Drivers & Hardware

Uefi Settings Not Showing in Advanced Options

Q: How do I check whether my PC supports UEFI?

Open msinfo32 and look at BIOS Mode , then restart and inspect the startup screen for Setup or a UEFI boot option. If the motherboard manual lists only BIOS/Legacy boot, the hardware likely lacks UEFI. A GPT-capable disk alone does not prove UEFI firmware support.

Q: Can I switch from Legacy BIOS to UEFI without reinstalling Windows?

Often yes, if the disk layout is suitable. Use MBR2GPT.exe after confirming the OS disk is eligible, then change the firmware boot mode to UEFI. If the disk has layout problems, too many partitions, or no safe conversion path, a clean reinstall to GPT is the safer option.

Q: Does Fast Startup hide the UEFI Firmware Settings option?

It can block access to the firmware menu. Try Shift + Shut down first, then disable Turn on fast startup in Control Panel > Power Options . After that, retry shutdown /r /fw /t 0 or the Recovery restart path.

Q: How do I boot directly into UEFI settings from Windows?

Use an elevated Command Prompt and run shutdown /r /fw /t 0 . If that fails, go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now . On some systems, the firmware setup still opens only from a startup hotkey such as F2 , Del , or Esc .

If UEFI Firmware Settings is missing in Advanced options, check BIOS Mode in msinfo32 first. Then confirm whether Windows is using UEFI, Legacy, or an MBR disk.

Daniel Reed

15 Oct 2026 • 7 min read

If UEFI Firmware Settings is missing in Advanced options, Windows may be starting in Legacy/CSM mode, the system disk may be using MBR, or the firmware may not show that entry. Start with msinfo32; it tells you whether BIOS Mode is UEFI or Legacy. That missing entry means Windows recovery is not offering the firmware launch path, so check the boot mode, the disk style, and the firmware startup path your PC supports.

What the missing UEFI entry means

On a UEFI-capable PC, the recovery option normally opens the boot-to-firmware menu used for Secure Boot and boot order changes. On a Legacy install, that entry may be absent even when the motherboard itself supports UEFI.

A common first check is whether the machine is booting in Legacy mode. Suppose a Windows 10 laptop shows no UEFI entry after an update; if BIOS Mode says Legacy, check the boot mode before assuming the recovery screen is broken.

Likely causes, ranked

Most often: Windows is installed in Legacy mode on an MBR disk, so the recovery path does not expose UEFI Firmware Settings.
Also possible: Fast Startup prevents a clean restart path.
Also possible: The motherboard supports UEFI, but the firmware is reached from a startup hotkey instead of Advanced options.
Sometimes: Secure Boot or BitLocker requires a different firmware step.
On older systems: The board may only support Legacy boot, so there is no UEFI menu to show.

UEFI supported but Windows is Legacy

If msinfo32 says BIOS Mode: Legacy, Windows is not booting the same way UEFI Firmware Settings expects. That often means the system disk uses MBR partition style.

Press Win+R, type msinfo32, then press Enter.
In System Information, check BIOS Mode. Note whether it shows UEFI or Legacy.
Open Disk Management, right-click the system disk, choose Properties, then open Volumes to confirm Partition style.
If the disk is MBR, use MBR2GPT.exe from an elevated Command Prompt only after confirming that the disk layout is eligible for conversion.
After a successful conversion, reboot into firmware and switch the boot mode to UEFI, then enable Secure Boot if needed.

If MBR2GPT.exe reports that the layout is not suitable, stop and review the partition layout. Too many partitions, recovery partition placement, or insufficient space can block conversion. In that case, a clean reinstall onto a GPT disk may be the safer route.

When conversion is required

Conversion is required when you want UEFI boot on the existing Windows install and the system disk is still MBR. A GPT disk is the expected format for UEFI Windows boot.

Fast Startup is blocking access

Fast Startup can stop the machine from taking the clean restart path that reaches firmware settings. It is one possible blocker. If the PC otherwise supports UEFI, bypassing the cached shutdown state is a good next move.

Hold Shift and click Shut down from the Start menu.
After the PC powers off, start it again and try Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup, then Restart now.
Or open an elevated Command Prompt and run shutdown /r /fw /t 0 to request a firmware reboot.
If the entry still fails to appear, go to Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do > Change settings that are currently unavailable.
Clear Turn on fast startup, save the change, then try the firmware reboot again.

If shutdown /r /fw still skips straight into Windows, the firmware may need a startup hotkey instead.

Your PC may need a hotkey instead

Some manufacturers hide firmware access behind a startup key rather than the Windows recovery entry. The key name varies by model, and some systems show Setup, BIOS Setup, or Boot Menu instead of UEFI.

Restart the PC and watch the first black or logo screen for a prompt such as Press F2 for Setup, Del, Esc, or F12.
Use the exact key shown by the manufacturer for Setup if your goal is Secure Boot or boot order.
If the system offers Auto / Legacy / UEFI on the startup screen, choose the UEFI-capable option before Windows begins loading.
If no firmware setup key appears and the system is older, check the motherboard or laptop manual for whether UEFI exists at all.

For example, if a Lenovo M91P only offers an auto/legacy/UEFI boot option on startup, use the startup screen path rather than the Windows recovery path.

Secure Boot and Windows 11 checks

People often look for UEFI Firmware Settings because they need Secure Boot. Secure Boot depends on UEFI-capable firmware, so if the machine is still in Legacy mode, the setting may not be available until the boot mode changes. Windows 11 checks can expose the same mismatch in plain terms.

Open msinfo32 and confirm whether BIOS Mode is UEFI.
Open Disk Management and check whether the system disk is GPT rather than MBR.
If Windows 11 upgrade checks fail for Secure Boot or GPT, convert the disk with MBR2GPT.exe before trying to enable Secure Boot.
After conversion, reboot into firmware and enable Secure Boot from the UEFI settings menu.
If BitLocker is enabled, suspend protection before changing firmware options so the next boot does not trigger recovery.

Windows 11 can fail even on hardware that supports UEFI if the installed boot path is still Legacy.

UEFI decision table

Scenario	What to check	Confirming symptom	Safest next action	When reinstall or conversion is required
UEFI supported + Legacy Windows	msinfo32 shows BIOS Mode: Legacy; disk style is MBR	No UEFI entry in Advanced options, but firmware setup exists at startup	Try MBR2GPT.exe, then switch firmware boot mode to UEFI	Required if conversion fails because of partition layout, recovery partition placement, or insufficient space
UEFI supported + Fast Startup enabled	Power Options shows Turn on fast startup	shutdown /r /fw or Advanced startup skips the firmware screen	Use Shift+Shut down, then disable Fast Startup and retry	Not usually required unless the system is also Legacy/MBR
UEFI absent on older hardware	Motherboard or laptop manual lists only Legacy/BIOS boot	No firmware setup path for UEFI, and BIOS Mode stays Legacy	Use the vendor’s BIOS menu for boot order or Secure Boot alternatives	Reinstalling will not add UEFI if the firmware does not support it
Secure Boot blocked	Secure Boot option is greyed out or missing in firmware	Windows 11 or software asks for Secure Boot, but the menu cannot enable it yet	Confirm UEFI boot first, then enable Secure Boot in firmware	Conversion to GPT is required when the disk is still MBR
Windows 11 upgrade check failure	Upgrade check flags Secure Boot, TPM, or GPT expectations	The PC supports the hardware, but the installed boot mode is Legacy	Check BIOS Mode, then convert with MBR2GPT.exe if the disk qualifies	Required if the system disk cannot be converted safely in place
OEM hotkey-only firmware access	Startup screen shows a key for Setup, Boot Menu, or BIOS	Windows Advanced options has no UEFI entry, but startup hotkeys work	Use the exact vendor hotkey during startup and choose Setup, not Boot Menu	Usually not required; reinstall only if the current install is Legacy on an MBR disk and conversion fails

Still not working?

If none of the above changes the result, check BitLocker before any firmware change. Suspend protection first, because firmware and boot-mode changes can trigger a recovery screen on the next startup. Then verify that the system disk has a layout MBR2GPT.exe can actually convert.

Open Manage BitLocker and suspend protection on the OS drive.
Run diskpart, then list disk, and confirm whether the system disk has a GPT asterisk.
If the disk has too many partitions or no valid system partition room, back up the machine and plan a clean reinstall to GPT.
Escalate with the exact laptop or motherboard model so support can give the correct firmware key and boot-mode path.

Prevention is simple here: if you plan a reinstall, install Windows in UEFI mode from bootable media that is selected before boot starts, then confirm BIOS Mode: UEFI in msinfo32 before you turn on Secure Boot.

Frequently asked questions

Why is UEFI firmware settings not showing in Advanced options?

The usual reason is that Windows is starting in Legacy mode, the system disk is MBR, or the firmware does not expose that entry. Check Win+R > msinfo32 first. If BIOS Mode says Legacy, use the startup hotkey or convert the disk before expecting the recovery menu.

How do I check whether my PC supports UEFI?

Open msinfo32 and look at BIOS Mode, then restart and inspect the startup screen for Setup or a UEFI boot option. If the motherboard manual lists only BIOS/Legacy boot, the hardware likely lacks UEFI. A GPT-capable disk alone does not prove UEFI firmware support.

What does BIOS Mode Legacy mean in msinfo32?

It means Windows is currently booting through the Legacy path instead of UEFI. A Legacy result can explain why the UEFI Firmware Settings entry may not appear in Windows Recovery.

Can I switch from Legacy BIOS to UEFI without reinstalling Windows?

Often yes, if the disk layout is suitable. Use MBR2GPT.exe after confirming the OS disk is eligible, then change the firmware boot mode to UEFI. If the disk has layout problems, too many partitions, or no safe conversion path, a clean reinstall to GPT is the safer option.

Does Fast Startup hide the UEFI Firmware Settings option?

It can block access to the firmware menu. Try Shift+Shut down first, then disable Turn on fast startup in Control Panel > Power Options. After that, retry shutdown /r /fw /t 0 or the Recovery restart path.

How do I boot directly into UEFI settings from Windows?

Use an elevated Command Prompt and run shutdown /r /fw /t 0. If that fails, go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now. On some systems, the firmware setup still opens only from a startup hotkey such as F2, Del, or Esc.