4 Easy Ways to Access the Boot Options Menu in Windows

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A quick guide to find the Boot menu on Windows to recover or repair
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Are you trying to get to the Windows Boot menu through the menu or with a key? If you need to access the Boot menu, you can press the F8 key before the Windows starts. You can also open the Boot menu from the Start menu if you're already logged into your device. Knowing how to access the Boot menu can help troubleshoot your computer if it's experiencing issues. This wikiHow will show you how to get into the Boot menu on Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7.

Things You Should Know

  • Turn on your computer and press the function key for your PC model.
  • To reach the menu from Windows, click "Start" → Power button → hold "Shift" and click "Restart". Click "Troubleshoot" → "Advanced options".
  • Use the Boot menu to find actions you can use to repair or troubleshoot issues with Windows.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using a Keyboard

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    To access the Boot menu, you'll need to press a key before the operating system fully loads. [1]
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    This will vary depending on your device. Here's a list of common BIOS keys by manufacturer:
    • Acer : Del or F2
    • Asus : F9
    • Dell : F12
    • HP : Esc or F10
    • Lenovo : F1 or F2
    • Samsung : F2
    • You must press this key before the Windows logo appears. When done correctly, your computer will start in Safe mode .
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using Windows 11, 10, and 8

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    It’s usually at the bottom-left corner of the screen.
    • On Windows 11 , this will be in the bottom center of the screen.
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    This will be underneath the cog icon.
    • A pop-up menu will open.
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    You must hold Shift , otherwise your computer will perform a regular restart.
    • The computer will power off and back on. Instead of booting to the desktop, you’ll see a blue menu titled “Choose an option.”
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    This will be underneath Continue .
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    You can find this at the very bottom.
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    You are now at the Windows boot (Startup Settings) menu.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using Windows 7 and Vista

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    This will open the Shut Down Windows menu.
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    The options will expand.
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    This will be next to Shut down .
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    The computer will now shut down and restart. As soon as the computer restarts, you will need to act quickly—be ready.
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    You’ll need to press it before the Windows logo appears. Continue holding this key until you see the Advanced Boot Options menu.
    • If Windows boots to the desktop, repeat this process to try again.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using Windows XP

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    This will open the Windows Security menu.
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    You can find this next to Log Off… .
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    This will expand the options.
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    This will be next to Shut down .
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    The computer will now restart. As soon as the computer restarts, you will need to act quickly—be ready.
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    Continue tapping this key until you see the Advanced Boot Options menu—this is the Windows XP boot menu.
    • If Windows boots to the desktop, repeat this process to try again.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    My Lenovo turbo boost laptop hangs by showing boot menu when switching on, what to do?
    Amin Moghoomi
    Community Answer
    Try finding your hard drive in the list. And you can try a Windows installation disk to check your hard drive.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 5
  • Question
    I want to boot up using my old Windows XP Pro Disk and use it to format my hard drive, which doesn't have windows XP on it. Can this be done?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it can. Insert Your disk. Press the bios key. This depends on your computer. Change the boot order. Save the changes. Reboot your computer. When you see "Press Any Key To Boot From CD", press a key. When you get to "Where Would You Like To Install Windows?", select the drive, press Enter, click "Format As Ntfs" Or "Format As Fat".
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 2
  • Question
    How can I restart my laptop?
    Nolan JP
    Community Answer
    Open the start menu, then push the power button (it looks like an "O" but with an "I" stuck in the top). Then push the button that says "Restart." The computer will turn off, then back on.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/advanced-startup-options-including-safe-mode-b90e7808-80b5-a291-d4b8-1a1af602b617

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