Getting into your MSI BIOS during startup

To access your MSI BIOS, restart your computer and press Delete or F2 repeatedly as soon as you see the MSI logo on your screen — before Windows loads. The exact key depends on your motherboard model, but Delete is most common on MSI boards. You need to press it many times in quick succession, not just once, because the startup window closes fast.

If you miss the window, let Windows finish loading, then restart and try again. Some MSI boards also let you enter BIOS from Windows itself: go to Settings > System > Recovery, click Restart Now under Advanced Startup, then choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > UEFI Firmware Settings. This method is slower but gives you more time to get it right.

When you successfully enter BIOS, you will see a menu with your system information — CPU temperature, RAM amount, storage drives, and boot order. The screen looks different from Windows and uses keyboard navigation instead of a mouse. Take a moment to locate the Exit menu, which is usually on the right side, so you know how to leave without saving changes if you need to.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Delete or F2 repeatedly during startup, before the Windows logo appears, to enter MSI BIOS on most motherboards.
  • If you miss the startup window, you can restart from Windows Settings and choose UEFI Firmware Settings instead.
  • Navigate BIOS using only your keyboard — arrow keys to move, Enter to select, and Delete or F10 to save and exit.
  • Change only the settings you came to change, then save and exit, because incorrect BIOS settings can prevent your computer from starting.
  • If your computer will not start after a BIOS change, most MSI boards have a CMOS battery you can remove for 10 seconds to reset BIOS to factory defaults.

Understanding the main BIOS screens on MSI boards

The first screen you see is usually the Main tab, which shows your hardware — processor model and speed, total RAM, and connected storage drives. This screen is read-only; you cannot change anything here. It is useful for confirming that BIOS recognizes all your components correctly. If a drive or RAM module is missing from this list, it may not be seated properly in its slot.

The other tabs across the top — Advanced, Integrated Peripherals, Power Management, Boot, and Security — are where you make changes. Most users only need the Boot tab to change which drive starts first, or the Power Management tab to adjust fan speed or enable power-saving features. The Advanced tab contains CPU and memory settings that you should not change unless you are overclocking or troubleshooting a specific problem.

Changing boot order to start from a different drive

Boot order determines which drive your computer checks first when it starts. If you want to install Windows from a USB drive or boot into a recovery tool, you need to move that USB drive to the top of the boot list. Go to the Boot tab, find Boot Option #1 or Boot Priority, and use the arrow keys to highlight it. Press Enter to see your available drives, then select your USB drive.

After you change boot order, press F10 or go to Exit > Save Changes and Exit to save your change and restart. Your computer will now check the USB drive first. Once you finish using the USB drive — after installing Windows or running a repair tool — come back into BIOS and move your main hard drive back to Boot Option #1, then save and exit again.

If you do not see your USB drive in the boot list, it may not be plugged in, or the BIOS may not recognize it. Try a different USB port, preferably one on the back of your case near the motherboard. Some motherboards also have a Boot Menu key (often F11 or F12 on MSI boards) that lets you choose a boot device without entering BIOS — check your motherboard manual for this option.

Adjusting fan speed and temperature settings

The Power Management or Hardware Monitor tab shows your current CPU and case temperatures and lets you control fan speed. Most MSI boards have a setting called Smart Fan or Fan Control that automatically adjusts fan speed based on temperature. If your computer is too loud, you can lower the fan speed curve, but be careful not to set it so low that your CPU overheats.

Look for a setting like CPU Fan Speed or System Fan Speed, usually set to Auto or a percentage like 50%. If you change it to a fixed percentage, your fans will run at that speed all the time, which uses less power but may make your computer hotter under load. A better approach is to find the fan curve settings — these let you set different speeds at different temperatures, so fans stay quiet when your computer is idle but speed up when you are doing heavy work.

If you are not sure what your temperatures should be, check your CPU manufacturer's specifications — Intel and AMD publish maximum safe temperatures for each processor model. If your CPU regularly hits 80°C or higher during normal use, increase fan speed or check whether your CPU cooler is making good contact with the processor.

Resetting BIOS to factory defaults

If you changed a setting and your computer will not start, or if you want to undo all your changes at once, you can reset BIOS to its original state. The easiest way is to go to the Exit tab in BIOS, find Load Defaults or Load Optimal Defaults, and press Enter. Confirm the action, then save and exit. Your computer will restart with all BIOS settings back to factory.

If your computer will not start at all and you cannot get into BIOS, you can reset it physically. Open your computer case and locate the CMOS battery — a small coin-shaped battery on the motherboard, usually near the bottom. Remove it for 10 to 15 seconds, then put it back in. This clears the BIOS memory and resets all settings to factory defaults. Your computer should then start normally.

After a factory reset, you will need to set the time and date again, and you may need to re-enter any custom settings you had made — like boot order or fan speed. Write down any changes you made before resetting, so you can put them back if needed.

Common BIOS settings you might need to change

Beyond boot order and fan speed, a few other BIOS settings affect how your computer runs. XMP or DOCP (Extreme Memory Profile or Direct Overclocking Profile) is a setting that lets your RAM run at its rated speed instead of a slower default. If you bought fast RAM but your computer is using it slowly, enabling XMP in the Advanced or Overclocking tab can improve performance. This is safe — it just tells the motherboard to use the speed the RAM was designed for.

find Boot is a security feature in the Security or Boot tab that prevents unauthorized software from loading during startup. It is on by default and you should leave it on unless a program or device specifically tells you to turn it off. Fast Boot or Quick Boot speeds up startup by skipping some hardware checks — it is safe to leave on, but if your computer is not detecting a USB drive or external drive at startup, try turning it off temporarily.

Virtualization (VT-x on Intel, SVM on AMD) is in the Advanced tab and is used by virtual machines and some applications. Most users do not need to change this. If you use software like VirtualBox or Docker, enabling it can improve performance, but it uses slightly more power.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I press Delete and nothing happens?

Try F2 instead — different MSI motherboards use different keys. If neither works, restart again and watch the startup screen carefully for a message like "Press DEL to enter Setup" or "Press F2 for BIOS". Some boards also show the correct key on the splash screen. If you still cannot get in, check your motherboard manual for the exact key for your model.

Can I change BIOS settings while Windows is running?

No — BIOS only runs before Windows loads. You must restart your computer and enter BIOS during startup. Some newer MSI boards let you change a few settings from Windows using MSI Dragon Center software, but most BIOS changes require a restart and manual entry into BIOS.

Will changing BIOS settings delete my files?

No. BIOS settings control how your hardware works, not what files are stored on your drives. Changing boot order, fan speed, or enabling XMP will not affect your documents, photos, or programs. A factory reset of BIOS also does not touch your files.

What does "Save and Exit" do?

It saves your changes to the BIOS memory, restarts your computer, and loads Windows normally. If you change a setting and then press Escape or choose Exit Without Saving, your changes are discarded and BIOS stays the same as before.

Is it safe to enable XMP?

Yes — XMP just tells your motherboard to run your RAM at the speed it was rated for. It is not overclocking; it is using the hardware as designed. Your RAM will run cooler and more stable at its rated speed than at a slower default speed.