How to Access the System BIOS in Windows and macOS

The BIOS is a system software built into the computer.
This helps the computer to start up and to set most of its hardware peripherals.

The purpose of the BIOS is to identify, test, and initialize system devices like:

• Hard Drives
• Solid State Drives
• External devices
• Video Display Card
• Other hardware

Every PC and BIOS maker can use a different key(s) to enter the System BIOS.
The keys to press to enter the BIOS can sometimes be seen during system boot.
Contact the computer or BIOS maker to confirm the keys used to enter the BIOS.

The BIOS will either display the drive model number or just the capacity.
Common reasons for not detecting a drive in the BIOS are:

• The SATA port is not enabled.
• Faulty SATA cable.
• Faulty drive.

Windows

1. Power off the computer.


2. Power on the computer.


3. Press the BIOS hot key.

The most common single key commands are: F1, F2, ESC, and DEL. The most common key combos are: CTRL+ALT+ESC, CTRL+ALT+DEL, or CTRL+ALT+INS.

macOS

1. Power off the computer.


2. Power on the computer.


3. Press and hold Command, Options, O, and F.