Windows 10: Create Shortcut to Boot to UEFI Firmware Settings in Windows 10

How to: Create Shortcut to Boot to UEFI Firmware Settings in Windows 10


Information Most computers have a specific key which when pressed when computer is started lets user to access UEFI (Firmware) settings. On laptop I'm using to write this, it's the ESC key. However, I quite often press the key too late missing the given timeframe, as this laptop by default only waits only a few seconds before booting to Windows.

Another option to boot to UEFI settings is to restart to advanced startup options (tutorial) and go from there.

This tutorial will show a third not well known but extremely practical way to restart directly to UEFI settings using a shortcut. Notice that the shortcut will not work on BIOS based machines, UEFI machines where entering firmware settings is disabled like in for instance on some rental computers, Hyper-V virtual machines and so on.

Here's how:

1.) Right click on an empty spot on desktop, select New > Shortcut:



2.) Enter the following command and click Next:
shutdown /r /fw



3.) Name the shortcut as you wish, click Finish:



4.) Right click the new shortcut and select Properties:



5.) In Shortcut tab, select Advanced, select Run as administrator, click OK to close Advanced Properties, click OK to save changed Properties:


Note Usually the shutdown command does not require elevated (Run as administrator) privileges. However, using the /fw switch (fw = firmware) to boot to UEFI settings is an exeption; whenever /fw is used with shutdown command, it needs to be elevated. That is why we must elevate the shortcut.


6.) Optional: If you want to change the icon of the shortcut, see this tutorial: Customization Change Icon of Shortcut in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
On the left shortcut with default icon, on the right with custom icon:





7.) You can now restart your PC entering UEFI settings simply by double clicking the shortcut. As it is elevated, a UAC prompt will be shown. Click Yes:


Note If you want to skip UAC prompt, see this tutorial: Customization Create Elevated Shortcut without UAC prompt in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums


8.) You will get a notification about Windows signing you out. Click Close, close all possibly open applications and let your PC restart to UEFI settings:



9.) Your PC will now restart directly to UEFI settings (below a sample screenshot, actual settings page might be different based on actual UEFI manufacturer and version):




That's it! Couldn't be easier

Kari


Related Tutorials

• How to Boot to UEFI Firmware Settings from inside Windows 10
• How to Add Boot to UEFI Firmware Settings Context Menu in Windows 10

:)

 

Laptop grinding to a halt

Please confirm you created the bootable flash stick with the media creation tool ONLY. Does it boot does it boot as a UEFI device in another UEFI PC?

You said that you UEFI boot is enabled in the firmware settings, correct? Now look at all other tabs of the firmware to report back settings for UEFI, CSM, Legacy BIOS, and secure boot.

However if UEFI boot is enabled then using the Boot menu key trigger you should have a UEFI choice for the flash stick if it was created correctly. I would try creating it again or create bootable DVD to compare.

 

Questions reguarding clean installation of windows 10

You need to disable secure boot from UEFI settings.

UEFI Firmware Settings - Boot to from inside Windows 10
then see secure boot settings and disable.

 

Works on my end, no problem. Love it and something I'll use as I'm always in the BIOS. Big +1 *Thumbs

 

Thanks! You have a BIOS machine?

 

No, UEFI. Should have said that. BTW is there a way to make this a desktop right click? That is right clicking the desktop gives me the option to choose this shortcut?


Here's mine -

 

As far as I know there's no way to add a context menu item to be run elevated without third party tools like NirCMD and such (NirCmd - Windows command line tool).

 

Thanks. I just pinned it to my taskbar. Anyway, again, your tutorial worked perfectly.

Tried to rep, but couldn't do it. I owe you one though *Wink

Peace *Cool

 

Thanks for feedback!

 

Hi,

This does not work on my system (which is fully shown in my system specs). I am using legacy BIOS. I followed the instructions and created the shortcut. When I double-click on it, CMD appears for a fraction of a second, and then nothing happens. I am still on my Desktop. If I right-click on the shortcut, then run-as-administrator, the same thing happens.

My OS is Win 10 Pro, fully updated.

Note: I do not really need this shortcut but I like to try new things.

 

Working on a tutorial for that now using a PowerShell wrapper for elevation. I'll post back when it's ready. *Smile

 

Your screenshot tells the full story (I've highlighted the error message):




This method works without issues on all UEFI based machines, legacy BIOS machines might get the error like you did.

Cool!

 

Excellent. Looking forward to it *Smile

 

@sygnus21

Before I finalize it, how does this look for the context menu name, icon, and location?

 

Perfect. That's just how I like it. Thanks! *Smile