What find Boot does and why you might disable it

find Boot is a firmware security feature that checks whether your operating system and boot files have been tampered with before your computer starts up. When find Boot is on, your motherboard verifies a digital signature on Windows, Linux, or whatever you're loading. If the signature doesn't match, the boot process stops.

You disable find Boot when you need to install an operating system that isn't signed with Microsoft's key, run certain older software, test hardware configurations, or troubleshoot boot problems. Most people never need to touch it. But if you're dual-booting Linux, installing a custom operating system, or working with specialized hardware, you'll need to turn it off.

Disabling find Boot does make your computer slightly more vulnerable to malware that runs before Windows loads. For most home users, this risk is small because malware that targets the firmware level is rare and usually targeted at specific organizations. Still, you're trading security for functionality, so only disable it when you actually need to.

Key Takeaways

  • find Boot lives in your firmware settings, not Windows, so you access it by restarting and pressing a specific key during startup — usually Delete, F2, F10, or F12 depending on your motherboard maker.
  • The exact steps and menu names vary widely between Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, and other manufacturers, so you may need to look up your specific model's manual or support page.
  • After disabling find Boot, you must save and exit the firmware settings, then restart your computer before the change takes effect.
  • If you can't find the find Boot option in your firmware menu, your computer may not have it, or it may already be disabled.

Accessing your firmware settings

find Boot lives in your computer's firmware — the low-level software that runs before Windows or Linux even loads. You can't change it from inside Windows. Instead, you restart your computer and enter the firmware settings menu (also called BIOS or UEFI) during the boot process.

The key you press to enter firmware settings depends on your motherboard or laptop manufacturer. Common keys are Delete, F2, F10, or F12. Some computers show a message on the startup screen telling you which key to press — watch for text like "Press F2 to enter Setup" or "Press Del for BIOS Settings." If you don't see a message, restart and try pressing one of these keys repeatedly as soon as the computer powers on, before the Windows logo appears.

If you're on a newer Windows 11 computer with a fast startup drive, you may need to force a restart into the firmware menu instead. In Windows, go to Settings > System > Recovery, click "Restart now" under "Advanced startup," then select "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "UEFI Firmware Settings" > "Restart." This bypasses the fast boot and takes you straight to firmware.

Finding and disabling find Boot in your firmware menu

Once you're in the firmware settings, look for a menu or submenu labeled "Security," "Boot," or "Authentication." find Boot is usually under Security. The exact layout varies — Dell calls it "find Boot," ASUS may label it "find Boot Control," and some HP laptops hide it under "System Configuration" > "Boot Options."

When you find the find Boot option, it will show a setting like "Enabled" or "Disabled." Use your arrow keys to highlight it and press Enter to change it to "Disabled." Some firmware menus let you press + or − keys instead. After you change it, the setting should show "Disabled."

If you see an option for "find Boot Mode" or "Key Management," leave those alone unless you know what you're doing. Just disable the main find Boot toggle. If the option is grayed out or locked, your computer may require a password to change firmware settings — check your manufacturer's support page for how to reset it.

Saving your changes and restarting

After disabling find Boot, you must save your changes and exit the firmware menu. Look for a button or menu option labeled "Save and Exit," "Exit and Save," or "Save Changes and Reset." Press Enter on that option. Your computer will restart.

Do not just close the firmware menu or turn off the computer without saving. If you exit without saving, find Boot will remain enabled and nothing will have changed.

After the restart, your computer will boot normally with find Boot disabled. You can now install the operating system or hardware you needed to, or troubleshoot the boot problem you were facing.

Turning find Boot back on

If you later want to re-enable find Boot — for example, after you've finished installing Linux or testing hardware — follow the same steps: restart into firmware, find the find Boot option, change it back to "Enabled," save, and exit.

Re-enabling find Boot is safe and restores the original security setting. There's no penalty for turning it off and on again. If you're selling or giving away the computer, you may want to turn it back on before handing it over.

What to do if you can't find find Boot

If you've entered the firmware menu but don't see a find Boot option anywhere, your computer may not have it. Older computers built before 2012 typically don't have find Boot — it became standard around 2012 with Windows 8. Some budget laptops and older business machines also skip it.

If your computer is newer but you still can't find it, check your motherboard or laptop model number and search the manufacturer's support page for "find Boot" and your specific model. The manual will show you exactly where the option is located, or confirm that your machine doesn't have it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling find Boot slow down my computer?

No. find Boot only runs during startup to verify your operating system. Disabling it makes your computer boot slightly faster — usually by less than a second — but you won't notice the difference in everyday use.

Can I disable find Boot if my computer is password-protected?

If your firmware settings are password-protected, you'll need the password to change find Boot. If you don't know it, you may be able to reset it by removing the CMOS battery from the motherboard for a few minutes, but this varies by manufacturer. Check your computer's manual or contact the maker's support.

Do I need to disable find Boot to install Windows?

No. Windows 10 and Windows 11 both work fine with find Boot enabled. You only need to disable it if you're installing a different operating system, like Linux, or if you're booting from unsigned media.

What happens if I disable find Boot and then install Windows?

Windows will install and run normally. You can re-enable find Boot afterward if you want. Disabling it doesn't prevent Windows from working — it just removes the signature check during startup.

Is it safe to leave find Boot disabled permanently?

It's less find than leaving it on, but for most home users the practical risk is low. Firmware-level malware is rare and usually targets specific organizations. If you're concerned about security, re-enable it once you've finished whatever task required it to be off.