How To Enter ASRock BIOS | F2 Key And Three Fallbacks

Press F2 repeatedly after powering on to enter an ASRock BIOS, with Delete as an alternate key and Windows’ UEFI settings as a reliable fallback.

Knowing how to enter ASRock BIOS starts with one key pressed at the right moment: F2, tapped repeatedly right after you power on the system. That is the method ASRock itself documents in its official FAQ, and it works on almost every current board. But fast boot settings, USB keyboard delays, or a quick trigger finger can let that window slip by. This guide covers the direct startup key, the alternate keys that work on specific models, the Windows route that bypasses timing entirely, and the utility that handles ultra-fast boot setups.

Entering ASRock BIOS: The Four Working Routes

Four distinct paths can get you into the ASRock UEFI BIOS setup, and the right one depends on whether you can catch the boot screen and whether Windows is already running. The fastest route is the startup key, but the safest is the Windows UEFI Firmware Settings path, which does not rely on any timing at all.

The default startup key across almost all ASRock desktop motherboards is F2. Power on the system and immediately begin pressing F2 at a steady rhythm — about two taps per second — until the BIOS screen appears. No on-screen prompt is required for this to work; ASRock systems often skip the “Press F2 to enter setup” message during a fast boot, but the key still registers. Once inside, the motherboard model and UEFI version appear in the upper-left corner of the main screen.

On many ASRock boards, the Delete key (often labeled Del) also works as an alternate entry key. Some older models and specific firmware revisions respond only to Delete, so if F2 produces no result, try Del on the next restart. MAINGEAR’s own ASRock BIOS instructions list Delete as the primary entry key for the Z790 Nova WiFi and similar boards, confirming that the alternate is not just a rumor.

What If The F2 Key Doesn’t Work?

When pressing F2 or Del produces nothing and the system boots straight into Windows, the most common culprit is a Fast Boot or Ultra Fast Boot setting in the UEFI firmware. These modes skip the POST memory check and cut the keyboard-detection window so short that the keypress is never registered. The fix is not to keep rebooting faster — it is to use one of the fallback methods that bypass the timing problem entirely.

If you can still boot into Windows, the easiest fallback is the UEFI Firmware Settings route described in the next section. If Windows is unbootable or you cannot navigate the operating system, ASRock provides a utility called Restart to UEFI (version 1.0.5 on many boards) that can be installed from the ASRock APP Shop or downloaded from the support page for your specific motherboard model. This utility adds a shortcut that reboots directly into the firmware setup, even when Fast Boot is enabled.

How Do You Enter BIOS When Windows Is Already Running?

This route does not require any timing or startup key presses. In Windows 10 and 11, open Settings and navigate to Update & Security (Windows 10) or System (Windows 11), then choose Recovery. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now. When the blue recovery menu appears, select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → UEFI Firmware Settings → Restart. The system boots directly into the ASRock UEFI BIOS setup on the next start.

A faster variation is the Shift + Restart shortcut: hold the Shift key on your keyboard while clicking the Restart option in the Start menu power menu. This bypasses the Settings navigation and lands you at the same blue recovery screen. For users who prefer a command-line approach, open an admin Command Prompt or PowerShell window and run shutdown /r /fw /t 0. The /fw flag tells Windows to boot into firmware settings on the next restart, and the /t 0 does it immediately. ASRock’s official FAQ confirms that the Windows-based path is a supported backup for any system running Windows 10 or 11 with a UEFI BIOS.

Troubleshooting ASRock BIOS Access

If none of the standard methods work, a few specific checks solve the vast majority of stuck situations. The single most common reason the startup key fails is that Fast Boot is enabled in the current BIOS configuration — ironic, because you need to enter BIOS to turn it off. That is exactly why the Windows UEFI Firmware Settings path exists: it cuts the loop. If Windows itself will not boot and the startup key does not respond, try using a wired USB keyboard plugged into a USB 2.0 port on the back of the motherboard. USB 3.0 ports and wireless keyboard receivers can sometimes initialize too late for the boot-key window.

Choosing Your Best Entry Method

The fastest path is the one that works on the first try. If your system is new and Fast Boot is still set to its default (usually enabled), the Windows UEFI Firmware Settings route is the slowest to walk through but the most reliable — it never misses the timing window. Once you are inside the BIOS, you can disable Fast Boot under the Boot tab, and from that point forward the F2 startup key will work consistently. For a single visit, use the Windows path. For ongoing tuning, disable Fast Boot once and use F2 thereafter.

Inside the ASRock UEFI BIOS, press F6 to switch between Easy Mode (simplified overview) and Advanced Mode (full configuration tree). Change only settings you understand — boot order, secure boot, and fan curves are safe to adjust; voltage and timing changes can make the system unbootable. If something goes wrong, the F9 key loads the optimized defaults on most ASRock boards, wiping any problematic changes and getting you back to a working configuration.