System failure, boot loop, and hardware incompatibility are common issues that can arise from misconfigured BIOS settings. If you have messed up BIOS/UEFI settings, here’s how to reset it.
1. Hold Down the Power Button for an Extended Period
This is the easiest method, but unfortunately, it’s limited to some newer devices. If your PC was manufactured after 2020, it might have this recovery functionality. You can either check the PC manual troubleshooting section or just experiment to see if it works.
All you have to do is turn off the PC and hold the power button for 15-30 seconds. It should give some kind of signal like a beep or flashing light indicator confirming that BIOS/UEFI has been reset.
2. Reset through BIOS/UEFI Settings
If your PC powers on, you can access the BIOS/UEFI settings and restore them to their default state. Follow these steps:
To enter the BIOS/UEFI, you’ll need to press a specific key during startup. The key varies depending on the PC manufacturer but commonly includes F2, Del, F10, F1, Esc, and F12. You can find the exact key by searching online for your PC’s brand and model.
Turn on your PC and repeatedly press the appropriate key as soon as the manufacturer’s logo appears. This will open the BIOS/UEFI settings.
For UEFI systems, there should be a Load Defaults button on the main screen that you can click to reset it. For legacy BIOS, move to the Exit category using the arrow keys and select Load Setup Defaults.
Tip: You can also open Windows Recovery Environment and go to Troubleshoot -> Advanced options > BIOS Settings to launch BIOS.
3. Reset Your PC CMOS to Reset BIOS
If your PC isn’t booting or you can’t access the BIOS, then you may reset CMOS
(Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) that will reset the BIOS as well. CMOS is a small battery-powered chip on your PC board that stores important system information like BIOS settings, boot order, hardware configurations, etc.
To reset it, you can take out the CMOS battery (which looks like a coin) and wait for 5-10 minutes to let any residual electrical charge dissipate. Once you put it back, it should reset the CMOS and BIOS.
Many motherboards also offer dedicated buttons or jumpers to reset CMOS. Here’s a complete guide to resetting your PC CMOS.
4. Update the BIOS to Reset it
This method might be a bit unconventional, but it’s effective if you want to reset the BIOS from within the operating system. Upgrading your PC’s BIOS often involves overwriting the existing BIOS with a new version, which essentially resets it. You can either install an updated BIOS version (if available) or reinstall the same version only to reset.
Updating the BIOS requires some manual steps, primarily finding the correct BIOS version on your motherboard manufacturer’s website and installing it. Check out this step-by-step guide on how to upgrade your PC’s BIOS.
5. Use a BIOS Reset Tool
You can use your motherboard manufacturer’s utility software or a third-party app to reset BIOS. This method isn’t the most reliable as newer PCs have security in place to prevent direct interferences with the BIOS. However, It can work if you have a supported motherboard or running legacy BIOS.
Not all manufacturer software utilities offer a BIOS reset option, you can check your motherboard manufacturer’s utility tool to see if it supports it. Below we are listing utility software for the most popular motherboard manufacturers that do support BIOS reset:
If the manufacturer’s utility doesn’t work, a third-party CMOS overwriting tool might work (at least for legacy BIOS). A third-party app like RWEverything or CMOS De-Animator can overwrite the CMOS to force the PC to reset it.
In CMOS De-Animator, click on the Actions menu and select CMOS options -> Wipe checksum. Afterward, press the Ctrl + X keys to start the process. This will only reset the BIOS. If you want a full CMOS reset including passwords and hardware configurations, then select the Wipe Full option instead.
You’ll have to restart the PC afterward to let BIOS detect the changes and reset.
Some of these methods may work or not depending on whether you have UEFI or BIOS. UEFI usually has better security that can make it difficult to reset it from inside the operating system. Furthermore, some motherboards may store sensitive information separately (like BIOS password), making it difficult to reset.
Image credit: Freepik. All screenshots by Karrar Haider.
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