How to Enter the BIOS and Boot Menu on Your Laptop or PC

If you ever need to fix something on your computer- like changing the boot order, turning on virtualization, or dealing with startup issues- you’ll probably need to get into the BIOS or Boot Menu. The thing is, not every computer uses the same key to access these menus.

There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Key

On desktop PCs, the DEL key is usually what gets you into the BIOS. But with laptops, especially ultrabooks or gaming models, it’s a mixed bag. The key you need can vary a lot – even between different models from the same brand.

Here are a couple of examples:

• On ASUS laptops, it’s often F2
• Acer might use F10

Not sure which key works for your system? Watch the screen when your computer starts up. It usually flashes a message like “Press [key] to enter setup”. If you miss it, just restart and try one of these—chances are, one will work:

• DEL
• ESC
• Enter
• F1 to F12

From what we’ve seen, DEL and F2 are the most common.

BIOS and Boot Menu Keys for Laptops

BIOS and Boot Menu Keys for Desktops

Quick Difference: BIOS vs Boot Menu

• BIOS is where you tweak system-level settings like boot order or turning on features like virtualization.
• The Boot Menu lets you choose a device to boot from just for that session—super handy when you’re installing Windows or booting from a USB.