Microsoft – Create restart to BIOS icon/hotkey

Microsoft – Create restart to BIOS icon/hotkey

Problem

A customer needs an easy way to restart the computer into BIOS settings screen for changing settings and finds it hard to press the right key to enter this mode from the keyboard as the machine is starting.


Applies to

  1. Windows 11

Resolution

Please try creating a desktop shortcut to reboot into the BIOS screen using the steps below:

Using the mouse

  1. Right click any empty part of the Windows Desktop.
  2. Then in the context menu choose New > Shortcut.
  3. In the wizard enter or copy/paste the command line shown below:

    shutdown /r /fw /t 1

  4. Then click Next, Add a friendly name the item and click Next again.

Warning
Warning!
Please make sure any unsaved work is saved before using the hotkey as you are committed to restarting when activating the shortcut.

Using the keyboard

  1. Press Windows+D to move to desktop.
  2. Then press SHIFT+F10 to open context menu and use ARROW keys to select New > Shortcut.  If you do not find New in the menu press ESCAPE then press control+spacebar and press SHIFT+F10 again.
  3. In the wizard enter or copy/paste the code below then press ALT+N to go to the next stage:

     shutdown /r /o /f /t 00

  4. Then enter a friendly name for the shortcut and press ENTER.  
  5. [Optional ]To add a hotkey to the icon focus on the newly created shortcut and press ALT+ENTER to open its properties or skip to step 7 below.
  6. Then TAB to the shortcut key edit box and type a single letter (for example letter B).
  7. Then TAB to the Apply button and press SPACEBAR and then press ENTER.
Warning!
Please make sure any unsaved work is saved before using the hotkey as you are committed to restarting when activating the shortcut.

Using Restart to BIOS

When access is needed to the BIOS either double click or press ENTER on the Restart To BIOS icon and the computer will shut down and then restart into BIOS settings mode.

Supplementary information

Switches used following shutdown command are options for:
/r  =  restart
/fw restart to firmware user interface 
/t = wait time executing firmware interface