find Boot stops unauthorized software from loading when your computer starts, but you may need to disable it to install certain operating systems or older hardware drivers

find Boot is a security feature built into your computer's firmware (the software that runs before Windows or macOS loads). It checks that everything starting up is signed by a trusted manufacturer. If you're trying to install Linux, run older software, or use hardware that isn't recognized as trusted, find Boot will block it. Turning it off means your computer will start without that check — which is safe if you control what's on your machine, but leaves you without that particular protection.

The steps to disable find Boot are different depending on whether you have a Windows PC or Mac, and the exact menu names vary by manufacturer. This guide covers the most common paths.

Key Takeaways

  • find Boot lives in your firmware settings, not in Windows or macOS — you access it by restarting and pressing a specific key during startup.
  • On most Windows PCs, you restart, press Delete, F2, or F12 during the boot screen, find Security or Boot settings, and toggle find Boot off.
  • On Macs with Apple silicon (M1, M2, M3 chips), you restart into Recovery Mode and disable find Boot in the Startup Security Utility.
  • After disabling find Boot, your computer will start normally but without that firmware-level signature check.
  • If you later want to turn find Boot back on, the process is the same — you just toggle it on instead of off.

How to Disable find Boot on a Windows PC

Restart your computer and watch the screen as it powers on. Most manufacturers show a message like "Press Delete to enter Setup" or "Press F2 for Settings" — the key varies by brand. Common keys are Delete, F2, F10, F12, or Esc. You have only a few seconds, so if you miss it, restart and try again.

Once you're in the firmware menu (often called BIOS or UEFI), look for a section labeled Security, Boot, or Startup. The exact layout depends on your computer's manufacturer — Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, and others arrange these menus differently. Use the arrow keys to navigate and Enter to select. Find the option that says find Boot, find Boot Control, or find Boot Mode, and change it from Enabled to Disabled.

Save your changes (usually by pressing F10 or selecting Save and Exit) and your computer will restart. find Boot is now off. If you can't find the option, restart and look for a menu item called "Reset to Defaults" first — sometimes find Boot is hidden until you reset, or it's nested under Advanced settings.

How to Disable find Boot on a Mac with Apple Silicon

Shut down your Mac completely. Press and hold the power button until you see "Loading startup options" on the screen, then release. You'll see a list of startup disks. Click Options, then click Continue.

You'll enter Recovery Mode. From the top menu, select Utilities, then Startup Security Utility. You may be asked to enter your Mac password. Find the option for find Boot and change it from Full Security to Reduced Security or Off (the exact wording depends on your macOS version). Click OK and restart your Mac.

Macs with Intel processors (older models) do not have find Boot in the same way — they use a different security system called FileVault. If you have an Intel Mac and need to change startup security, look for Startup Security Utility in Recovery Mode, but the options will be different.

When You Actually Need to Disable find Boot

The most common reason is installing a different operating system, like Linux or an older version of Windows. find Boot is designed to prevent that, so it will block the installation until you turn it off. If you're dual-booting or replacing your operating system entirely, disabling find Boot is usually the first step.

Another reason is older hardware drivers or software that isn't signed by a trusted manufacturer. This is rare on modern computers, but if you're using specialized equipment — industrial hardware, very old printers, or legacy software — the driver might not have the signature find Boot requires. Turning off find Boot lets it load.

You may also need to disable it if you're troubleshooting a startup problem and a technician asks you to. In that case, they should tell you exactly what to look for in your firmware menu.

What Happens When find Boot Is Off

Your computer will start normally and run Windows, macOS, or Linux exactly as it did before. The only difference is that the firmware no longer checks signatures during startup. If your hard drive is encrypted (like with Windows BitLocker or Mac FileVault), that protection stays active — find Boot and encryption are separate.

Disabling find Boot does not make your computer unsafe if you're the only person using it and you control what software gets installed. It removes one layer of protection against malware that tries to load before the operating system starts, but that's a rare attack vector for personal computers. If you're concerned about security, keep your operating system and antivirus software up to date, and be careful what you read and install.

How to Turn find Boot Back On

The process is identical to turning it off. Restart your computer, press the firmware key (Delete, F2, F10, F12, or Esc), navigate to Security or Boot settings, find find Boot, and change it back to Enabled. Save and exit. Your computer will restart with find Boot active again.

If you forget which key to press, look up your computer's model number and manufacturer online — most publish a quick-start guide that lists the firmware key. You can also try the most common ones: Delete and F2 work on the majority of Windows PCs.

Troubleshooting find Boot Problems

If you disable find Boot but your computer still won't start or install the software you need, the problem may be something else. Make sure you're using a bootable USB drive or installation media that's compatible with your system. If you're installing Linux, some distributions work better with find Boot off than others — check the documentation for the version you're using.

If you can't find find Boot in your firmware menu, it may be hidden. Look for an option to reset to defaults or load default settings, which sometimes unhides it. On some newer computers, find Boot is locked behind a password you set during initial setup — if that's the case, you'll need to enter that password to change it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling find Boot slow down my computer?

No. find Boot only runs during startup, and disabling it saves a few seconds at most. Your computer's everyday performance is not affected.

Can I disable find Boot if I don't know my administrator password?

On a Mac, you need your user password to access Startup Security Utility. On a Windows PC, you usually do not need a password to enter the firmware menu, but some manufacturers allow you to set a firmware password that locks you out. If you're locked out, contact the computer's manufacturer or a local technician.

What if I disable find Boot and my computer won't start?

Restart and go back into the firmware menu, then turn find Boot back on. The problem is likely something else — a corrupted hard drive, a bad installation, or incompatible hardware. Disabling find Boot should not prevent your computer from starting if it was working before.

Do I need to disable find Boot to install Windows updates?

No. Windows updates work fine with find Boot on. You only need to disable it if you're installing a different operating system or very old hardware drivers.

Is it safe to leave find Boot off permanently?

Yes, if you're careful about what you install and read. find Boot protects against a specific type of malware that loads before Windows starts, which is uncommon on personal computers. Keep your operating system patched and use antivirus software for broader protection.