Windows viii is may be a few years quondam now, but it'south notwithstanding normally used. And one change that y'all might not exist enlightened of on newer Windows machines is a unlike method for accessing a figurer'due south BIOS. No longer do you press a certain key during the kick process to reveal the BIOS---instead, an option to admission the BIOS is located in Windows 8's boot options carte.

How Accessing BIOS Changed in Windows 8

Traditionally, computers displayed a message like "Press F2 to enter setup" at the outset of the boot process. Pressing this key entered the calculator's BIOS.

However, machines that come with Windows 8 preinstalled apply a modern update to BIOS called UEFI.

On some machines, especially those with solid state hard drives, the boot procedure can be so fast that you might not accept fourth dimension to meet the bulletin near entering BIOS. In these cases, y'all can opt to enter the BIOS from Windows itself.

Microsoft's blog mail service near this [Broken URL Removed] on the Building Windows viii weblog describes how this new organisation came to exist. With the increased boot speed, some systems had a less than a 200-millisecond window of opportunity to printing a cardinal. Even the best cardinal-tappers at Microsoft could only press a cardinal once every 250ms.

That meant to access the BIOS, frantic borer, luck, and several computer reboots were all necessary.

The new system does abroad with this problem. It also brings some much-needed consistency to Windows 8 computers---they'll all accept a consistent way of accessing the BIOS.

Windows 8 Hardware vs. Old Computers With Windows 8

how to access bios on windows 8 - old method

Note that this new method only applies if you purchased a new reckoner with Windows 8 preinstalled. If, on the other manus, yous've installed Windows 8 on an existing calculator that uses the legacy BIOS system, you'll admission the BIOS in the aforementioned way as always by pressing the key that appears during your boot process.

This key is often F2 or Delete, merely it can also be other keys.

The verbal cardinal depends on your computer---if y'all don't see the appropriate key displayed on your screen during the boot-upwardly procedure, consult your figurer's manual.

How to Enter Windows 8 BIOS

how to access bios on windows 8 - startup menu

In order to access the BIOS on Windows viii, you need to restart your computer into the boot options menu. In that location are several ways to do this.

The easiest one to notice is in the PC Settings application. Press Windows key + C to reveal the Charms bar, click Settings, and select Alter PC settings to access it.

In the PC Settings application, select the General category and click the Restart now button nether Advanced startup. Your figurer volition restart and you'll enter the Windows 8's boot options menu. From here you can admission the UEFI BIOS and change other settings.

You lot can also hold Shift while clicking Restart in the Shut Down bill of fare to restart your computer into the boot options carte. This is a quick manner to restart into the boot options menu, as you can access the Shut Down button from the Charms anywhere on your system.

Those who prefer to use the Windows command line to access the BIOS in Windows 8 can practise and then. There'south a shutdown control that's one of the essential Windows command prompts you lot should know.

Hither'south the command you need to utilize:

          Shutdown.exe /r /o

Accessing UEFI BIOS

how to access bios on windows 8 - boot options menu

Once you've restarted and accessed the boot options menu, y'all can enter UEFI BIOS. To exercise this, click the Troubleshoot tile.

This volition reveal an Advanced Options screen with a diverseness of tools. The UEFI Firmware Settings tile will take y'all to your estimator'south BIOS.

If you don't see the UEFI Firmware Settings tile here, your computer doesn't use UEFI. That means y'all'll need to access the BIOS in the traditional mode, by pressing a specific key during the boot-up process. See the earlier department to a higher place for more than information.

If in that location's an error booting Windows, y'all won't exist locked out of the BIOS. The kicking options screen volition appear when you start your computer. From here, you tin repair Windows or enter your BIOS.

Once you've entered the BIOS, you lot tin perform the tasks you want. These could include tasks such as changing the boot device order, setting fan curves, overclocking your processor, or performing troubleshooting by detecting what hardware is being picked upward by your organisation.

How to Access the BIOS on Windows 10

how to access bios on windows 8 - windows 10

If you take updated your operating system recently, y'all might wonder how to admission BIOS from Windows 10. One time again, if yous have installed Windows ten onto older hardware, and then you'll access BIOS past pressing a designated fundamental during the boot process. This is the same as older hardware running Windows 8.

All the same, if you bought a estimator with Windows 10 preinstalled, y'all'll demand a different method to admission BIOS. To do this, beginning by going to Windows settings. Yous tin can access this past pressing Windows key + I.

From the settings menu, choose Update & Security, and then choose Recovery from the menu on the left. Yous'll encounter a list of options on the correct, including a championship saying Advanced startup. Beneath this header is a push button saying Restart now.

When you hit this push, your reckoner will restart. During the startup, you'll run into the boot options menu. Like the Windows viii instructions, become to Troubleshooting and and so to UEFI Firmware Settings, then click Restart. This will restart your computer over again, and information technology will boot into UEFI BIOS.

UEFI Vs. BIOS

how to access bios on windows 8 - uefi

UEFI is rather different from traditional BIOS, even though they perform similar functions. BIOS tends to be in a limited color scheme and does not support the utilize of a mouse, so you need to navigate using your keyboard. The functions are somewhat limited too, with the ability to perform tasks like changing the boot device club or changing the system time and engagement.

UEFI is a more than upwards to date version of BIOS. It is in full colour, and you can navigate using a keyboard and mouse. It's more than like Windows, so it's not so intimidating to new users. Yous can also do a lot more than with UEFI. For instance, y'all can ready fan curves to adjust how fast the fans in your arrangement spin at given temperatures. Or you tin overclock your processor, using automated overclocking wizards which set everything up for you based on your cooling solution.

Technically UEFI is a replacement for BIOS. But in practice, people utilise the terms interchangeably.

It's Important to Secure Your BIOS

This shows you how to admission BIOS from Windows 8, in case you need to brand any changes to your system.

While you're working on BIOS, information technology's a good idea to set a password to proceed your system more than secure. If you have any problems with this procedure, then encounter our article on how to reset the BIOS password.

Spend some time on its screen and understand how the BIOS works and how information technology can aid you optimize your computer.