To enable UEFI on your PC, enter the firmware setup, switch the Boot Mode from Legacy to UEFI, disable CSM, and turn on Secure Boot.
One wrong setting in your firmware menu can stop Windows 11 from installing or block a modern game from launching. The fix is knowing how to enable UEFI instead of Legacy BIOS, and it takes about two minutes once you are in the right menu. This guide covers every reliable method to reach that setting, what each option actually does, and the mistakes that silently keep UEFI from working even when you think you have flipped the switch.
What Is UEFI And Why Does It Matter?
UEFI stands for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, and it replaces the decades-old BIOS with a faster, more secure boot process. Windows 11 requires UEFI and Secure Boot — there is no workaround. Modern titles like Call of Duty: Warzone also require it, and the GPT partition layout that UEFI uses lets you access drives larger than 2 TB. If you are still running Legacy or CSM mode, your hardware is leaving performance and security on the table.
Enabling UEFI Through Windows Recovery: The Official Step Sequence
The Windows Recovery menu is the most reliable way to reach UEFI firmware settings on Windows 10 and 11. Use this method when your system boots normally and you want a mouse-guided path.
- Open Settings > System > Recovery.
- Under Advanced Startup, click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware settings.
- Click Restart to enter the firmware menu.
- Navigate to the Boot tab (or Advanced/Security on some boards).
- Select Boot Mode and change it to UEFI. If a CSM (Compatibility Support Module) option is present, set it to Disabled.
- Set Secure Boot to Enabled.
- Press F10 to Save & Exit. The system reboots in UEFI mode.
If the UEFI Firmware settings option does not appear in the Recovery menu, disable Fast Startup in Power Options > Choose what power buttons do > Change settings that are currently unavailable, then uncheck Turn on Fast startup and repeat the steps.
How To Enable UEFI Using The Command Prompt
The Command Prompt route is the fastest way to reboot directly into the firmware menu. It works on Windows 10 and 11.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator, type the following, and press Enter:
shutdown /r /fw /t 0
Your system restarts immediately and lands in the firmware setup. From there, follow the same Boot Mode and Secure Boot changes described in the previous section.
How To Enable UEFI From The Sign-In Screen
When your system boots but you cannot reach the desktop normally, the sign-in screen still gives you a path to UEFI settings.
- At the sign-in screen, click the Power icon in the lower-right corner.
- Hold the Shift key and click Restart.
- Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware settings.
- Click Restart to enter the firmware menu, then change the boot mode and Secure Boot as needed.
The screen displays Please wait briefly, then the firmware setup opens.
| Method | Access Point | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10/11 Recovery | Settings > System > Recovery > Restart now | Most users with a working desktop |
| Command Prompt | Run as Administrator, then shutdown /r /fw /t 0 |
Experienced users who want speed |
| Sign-In Screen Shift-Restart | Hold Shift + click Restart on the Power menu | When Windows won’t fully boot |
| Linux Terminal | Open Terminal and run systemctl reboot --firmware-setup |
Ubuntu, SLES, and other Linux distributions |
| Dell Systems | Press F2 repeatedly at startup | Dell desktops, laptops, and Precision workstations |
| ASRock Systems | Press Del repeatedly at startup | ASRock motherboards with UEFI BIOS |
| ASUS Systems | Press F2 or Del at startup | ASUS ROG, TUF, and Prime series boards |
Enabling UEFI On Popular PC Brands: Specific Keys And Menus
The general steps above work across most PCs, but each manufacturer places the boot-mode setting in a slightly different menu. Knowing the exact key and label saves time.
Dell. Press F2 at the Dell logo to enter System Setup. Navigate to System BIOS > Boot Settings. Change Boot Mode to UEFI, then press F10 to save and exit. On older Dell models, the option may read UEFI Boot Path Security or sit inside General > Boot Sequence.
ASUS. Press F2 (or Del on desktop boards) during boot. In the Advanced Mode, go to Boot > Secure Boot and set OS Type to Windows UEFI mode. If Secure Boot appears grayed out or shows User, changing the OS Type to Windows UEFI mode unlocks it. Microsoft’s UEFI documentation covers the full firmware-to-OS handshake.
ASRock. Press Del or F2 immediately after power-on. Look for a section labeled UEFI/BIOS Boot Mode under the Boot tab. Set it to UEFI Only and disable CSM in the same menu.
What Stops UEFI From Working?
A few common issues keep UEFI from activating even after you change the boot mode. Each one has a straightforward fix.
| Mistake | Why It Blocks UEFI | The Fix |
|---|---|---|
| CSM still enabled | CSM overrides UEFI mode and forces Legacy compatibility | Enter firmware and set CSM to Disabled |
| MBR partition layout | UEFI requires GPT; MBR prevents boot | Convert the disk to GPT using mbr2gpt.exe in Windows |
| Fast Startup enabled (Windows 10) | Fast Startup hides the UEFI Firmware Settings option | Disable Fast Startup in Power Options |
| Secure Boot grayed out | OS Type is set to Other OS or legacy mode | Change OS Type to Windows UEFI mode |
| Wrong boot key | You cannot reach the firmware menu to change settings | Check your motherboard manual — F2 (Dell), Del (ASRock), F2/Del (ASUS) |
| TPM 2.0 disabled | Windows 11 requires TPM alongside UEFI and Secure Boot | Enable TPM or PTT (Intel) / fTPM (AMD) in firmware Security settings |
| Old OS installed (Windows 7) | Pre-SP1 Windows 7 cannot boot on UEFI without CSM | Use CSM for dual-boot or upgrade to a supported OS |
UEFI Setup Sequence
Run through this short sequence once you are inside the firmware menu to make sure every setting is aligned:
- Boot Mode set to UEFI (or UEFI Only), CSM Disabled.
- Secure Boot set to Enabled. If grayed out, set OS Type to Windows UEFI mode first.
- TPM 2.0 (or PTT/fTPM) set to Enabled in the Security section.
- Disk partition converted to GPT if you are switching an existing Windows install from Legacy.
- Save & Exit with F10, and watch for a UEFI POST screen on reboot instead of the Legacy BIOS splash.
After the restart, open System Information in Windows and check that BIOS Mode reads UEFI. If it still says Legacy, revisit the CSM setting — it is the most common reason the switch does not stick.
References & Sources
- Microsoft Learn. “Boot to UEFI Mode or Legacy BIOS Mode.” The official Windows hardware documentation for switching firmware modes.