What is UEFI, and How to Use It on Windows? [Complete Guide]

What is Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)? What roles does UEFI play in Windows? On this page, we will explain to you clearly what UEFI is, the difference between UEFI and BIOS boot modes, and how to set up and enable UEFI mode on your own in Windows PCs. No worry about UEFI boot issues, you can also fix UEFI errors like an expert with the troubleshooting guide.

Go ahead and set up UEFI on your computer now.

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What is UEFI?

Definition of UEFI: Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is a modern standard for computer firmware that replaces the legacy BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). UEFI offers a more modern, secure, and efficient boot process, supporting graphical user interfaces, network booting, and security features. It enables faster system startup times and better compatibility with hardware devices. The UEFI specification is developed and maintained by the UEFI Forum.

According to Wikipedia, UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a standard that connects a computer's firmware with its operating system. It is considered a successor to the legacy BIOS. UEFI runs on a computer's motherboard via specialized firmware that is pre-installed at the time of manufacturing.

Why is UEFI important? How does it work?

In simple terms, when you try to start up your computer, the UEFI fires up first, and connects your hardware with your operating system, so that your OS can boot up and load information from your hard drive.

Here is a list of how operating systems handle UEFI:

1. UEFI is the first program that runs when a computer starts up.
2. UEFI checks for connected hardware components.
3. UEFI boots up and connects those components to the operating system.

Operating systems that support UEFI:

• Windows 11 (requires UEFI and Secure Boot)
• Windows 10 (64-bit)
• Windows 8.1 (64-bit)
• Windows 7 (64-bit)
• Windows Vista SP1 (64-bit)
• Windows Server 2022 (64-bit)
• Windows Server 2019 (64-bit)
• Windows Server 2016 (64-bit)
• Windows Server 2012 (64-bit)
• Windows Server 2008 R2 (64-bit)
• Windows Server 2008 (64-bit)

Note: Microsoft introduced UEFI for x64 Windows operating systems. Therefore, if your computer's operating system is x86 or 32-bit, you need to set up the BIOS legacy boot mode on your computer instead of using UEFI.

A Brief History of UEFI

• Mid-1990s: Original EFI release.
• 1998: EFI is renamed to Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI).
• July 2005: EFI version 1.10 is contributed to the Unified EFI Forum, leading to the development of the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI).
• January 31, 2006: UEFI 2.0 version released.
• January 7, 2007: UEFI 2.1 version released.
• March 2021: UEFI 2.9 version (latest version) released.

How do I enter UEFI firmware settings?

Note that UEFI firmware settings are only available on computers that support UEFI booting. So how do you access the UEFI firmware settings?

You have two options here:

Option 1: Use the F2/F10 or F12 key to enter UEFI setup

• Turn on your computer and press F2, F10, F12, Del, or Esc when you see the Windows logo.
• Navigate to the "Boot" tab in your BIOS settings.

Here, you can clearly view the UEFI firmware settings on your computer. Note that the hotkey to enter it may differ depending on the brand of your computer. Here's a list of common hotkeys to quickly access the UEFI settings:

• Dell: Press F2 or F12.
• HP: Press ESC or F10.
• Acer: Press F2 or Delete.
• ASUS: Press F2 or Delete.
• Lenovo: Press F1 or F2.
• MSI: Press Delete.
• Toshiba: Press F2.
• Samsung: Press F2.
• Surface: Hold down the Volume Up button.

Option 2: Access UEFI from settings

2. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced Startup, and click Restart Now. 3. Select Troubleshoot > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.

You can switch from UEFI boot mode to BIOS compatibility mode in the UEFI firmware settings, or you can configure your computer for better UEFI support. But what's the difference between UEFI and BIOS, and which is better for you?

Move on to the next section, and you will find out.

【UEFI vs Legacy BIOS: Which is Better and What's the Difference?】

As you know, BIOS is also called legacy BIOS, and it came before UEFI. However, UEFI has surpassed BIOS in many ways. In this part, we will show you the differences between these two firmware settings and which one suits you better. Also, you will learn when to use UEFI on your computer and when to use legacy BIOS.

What's the difference between UEFI and BIOS?

Similarity:

UEFI and BIOS serve the same purpose. Both start up first and connect firmware and hardware before loading the operating system.

Difference:

With this comparison chart, you can understand the main differences between UEFI and BIOS:

Video: UEFI vs. BIOS

When should you use UEFI, and when should you use BIOS?

Some people might have an idea whether their computer is UEFI-bootable, but don't worry if you're not sure when to use UEFI. Here are two lists to help you decide when to use UEFI versus BIOS:

Should I use UEFI or Legacy mode with my SSD?

• Use UEFI when installing the latest version of Windows on an SSD.
• You can use BIOS to install an older operating system on an SSD if its capacity is less than 2 TB and it's not intended for the new OS installation.

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How to Set Up and Use UEFI on Windows 10/11 [Complete Guide]

How can I set up my computer to install Windows 11 in UEFI mode? Or, can I configure my PC for UEFI mode? Follow this comprehensive guide to set up UEFI and prepare your computer for installing the latest Windows operating system or for a specific purpose:

Guideline 1: Determine if I Need UEFI to Install Windows 10/11

Before you begin configuring UEFI, you'll need to confirm whether your computer requires it. Let's start there:

First, confirm whether I need UEFI.

Please note that UEFI only supports 64-bit operating systems. Thus, make sure your computer is 64-bit. If you're trying to install the latest Windows 11, you'll need to have UEFI enabled.

Second, check if Windows is using UEFI

You can access your UEFI settings following the above guide, or check here to confirm whether your computer uses UEFI or BIOS.

Step 1: Press Windows + R, type MSInfo32, and click "OK".

Step 2: Find out whether your operating system is running in BIOS or UEFI mode.

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Guideline 2: Convert the Operating System Disk to GPT for UEFI Boot

With the boot mode identified, you should now check the disk type used by Windows. Note that UEFI boot mode is only compatible with GPT disk type.

You need to check and configure your operating system's disk to be in the GPT format. Here's how you can do it:

**First, determine whether Windows is installed in MBR or GPT format.**

Just go to “Windows Disk Management,” right-click on the OS disk, select “Properties,” and then go to the “Volume” tab to check the type of disk:

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Aside from disk management, you can also use Partition Assistant or CMD to check. Read on to learn how to tell if Windows is MBR or GPT via the other two methods.

If your Windows drive is using MBR, you'll need to follow the additional instructions here to convert it to GPT.

Then, use a third-party disk conversion tool to convert the MBR disk to GPT without data loss.

Experienced Windows users might know how to convert disk from MBR to GPT with Disk Management or CMD commands. While it works, both methods require deleting all partitions, which leads to severe data loss.

To manage all the disk data, you can use a third-party disk conversion software – Partition Master Tool for help.

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Guide 3: Changing the BIOS Mode from Legacy to UEFI for Windows 10/11

After configuring the operating system disk as GPT, the next step is to switch the BIOS mode from Legacy to UEFI. Here are the steps involved:

Step 1. Restart your computer and press the F2 key to enter the BIOS Setup Utility.

Step 2. Click on the "Startup" or "System Configuration" tab, and then click "Boot."

Step 3. Under the Boot tab, select UEFI/BIOS Boot Mode and press Enter.

Step 4. Use the up or down arrow keys to switch the Boot Mode from Legacy to UEFI.

Step 5 Press F10 to save changes and exit the BIOS setup.

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Note: If you're installing Windows 11 on a hard drive, you'll also need to enable Secure Boot in UEFI boot mode.

Step-by-step guide:

Additional Tip: Installing Windows 11 on GPT using UEFI

Assuming you've followed the three guides above to set up your computer for UEFI mode, it's time to install Windows 11 on your machine. Here's how:

Step 1. Download the Windows 11 ISO file, and then create a Windows installation media on a blank USB.

Step 2. Restart your computer and press F2 to enter the BIOS setup. Configure your computer to boot from the installation USB.

Step 3: Choose your language, time and currency formats, and keyboard or input method, then click “Next.”

Step 4. Click “Install Now” and choose “I don't have a product key” to proceed.

Step 5: Choose the edition of Windows 11 you want, then click “Next.”

Follow the instructions on the screen.

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Troubleshooting: Fixing and Preventing UEFI Errors

While setting up a new Windows operating system with UEFI, you might encounter various types of UEFI errors. If you run into any of the errors listed below, use the corresponding fix to resolve it:

Error 1: Unable to Delete the EFI Partition

Reason: The "Delete Volume" option is disabled due to the protection mechanism of Windows.

Solution: A Complete Guide to Delete UEFI NTFS Partition (EFI Partition)

Error 2: Windows 11/10 fails to boot due to issues with the Master Boot Record

Reason: Damaged MBR, UEFI boot mode not enabled, etc.

Solution: Refer to How to Fix UEFI Boot on Windows 11/10.

Error 3: The UEFI boot loader is corrupted, and Windows cannot start

Cause: The EFI/UEFI boot loader is corrupted or damaged.

Fix:  Repair Windows 11 UEFI Bootloader

Error 4: Want to Boot a Disk with UEFI to Restart or Revive a Frozen Computer

Reason: The computer fails to start due to virus attacks, damaged MBR, bad sectors, or corrupted system files.

Solution: Create a Bootable UEFI USB Drive and Fix the No Bootable Device Error

If you have boot issues due to UEFI or any other reasons, you can relax. You can opt for personalized technical support to successfully resolve the issue of computer won't start or your computer won't turn on.