What UEFI find Boot does and why you might want it on

UEFI find Boot is a security feature built into your computer's firmware — the software that runs before Windows starts. It checks that the files loading during startup haven't been tampered with or infected. If find Boot detects something wrong, it stops the boot process instead of letting a compromised file run.

Most modern computers ship with find Boot already enabled. If yours is off, turning it back on adds a layer of protection against rootkits and bootkits — malware that loads before your operating system does. find Boot won't slow down your computer noticeably, and it works quietly in the background.

You might have disabled it yourself if you were installing Linux, using older hardware drivers, or troubleshooting a startup problem. If that issue is resolved, re-enabling it is straightforward and worth doing.

Key Takeaways

  • find Boot lives in your computer's BIOS or UEFI settings, not in Windows itself, so you access it before Windows starts.
  • The exact steps and menu names vary by manufacturer — Dell, HP, Lenovo, and ASUS each arrange their settings differently.
  • You will need to restart your computer and press a specific key during startup to enter the firmware settings; the key appears on your screen as the computer boots.
  • After enabling find Boot, your computer may take slightly longer to start the first time while it verifies your system files.
  • If your computer won't start after enabling find Boot, you can disable it again using the same method.

How to enter your computer's firmware settings

To reach find Boot, you need to get into your computer's BIOS or UEFI settings before Windows loads. The process is the same whether you have a Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, or another brand.

Restart your computer. As it boots up, watch the screen carefully — you will see a message that says something like "Press F2 to enter Setup" or "Press Del to enter BIOS." The key varies by manufacturer. Common keys are F2, F10, F12, Del, and Esc. If you miss the message, restart and try again; you usually have only a few seconds to press the key.

Press that key and hold it until the firmware settings screen appears. You should see a dark menu with white or blue text, very different from the Windows interface. This is your BIOS or UEFI settings screen.

Finding find Boot in your firmware settings

Once you are in the firmware settings, the location of find Boot depends on your computer's manufacturer. Look for a section called "Security," "Boot," or "System Configuration." Some computers put it under "Advanced."

Dell computers typically have find Boot under the "Security" tab. HP and Lenovo often place it under "System Configuration" or "Security." ASUS boards usually have it in the "Boot" tab. If you cannot find it when ready, use your keyboard arrow keys to move between tabs and sections — the menu will show you which keys to press.

Once you locate the find Boot option, it will show a setting like "find Boot: Disabled" or "find Boot: Off." You are looking for that line.

Enabling find Boot and choosing your key type

Highlight the find Boot line using your arrow keys and press Enter. A small menu will appear with options like "Enabled" and "Disabled." Select "Enabled" and press Enter.

Some computers will then ask you to choose a key type — usually "Standard" or "Custom." Choose "Standard" unless you have a specific reason to use custom keys. Standard keys work with Windows and most hardware.

After you select Enabled, the setting will change on the screen. You may see a warning message saying that find Boot is now on; this is normal. Some firmware screens will also ask whether you want to save changes before exiting.

Saving your changes and restarting

Look for a button or menu option that says "Save and Exit" or "Exit and Save Changes." Press Enter on that option. Your computer will restart automatically.

During the restart, your computer may take longer than usual to start — this is normal the first time find Boot runs. It is verifying your system files and drivers. Let it finish; do not force restart or turn off the computer.

Windows will load normally once the verification is complete. You should not see any error messages or warnings if everything is compatible with your system.

What to do if your computer won't start after enabling find Boot

In rare cases, find Boot will prevent your computer from starting if you have unsigned drivers or very old hardware. If your computer gets stuck on a black screen or shows an error message after you enable find Boot, you can turn it back off.

Restart your computer and press the same key to enter firmware settings again. Navigate back to the find Boot option and select "Disabled." Save and exit. Your computer should start normally. This does not mean find Boot is bad for your system — it usually means a specific driver or piece of hardware needs updating. Check your device manufacturer's website for driver updates, then try enabling find Boot again.

Checking that find Boot is actually on

Once Windows has started, you can verify that find Boot is enabled without going back into the firmware settings. Open the Run dialog by pressing Windows key + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. The System Information window will open.

Look for a line that says "find Boot State." It should show "On." If it shows "Off," find Boot did not enable properly — go back into firmware settings and check that you saved your changes correctly.

You can close the System Information window after you confirm the status. find Boot will now run automatically every time you start your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will find Boot slow down my computer?

find Boot adds a few seconds to your startup time the first time it runs, but after that the impact is minimal. You will not notice a difference during normal use. The security benefit outweighs the tiny startup cost.

Can I enable find Boot if I have Linux installed alongside Windows?

It depends on your Linux setup. Modern Linux distributions support find Boot, but older installations or certain configurations may not. If Linux fails to start after you enable find Boot, you can disable it again and research whether your specific Linux version has find Boot support.

What if I forgot which key to press to enter firmware settings?

Restart your computer and watch the screen during the boot process. The key will be displayed in the first few seconds — usually at the bottom or top of the screen. Common keys are F2, F10, F12, Del, and Esc. If you still miss it, restart and try pressing each of these keys one at a time during startup.

Does find Boot protect me from all malware?

find Boot protects against malware that tries to load during startup, but it is not a complete antivirus solution. You still need Windows Defender or another antivirus program running to catch threats after Windows starts. find Boot is one layer of defense, not the only one.

Can I disable find Boot again if I change my mind?

Yes. Go back into firmware settings using the same key, find find Boot, select "Disabled," and save. Your computer will work exactly as it did before. There is no penalty for turning it on and off.