 and 64-bit modes and can handle about 10 zettabytes. Whether your PC is powered by UEFI or BIOS, the most important thing is to have firmware that can perform regular system maintenance.
How to Enter BIOS?
The quickest and simpler way of accessing BIOS is by using a designated BIOS key. When you put it on your system, it passes through a procedure called a POST (Power-On Self Test). If you press the BIOS key before this cycle is completed, it will take you to the BIOS screen instead of the Operating system interface.
Depending on your PC configuration, the Post cycle can take some seconds or it could be quick that you won’t register it. However, If you don’t want to miss this opportunity, it’s common practice to mash the BIOS key continuously from the moment the system is powered on. Like it was mentioned in the introduction, different motherboard manufacturers come with different BIOS keys, this can be complicated if we add laptop brands.
However, the common keys used to enter BIOS are DEL or F2. Some PCs even allow you to see the Key you are to press on the on-screen during the Post cycle. If your system doesn’t show it, you can refer to the motherboard instruction manual for the right Key to use to access the BIOS. Also, have it in mind that just because two motherboards come from the same manufacturer doesn’t mean they will automatically share similar BIOS keys.
Below are some popular motherboard manufacturers with the key often assigned to access BIOS :
|DEL or F2
|DEL or F2
|F12 or F2
|DEL or F2
|F2 or Fn+F2
|Enter plus F1
If you aren’t sure which buttons will work to enter bios, you can press two or more popular buttons in quick succession, one of them should work.
Using the Windows Advanced Startup to Enter BIOS
There is a time you will be unable to enter the BIOS vi’s assigned keys during the POST cycle, when this happens windows provide an alternative solution:The Advanced Startup Menu.
The Advanced Startup menu in Windows is meant primarily for troubleshooting purposes, however, in Windows 10 and 11, it can be used to enter the BIOS. You can find the Advanced Startup options under the Windows settings in the start menu. When you find the start menu, click on the change advanced startup options and search for the settings panel.
At the settings panel, press:restart now ‘ to reboot your PC. Once you have reached the Advanced Startup menu, choose to troubleshoot and click on the built-in troubleshooting features. At the Built-in troubleshooting feature, select the Advanced options and click on the ‘UEFI Firmware Settings’ and restart your PC to confirm. Once you reboot from this stage , you will be welcomed by the system BIOS.
How to Access BIOS on Linux OS?
While not popular, some people use the Linus operating system for various reasons. If you want to enter BIOS on Linux, you can just enter the sudo systemctl reboot firmware in your PC distro’s terminal. This will take you straight to the Linus BIOS setup.
How to Enter the BIOS on Different Motherboards
As mentioned above, entering BIOS differs from one Motherboard to another. Here are some popular motherboard brands and how you can access their BIOS.
How to Enter BIOS on an ASUS Motherboard?
You can enter BIOS on an ASUS motherboard using two easy steps. These steps will take you into the UEFI/BIOS mode.
The first way is by using dedicated keys such as F2 or DEL to access BIOS. Not all ASUS motherboards have BIOS and UEFI, some modern ones support only UEFI. If you want to enter BIOS on an ASUS PC, ensure you are off the system. Then power them on and once it shows the ASUS logo, repeatedly press the DEL or F2 to enter the BIOS.
Alternatively, you can enter the BIOS from the Windows Recovery Environment where you can check and repair system issues. The WinRE allows you to access the UEFI firmware settings. Unlike the first option, you don’t need to shut down your PC when using the WINRE option.
How to Access BIOS/UEFI Firmware on the MSI Motherboard?
MSI remains one of the premium brands when it comes to PC Motherboards innovation. The easier way to access BIOS on an MSI system is by repeatedly pressing the BIOS key on Startup. This can be done by powering up your pc and hitting the DEL or key. In some MSI brands, the BIOS key is F2 and not DEL.
Another convenient method to access the BIOS/UEFI on the MSI Motherboard is from the Windows Recovery Environment or Advanced Setup. This is the diagnostic environment that allows you to change startup settings. This section also allows you to repair system errors easily.
How to Enter the BIOS on a Gigabyte Motherboard?
Gigabyte Technology is a top firm in Taiwan that deals with electronics and other computing devices. If your system comes with this motherboard, here are ways to access the BIOS.
The First way to access the BIOS In the Gigabyte motherboard is by turning off the fast startup feature. This can be fine by going to the control panel and entering the system and security power options. Select change settings and uncheck the fast startup option, then save changes.
Moreover, you can also enter the BIOS from the WinRE. However, this is only possible on Windows 8 and later versions. Also, this will only work if your system is using the GPT hard drive and the UEFI boot mode. It doesn’t work on MBR or legacy drives.
How to Enter BIOS on an Intel Motherboard?
The BIOS system on your Intel motherboard allows users to access many features. You can enable or disable your hardware, overclock the system, and set your system boot password among many others. If you want to access the Intel BIOS to make certain changes here are the steps.
The first step is to reboot your computer system by pressing the rebooting setup. When the system restarts, press the F2 key repeatedly until you see the BIOS screen.
Make the necessary changes once you are inside the BIOS setup and press F10 to save and exit the system.
How to Enter BIOS in Zebronics Motherboard?
Zebronics is another top Motherboard provider in the world. If you use their brand and want to enter BIOS, here are some steps to follow.
The first step is to put on the system and press the Delete Key until the BIOS setup opens. Sometimes the Delete key might not work, when this happens, try pressing the F10 or F2 key.
Furthermore, once you access the BIOS setup, you should use the arrow keys to move to the Advanced talk. From this place, you can make necessary alterations to the settings such as RAM frequency, CPU speed, and boot sequence. Immediately you do these changes, save, and exit by hitting the F10 key.
While not everyone will be interested in accessing the BIOS setup, advanced PC users and geeks will need to go to the BIOS setting for alterations. It isn’t recommended to go to the BIOS setup if you don’t have any idea of what you are doing. If you change settings by accident, it could put your PC in a problem. However, for network administrators and computer enthusiasts, the BIOS is a crucial tool, and knowing how to access it is very important.