Keys to Access BIOS Setup on Popular Windows Computers
Rob Parsons Updated on Apr 15, 2022 4:59 PM
BIOS, short for basic input/output system, is a set of computer instructions in firmware which control input and output operations. You can access BIOS Setup to change how the machine works or to assist in troubleshooting a problem. The BIOS firmware is the first software to run when a computer powered on.
The method for accessing the BIOS is going to be dependent upon the manufacturer of the motherboard and the BIOS vender they have selected. Here is a list of the most common access keys used to enter BIOS Setup on Windows computer.
- Acer - Aspire, Power, Veriton, Extensa, Swift, Ferrari, TravelMate, Predator, Altos, etc.
- • Press Del or F2 immediately after powering on.
- • The BIOS on the Acer Altos 600 server uses the Ctrl+Alt+Esc key and the F1 key for advanced options.
- • Older Acer computers may also use the F1 or Ctrl+Alt+Esc keys to access BIOS.
- ASUS - VivoBook, Zen AiO, Zenbook, B, S, Q, V, X, K, T, U series, etc.
- • Press F2 repeatedly to start the BIOS setup utility.
- • Some Asus laptops might use Del, Esc, or F10 key.
- • Older ASUS computers may required you to press the ESC key until Boot Device Selection screen appears, then select Enter Setup from the menu.
- HP - Pavilion, TouchSmart, Pro, Vectra, Stream, Vectra, OMEN, ENVY, OmniBook, EliteBook, ProBook, Zbook, Tablet
- • Press the F1, F10, or F11 key until you see the BIOS screen.
- • HP Tablet PCs may use F10 or F12.
- • Other HP computers may allow access to BIOS using the Esc or F2 keys.
- • Some of old PCs might require that you press the Esc key and then F10.
- Lenovo (formerly IBM) - ThinkPad, IdeaPad, Yoga, 3000 Series, Legion, ThinkCentre, ThinkStation, H535, 3000 Series, N Series, etc.
- • Press F1 or F2 after powering on the computer.
- • Press F12 to access BIOS.
- • Some Lenovo laptop have a small Novo button on the side (next to the power button), press and hold it to enter the BIOS setup utility.
- • Older PCs may use Ctrl+Alt+F3, Ctrl+Alt+Ins, or Fn+F1.
- Dell - XPS, Dimension, Inspiron, Latitude. OptiPlex, Precision, Alienware, Vostro
- • Press F2 when the Dell logo appears. Press every few seconds until the message Entering Setup appears.
- • Older Dell desktops and laptops may instead use Ctrl+Alt+Enter or Del to enter BIOS.
- • Older Dell laptops may use Fn+Esc or Fn+F1.
- Shuttle - Glamor G-Series, D'vo, Prima P2-Series, Workstation, XPC, Surveillance
- • Press F2 or Del on startup.
- Sony - VAIO, PCG-Series, VGN-Series
- • Press F1, F2 or F3 after turning on the computer.
- Samsung - Notebook, ATIV Book, ATIV One, ArtPC PULSE, etc.
- • Press F2 key after turning on the computer.
- Toshiba - Portégé, Satellite, Tecra, Equium
- • Press F1 or Esc after powering on to access BIOS.
- • Press F12 on a Toshiba Equium.
- Compaq - Presario, Prolinea, Deskpro, Systempro, Portable
- • Press F10 while the cursor in the top right corner of the screen is blinking.
- • Older Compaq computers may use the F1, F2, F10, or Del key to enter BIOS.
- eMachines - eMonster, eTower, eOne, S-Series, T-Series
- • Press Tab or Del while the eMachine logo displays on screen.
- • Other eMachine computers may use F2 to enter BIOS.
- Fujitsu - LifeBook, Esprimo, Amilo, Tablet, DeskPower, Celsius
- • Press F2 once the Fujitsu logo appears.
- Gateway - DX, FX, One, LT, GM, NE, GT, GX, NV, Profile, ONE, SX, Astro
- • Press the F1 or F2 key repeatedly after restarting the computer.
- IBM - PC, XT, AT
- • Press F1 immediately after powering on the computer.
- • Older IBM computers may utilize the F2 key for BIOS entry.
- Micron (MPC Computers) - ClientPro, TransPort
- • Press F1, F2 or Del immediately after powering on the PC.
- NEC - PowerMate, Versa, W-Series
- • Press F2 to enter the BIOS Setup.
- Packard Bell - 8900 Series, 9000 Series, Pulsar, Platinum, EasyNote, imedia, iextreme
- • Press F1, F2, or Del to enter BIOS.
- Sharp - Notebook Laptops, Actius UltraLite
- • Press F2 after the computer starts.
- • Some very old Sharp PCs require a Setup Diagnostics Disk to access BIOS.
- Sharp - SC17, SC15
- • Press Del repeatedly to access BIOS Setup
