How To Enter Lenovo BIOS | Key By Model

To enter the BIOS on a Lenovo, press F1 for ThinkPads, F2 for IdeaPads and Legions, or use the Shift+Restart method in Windows 10/11.

The moment you press the power button on a Lenovo, a very short window opens where the system waits for a BIOS command. Hit the wrong key or tap too slowly, and you end up staring at the Windows login screen instead of the UEFI settings menu. The fix comes down to knowing your exact model line and having a reliable failsafe ready when the function keys don’t register.

The table below maps the primary key to each major Lenovo family. The sections that follow walk through the exact timing for each method and what to do when the standard key press fails.

What Key Opens the BIOS on a ThinkPad?

Business-focused ThinkPads, ThinkCentres, and ThinkStations use F1 as the gate key. The timing works like this: power on the system, and as soon as the Lenovo or ThinkPad logo appears, tap F1 repeatedly at a steady pace. You do not need to hold it down—rapid presses catch the interrupt signal.

On newer models like the ThinkPad T14s Gen 6, Lenovo changed the startup flow. You must press Enter when the prompt “To interrupt normal startup” appears at the bottom of the screen, then press F1 from the resulting menu. If you miss that window, the F1 + Power hold method works reliably: press and hold F1, tap the power button, and keep holding F1 until the system beeps or the BIOS screen loads.

For the full step-by-step with model-specific notes, see Lenovo’s official BIOS entry guide for ThinkPads and ThinkCentres.

Does the Novo Button Still Work on Modern IdeaPads?

Consumer IdeaPads, Yoga, and Flex laptops rely on F2 (or Fn+F2 if the function keys are mapped to media actions). Tap F2 immediately when the power LED turns on. On many current models, a small recessed button called the Novo button sits on the left or right edge of the chassis. Pressing it with a paper clip opens a boot menu where you can select BIOS Setup directly. This method bypasses the timing challenge entirely and works even if Fast Boot is active in Windows.

The Failsafe: Enter Lenovo BIOS From Windows With Shift+Restart

When the function keys fail—and on modern SSDs they often do because the boot window is measured in milliseconds—the Shift+Restart method enters the BIOS without any timing guesswork. This works on every Lenovo running Windows 10 or 11.

• Click Start > Power icon.
• Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.
• While holding Shift, click Restart.
• When the blue recovery screen appears, release Shift.
• Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.

The system reboots directly into the BIOS interface. This method works from the login screen too: click the power icon in the bottom right, hold Shift, and click Restart.

Your Lenovo BIOS Entry Game Plan

Before you press the power button, identify your model line and the correct key. ThinkPad and ThinkCentre users lead with F1. IdeaPad, Legion, and Yoga users lead with F2. If the logo flashes and Windows loads anyway, do not fight the timing a second time—boot into Windows, use Shift+Restart, and route directly to UEFI Firmware Settings. That sequence works every time, regardless of boot speed, Fast Boot settings, or SSD speed.

Entering the BIOS is a safe operation. The interface is read-only until you choose Save & Exit. You can explore the menus freely without risking your data or system boot order.