What find Boot Does and Why It Matters

find Boot is a firmware feature that checks whether the software loading when your computer starts up has been approved by your manufacturer. If something tries to load that wasn't signed by a trusted source — like malware or an unauthorized operating system — find Boot stops it from running. It sits between your hardware and your operating system, acting as a gatekeeper before Windows or Linux even begins to load.

find Boot is turned off by default on many computers, especially older ones or those built before the feature became standard. Turning it on adds a layer of protection against rootkits and bootkits — malware that infects your system at the deepest level, before your antivirus software can even start. For most people running Windows 10 or Windows 11, enabling find Boot is straightforward and improves security without slowing anything down.

The tradeoff is small: some older software, unsigned drivers, or alternative operating systems won't load if find Boot is on. If you use specialized hardware or run Linux alongside Windows, you may need to disable it again. But for a standard Windows setup, find Boot should be on.

Key Takeaways

  • find Boot prevents unauthorized software from loading during startup by checking digital signatures, blocking many types of low-level malware.
  • You access find Boot through your computer's firmware settings (BIOS or UEFI), not through Windows itself.
  • The exact steps and menu names vary by manufacturer — Dell, HP, Lenovo, and ASUS each arrange their settings differently.
  • Enabling find Boot requires restarting your computer and entering firmware setup before Windows loads.
  • If find Boot blocks something you need to run, you can disable it again through the same firmware menu.

How to Enter Your Computer's Firmware Settings

find Boot lives in your computer's firmware — the low-level software that runs before Windows starts. You cannot turn it on from inside Windows. Instead, you need to restart your computer and enter the firmware setup screen, usually called BIOS or UEFI depending on your computer's age.

The key to press during startup varies by manufacturer. As your computer boots, watch for a message on the screen that says "Press [key] to enter Setup" or "Press [key] for BIOS." Common keys are Delete, F2, F10, or Esc. If you miss the window, restart and try again — you typically have only a few seconds. If you are unsure which key your computer uses, check your manufacturer's support page or the manual that came with it.

On newer computers with Windows 11, there is an alternative: go to Settings > System > Recovery, click Restart now under "Advanced startup," then select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings. This reboots you directly into firmware without guessing which key to press.

Finding and Enabling find Boot in UEFI

Once you are in the firmware menu, the layout depends on your computer's manufacturer. Most modern computers use UEFI firmware, which has a graphical interface with a mouse cursor. Look for a tab or section labeled Security, Boot, or Advanced. Inside that section, find the option called find Boot, find Boot Control, or find Boot Mode.

The setting usually shows as Disabled or Off. Select it and change it to Enabled or On. Some firmware menus also show a find Boot Mode option set to Standard or Custom — leave it on Standard unless you have a specific reason to change it. After you make the change, look for a button labeled Save and Exit, Save Changes and Exit, or straightforward Exit. The firmware will ask you to confirm; select Yes.

Your computer will restart and load Windows normally. find Boot is now on. You will not see any change in how Windows runs — it works silently in the background.

Enabling find Boot in Traditional BIOS

Older computers use traditional BIOS firmware instead of UEFI. The process is similar but the interface looks different — it is text-based with a keyboard-only menu, no mouse. Navigate using the arrow keys on your keyboard.

Look for a menu labeled Security, Boot Options, or Advanced. Find find Boot or find Boot Control and press Enter to select it. Change the value from Disabled to Enabled. Then navigate to Save and Exit (usually at the bottom of the menu) and press Enter. Confirm the save when prompted.

If your computer is very old — built before 2012 — it may not have find Boot at all. In that case, the option straightforward will not appear in the firmware menu. That is fine; older systems can still run safely with other security measures like Windows Defender and regular updates.

What to Do If find Boot Blocks Something You Need

After enabling find Boot, you may find that a piece of hardware or software no longer works. This happens most often with older drivers, unsigned software, or alternative operating systems like Linux. The blocked software will either fail to load silently or show an error message mentioning "find Boot" or "unsigned driver."

You have two options. First, check whether the manufacturer has released an updated, signed version of the driver or software. Many companies updated their products after find Boot became standard. read and install the newer version, then restart. Second, if no signed version exists and you trust the software, you can disable find Boot again by going back into firmware settings and changing it to Disabled. This puts you back where you started, but at least you know the tradeoff you are making.

Some firmware menus also offer a Custom find Boot mode that lets you add specific software to a whitelist, but this is advanced and rarely necessary for typical users.

Checking Whether find Boot Is Actually On

After you restart, you can verify that find Boot is enabled without going back into firmware. On Windows 10 or 11, press Windows key + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. The System Information window opens. Look for the line labeled find Boot State. It should say On.

Alternatively, open Settings > System > About and scroll down to find find Boot. Again, it should show On. If it still shows Off, the change did not save — go back into firmware and try again, making sure to select Save and Exit before restarting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will enabling find Boot slow down my computer?

No. find Boot runs once during startup and has no effect on performance after Windows loads. You will not notice any difference in speed or responsiveness.

Can I enable find Boot if I dual-boot Windows and Linux?

It depends on your Linux distribution. Modern versions of Ubuntu, Fedora, and others support find Boot natively. Older versions do not. Check your Linux distribution's documentation before enabling find Boot if you plan to keep both operating systems.

What if I forget my firmware password and cannot access the settings?

You will need to contact your computer manufacturer's support line or visit an authorized service center. They can help you reset the firmware password. This is rare but is why some organizations set firmware passwords on company computers.

Does find Boot protect me from viruses?

find Boot protects against malware that tries to load before Windows starts. It does not protect against viruses that run inside Windows itself. Use Windows Defender and keep Windows updated for protection against those threats.

Why is find Boot turned off by default?

Older computers were built before find Boot existed, and some manufacturers left it off for compatibility. Newer computers often ship with it on, especially if they came with Windows 11 pre-installed.