How To Enable UEFI Boot | BIOS Mode Switch

Configuring a PC to boot in UEFI mode requires entering the BIOS setup, disabling Legacy or CSM support, and selecting UEFI as the boot mode before saving and restarting.

You can unlock faster boot speeds and make a PC ready for Windows 11 when you know how to enable UEFI boot in the firmware settings. The switch requires three changes inside the BIOS menu and takes about five minutes from start to finish. UEFI replaces the decades-old Legacy BIOS with a more modern system that supports larger drives, boots faster, and adds security features like Secure Boot that Windows 11 checks for during installation.

The exact menu labels differ slightly between motherboard brands, but the three core changes — disabling CSM, selecting UEFI mode, and enabling Secure Boot — stay the same across ASUS, Dell, HP, and every other manufacturer. What follows is the full sequence for both methods, plus the gotchas that trip up most first-timers.

Switching To UEFI Boot: What Your PC Needs First

Not every PC can switch to UEFI boot right away. The hardware must support UEFI firmware (nearly every system sold after 2012 does), and the operating system must be a 64-bit version of Windows 10 or 11 — 32-bit Windows lacks UEFI support entirely. The table below covers every requirement to check before you start changing settings.

Method 1: Enable UEFI Boot From Windows Settings

This is the most reliable route because Windows takes you directly to the firmware menu without requiring a perfectly timed key press. Use this method on any PC running Windows 10 or 11 that boots to the desktop normally.

1. Open Settings > System > Recovery.
2. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.
3. The PC reboots into a blue screen. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
4. Select UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart. The system boots straight into the BIOS menu.
5. Navigate to the Boot or Security tab using the arrow keys.
6. Find Legacy Boot or CSM (Compatibility Support Module) and set it to Disabled.
7. Under Boot Mode or Boot List Option, select UEFI or UEFI Only.
8. Locate Secure Boot in the Security tab and set it to Enabled. Load default Secure Boot keys if prompted.
9. Press F10 to save changes and exit, then confirm the prompt.
10. The PC restarts with UEFI boot active. If it boots to the desktop, the switch succeeded.

Microsoft’s official boot-to-UEFI guide covers the same procedure with additional notes for Windows install scenarios.

Method 2: Enable UEFI Boot From The Power-On Screen

When Windows won’t boot or you prefer the direct route, the power-on key press method works on any PC. The critical detail is timing — tap the key rapidly the moment the manufacturer logo appears, never hold it.

1. Shut down the PC completely. Power it back on.
2. Immediately tap the BIOS access key for your brand: DEL (ASUS, MSI), F2 (Dell, ASRock), ESC or F10 (HP). Tap every half-second until the BIOS menu appears.
3. Navigate to the Boot tab using the arrow keys.
4. Find CSM (Compatibility Support Module) and set it to Disabled.
5. Under Boot Mode or UEFI/BIOS Boot Mode, select UEFI or UEFI Only.
6. Set Boot Device Control to UEFI Only and Boot from Storage Devices to UEFI driver first if those additional options appear.
7. Press F10 to save and exit, then confirm the prompt.

What Key Opens The BIOS On Your PC?

Missing the key press is the single most common reason people can’t reach the BIOS menu. The correct key depends on your motherboard or PC brand, and it flashes on screen for roughly two seconds before Windows loads. The table below lists the key for every major manufacturer and where UEFI settings live inside their BIOS.

Three Common Mistakes That Stop UEFI Boot From Working

Even with the right settings, a few missteps can leave the PC stuck in Legacy mode or unable to boot at all. These three issues account for nearly every failed attempt.

CSM still enabled. The Compatibility Support Module lets the BIOS fall back to Legacy boot even when UEFI is selected. Disable CSM explicitly — setting only the boot mode to UEFI without turning off CSM often does nothing.

MBR partition instead of GPT. UEFI firmware cannot boot from an MBR drive. If the system disk uses the Master Boot Record, the PC will either boot in Legacy mode anyway or show a black screen after the POST. Convert the disk using Microsoft’s mbr2gpt tool before switching, and back up everything first.

Legacy install media used after the switch. A USB stick created with the standard Windows Media Creation Tool sometimes writes a Legacy-compatible boot sector. Once UEFI mode is enabled, that same stick won’t appear as a boot option. Recreate the media using the same tool but choose the UEFI option, or manually copy the .iso contents to a FAT32-formatted drive.

How To Verify UEFI Boot Is Active

After saving the BIOS changes and restarting, confirm the switch took effect before moving on. Open the Start menu, type msinfo32, and press Enter. In System Information, look for two lines. The BIOS Mode field should read UEFI — if it says Legacy, the changes did not save, or CSM is still active. Scroll to Secure Boot State and confirm it displays On for full Windows 11 compatibility. One quick check in Disk Manager under Properties > Volumes > Partition Style should also read GUID Partition Table (GPT). When all three fields show the right values, the switch is complete and the PC will boot in UEFI mode every time from now on.