How to Change Computer BIOS Settings

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: August 17, 2022 Tested

Entering the BIOS

|

Adjust Settings

This wikiHow teaches you how to access and modify your Windows computer's BIOS page. The BIOS is a set of built-in options that allows you to change system aspects like the data and time. Since the BIOS is tied to a computer's motherboard, the appearance of each computer's BIOS will vary slightly depending on the manufacturer.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Entering the BIOS

1
Restart your computer. Open Start
, click the power icon
, and click Restart.
- If your computer is locked, click the lock screen, then click the power icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen and click Restart.
- If your computer is already off, press your computer's "On" switch.
2
Wait for the computer's first startup screen to appear. Once the startup screen appears, you'll have a very limited window in which you can press the setup key.
- It's best to start pressing the setup key as soon as the computer begins to restart.
- If you see "Press [key] to enter setup" or something similar flash across the bottom of the screen and then disappear, you'll need to restart and try again.
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3
Press and hold Del or F2 to enter setup. The key you're prompted to press might also be different; if so, use that key instead.
- You'll typically use the "F" keys to access the BIOS. These are at the top of your keyboard, though you may have to locate and hold the Fn key while pressing the proper "F" key.
- You can look at your computer model's manual or online support page to confirm your computer's BIOS key.
4
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.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Adjust Settings

1
Familiarize yourself with the BIOS controls. Since BIOS menus don't support mouse input, you'll need to use the arrow keys and other computer-specific keys to navigate the BIOS. You can usually find a list of controls in the bottom-right corner of the BIOS homepage.
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.
- If you don't know what you want to change coming into the BIOS, you probably shouldn't change anything.
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 or flash drive to install or repair an operating system.
- You'll typically use the arrow keys to go over to the Boot tab to start this process.
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 you replace your computer's battery, your BIOS clock will most likely be reset.
6
Change fan speeds and system voltages. These options are for advanced users only. In this menu, you can overclock your CPU, potentially allowing for higher performance. This should be performed only if you are comfortable with your computer’s hardware.
7
Save and exit. When you are finished adjusting your settings, you will need to save and exit by using your BIOS' "Save and Exit" key in order for your changes to take effect. When you save and restart, your computer will reboot with the new settings.
- Check the BIOS key legend to see which key is the "Save and Exit" key.

Community Q&A

Question

I cannot change my BIOS settings. I can still access it, but it's all grayed out. I can only change the date and time. What can I do to fix this?

TFG

Community Answer

If all your BIOS items are grayed out (but you can still access it), you probably have the administrator (or setup) password set. To unlock your BIOS, go to the Security tab , find the "Unlock Setup" (or similar) row and type your password into the box. Note that if you enter the password wrong 3 times, you will have to restart your computer, enter the BIOS and then try again.
Question

How can I bypass the BIOS setup screen so that my PC will start up more quickly?

Community Answer

You simply cannot. Starting BIOS is a vital part of the start up process of your computer, so you can't skip it.
Question

How do I access BIOS in Windows 8.1?

Community Answer

The BIOS depends on your computer's hardware. Try doing a Google search for how to access the BIOS for your computer.

Warnings

Don't change any settings that you aren't sure about.

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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

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