Pressing F10 saves changes and exits the BIOS, while Esc exits without saving — but Dell, HP, MSI, and other brands sometimes use unique keys for their specific menus.
Knowing how to exit the BIOS correctly keeps you from losing settings or getting stuck on a screen that won’t go away. The core method is simple: F10 saves your changes and boots the system, Esc discards everything and leaves the configuration as it was. But some manufacturers change the shortcuts, and if your keyboard isn’t cooperating, the on-screen menu always has a way out.
The Standard Exit Keys
Most BIOS and UEFI screens show a legend at the bottom or along one side listing the active keys. F10 is the industry default for “Save Changes and Exit.” Esc is the standard for exiting without saving. These two keys work on the vast majority of desktops and laptops from ASUS, Lenovo, Acer, and generic motherboards.
If pressing a key does nothing, check whether the Fn (Function) lock is active. On many laptops, the function row acts as media keys by default, so you may need to hold Fn while pressing F10 or Esc. This catches more people than you’d expect — the keys are correct, but the modifier is missing.
Exiting The BIOS: Standard Keys And Brand-Specific Shortcuts
Each manufacturer has its own take on the exit process. The table below covers the major brands so you can find your system’s shortcut at a glance.
| Manufacturer | Exit Key (Save) | Exit Key (No Save) |
|---|---|---|
| General Standard | F10 or F12 | Esc |
| Dell | F10 or F12 | Esc |
| HP | F10 | Esc |
| ASUS | F10 | Esc |
| MSI | F10 (after End key) | Esc |
| Lenovo | F10 | Esc |
| Acer | F10 | Esc |
| Oracle | OK (dialog) | OK (dialog) |
For MSI boards, hold the End key for about three seconds to reach the main menu, then use F10 to save and exit. Oracle systems rely on an on-screen OK button in the confirmation dialog rather than a keyboard shortcut. If your brand isn’t listed, the Exit tab inside the menu is the universal fallback — navigate there with the arrow keys.
How To Exit Without Saving Changes
If you entered the BIOS to browse settings or made an accidental change, Esc is the safest way out. The system will ask you to confirm — select Discard Changes and Exit. This reverts every setting to the state it was in before you entered the BIOS.
On most systems, you can also navigate to the Exit tab (often marked with an X icon) and choose Discard Changes and Exit from the menu. This is the safest option when you’re unsure what changed. A confirmation dialog will appear — select Yes or OK to confirm, and the system will reboot with the previous settings intact.
What If The Keyboard Keys Don’t Work?
Windows 11’s Fast Startup feature shortens the boot window so dramatically that key presses often miss their mark. If the standard shortcuts aren’t registering, use the Windows Advanced Startup menu to reach the BIOS from within Windows — this bypasses the timing problem entirely.
Open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now. On the blue menu, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart. The PC reboots directly into the BIOS interface, where you can navigate to the Exit tab and select Save Changes and Exit or Discard Changes and Exit.
For a permanent fix, disable Fast Startup by running powercfg /h off in Terminal (Admin). This restores the full boot window so keyboard shortcuts work again. CGDirector’s BIOS exit guide covers additional troubleshooting for unresponsive keys, including scenarios where the screen is completely blank.
Why Your PC Keeps Rebooting Into BIOS
A system that won’t leave the BIOS screen usually has a boot device problem. Three things cause this, and they’re all fixable:
- No bootable drive detected. Check that your SSD or hard drive appears in the BIOS storage list. If it doesn’t, the drive may have failed or a cable may be loose. Reseat the drive cables and try again.
- UEFI vs. Legacy mode mismatch. Modern Windows 10 and 11 require UEFI mode. If the BIOS is set to Legacy (CSM), the system may not find the boot drive. Switch to UEFI in the boot settings and save before exiting.
- Incorrect boot order. If the BIOS tries to boot from a USB or network before the internal drive, it loops back. Set your primary SSD or NVMe drive as the first boot device in the Boot Priority menu.
The easiest test: check whether the BIOS detects your drive. If it does, switch the boot mode from Legacy to UEFI and set your main drive as the first boot option. Save and exit — the system should boot normally.
Common Exit Mistakes At A Glance
| Mistake | Why It Happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pressing Esc after making changes | Esc discards changes, undoing your work | Use F10 or select “Save Changes and Exit” |
| Keys not responding on boot | Fast Startup shortens the boot window | Use Windows Advanced Startup or disable Fast Startup |
| PC returns to BIOS after exit | No bootable drive or wrong UEFI/Legacy mode | Check drive detection and switch to UEFI mode |
| Accidental setting change | Navigating BIOS menus can alter values | Use Esc and select “Discard Changes and Exit” |
Exiting The BIOS: What To Do Next
If the BIOS won’t let you leave, start with the standard shortcut — F10 to save, Esc to discard. If that fails, check your manufacturer’s key from the table above. When keys are completely unresponsive, the Windows Advanced Startup route always works. And if the system loops back to BIOS after exiting, the fix is almost always a boot drive detection issue or a UEFI mode mismatch — check those first.
References & Sources
- CGDirector. “How to Exit your BIOS.” Comprehensive guide to BIOS exit keys and manufacturer-specific procedures.