How to Fix Missing UEFI Firmware Settings in Windows 10?

The UEFI BIOS is a special software program that connects your computer’s firmware to its operating system (OS). In fact, the BIOS is the first program that runs when you turn on your PC. It checks to see what hardware components your PC has, wakes the components up, and hands them over to the OS.

But while trying to open the UEFI BIOS menu, you might find that you’re unable to access the UEFI Firmware Settings. This could hinder you from fixing several system issues.

Now, if you can't find the UEFI Firmware Settings on your PC, we’ll show you how to bring them back.

Why Are the UEFI Firmware Settings Missing?

Depending on your PC’s manufacturer, you can access the UEFI BIOS settings in various ways. But if you can't locate them, you're probably wondering, "why are the UEFI Firmware Settings not showing?"

Well, if you can’t find UEFI Firmware Settings in the BIOS menu, here are some common reasons for this issue:

• Your PC’s motherboard doesn’t support UEFI.
• The Fast Startup function is preventing you from accessing the UEFI Firmware Settings menu.
• Windows 10 was installed in Legacy Mode.

Let's now explore some solutions for the "Windows 10 no UEFI Firmware Settings" issue.

1. Verify That Your PC Is Equipped With UEFI

Before attempting any potential fix, you need to verify that your PC’s motherboard is equipped to support UEFI. If your PC is an older model, the chances are that the UEFI Firmware Settings are unavailable.

Here’s how to check your PC’s BIOS Mode:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box.
2. Type msinfo32 and press Enter to open the System Information screen.
3. Select System Summary on the left-hand side pane.
4. Scroll down on the right-hand side pane and locate the BIOS Mode option. The BIOS Mode value should either be "UEFI" or "Legacy." If it's "Legacy," then you don't have UEFI Firmware Settings on your PC.

2. Bypass the Fast Startup Function

The Fast Startup function allows you to boot up your PC quickly. When enabled, the feature could cut off the delay in loading some UEFI BIOS menu options. But then this feature could also prevent you from accessing the UEFI Firmware Settings.

So, bypassing the Fast Startup function could help resolve the "UEFI Firmware Settings missing Windows 10" issue.

Here are the steps for bypassing this function:

1. Open the Windows Start Menu and select the Power icon.
2. Hold the Shift key and then select Shut down from the power options. This will bypass Windows 10 Fast Startup and shut down your PC completely.
3. Finally, power on your computer again and start pressing the dedicated BIOS Setup key.

If this helps, you might consider disabling the Fast Startup feature to make the UEFI Firmware Settings easily accessible. However, bear in mind that this will mean slightly longer boot-up times.

3. Create a "Boot-to-UEFI Firmware Settings" Desktop Shortcut

Alternatively, create a desktop shortcut that forces your PC to boot directly into the UEFI Firmware Settings menu.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Right-click on a blank space on the desktop, select New, and then select Shortcut.
2. Type shutdown /r /fw in the "Location" box and click the Next button.
3. Pick a suitable name for the shortcut and then click Finish.
4. Right-click on the shortcut, select Properties, and then select the Advanced button.
5. On the next screen, check the Run as administrator box and hit OK.
6. Select Apply > OK to apply these changes.

To use the shortcut, simply double-click on it. This should restart your PC directly into the UEFI Firmware Settings menu.

4. Change the BIOS From Legacy to UEFI by Converting MBR Disk to GPT Disk

Your Windows PC either uses a Master Boot Record (MBR) or a GUID Partition Table (GPT) disk. Even if your motherboard is equipped with UEFI capabilities, UEFI Firmware Settings won’t be accessible if your drive is equipped with an MBR disk. To resolve the issue, you’ll need to switch the BIOS from Legacy to UEFI by converting the MBR disk to a GPT disk.

Considering that you are converting a system disk, it’s best to create a system image to back up your system. In fact, it's highly advisable to consider backing up your system first since there's the potential for data loss during this process.

If you know that your partition is the MBR-type and your system can boot from UEFI, then you’re ready. You can go ahead with converting your drive to GPT format.

Otherwise, here’s how you can check whether your PC is equipped with an MBR or GPT disk:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command dialog box.
2. Type diskmgmt.msc and click Enter to open the Disk Management window.
3. Right-click on Disk 0 (or the disk that contains the Windows installation) and select Properties.

Click the Volumes tab in the Properties screen. Next, look for the Partition style option under Disk Information.

 

If the partition style is GUID Partition Table (GPT), then there’s no need to continue with the MBR-to-GPT disk conversion.

5. Clear the CMOS Settings to Restore the Default BIOS Settings

But before clearing the CMOS settings, you have to locate the CMOS battery and jumpers through these steps:

1. Turn off your computer and unplug it from the power source.
2. Remove the bottom cover of your PC and look for the CMOS battery and jumpers on the motherboard.
3. To easily locate the CMOS battery, look for a “CLR CMOS” reading on the motherboard. The battery should be somewhere near this reading.
4. Next, locate the jumpers. Usually, you’d find three pins where the CMOS jumpers are located. The jumpers will be located on only two of the three pins.

Now, let's check out how to clear the CMOS settings:

1. If the CMOS jumpers are on the first and second pins, temporarily shift them to the second and third pins. If your motherboard has only two pins, the jumpers will likely be plugged into one pin. In this case, temporarily plug the jumpers on both pins.
2. Next, remove the CMOS battery from its slot. From there, wait for about 15 seconds and then put it back on.
3. Move the CMOS jumpers back to their original pins.
4. Put the computer cover back on, plug in your computer, and then power it on. This should resolve the "no UEFI Firmware Settings" error.

On more advanced motherboards, you’ll find a designated button for resetting the CMOS settings. This will be labeled “CMOS,” “CMOS_SW,” or something similar. You can reset the CMOS settings by pressing this button and holding it down for a few seconds.