Entering the BIOS of a computer (technically UEFI these days) can be as simple as pressing a key during boot, or it can become a real ordeal under more finicky configurations. However, the Windows Shutdown command offers an access method that not everyone knows, and today we explain how to use it in a desktop shortcut.
Entering any BIOS/UEFI voluntarily means we are trying to solve a problem… or we are looking for it. One of the best ideas motherboard manufacturers have had is incorporating a physical button to purge BIOS settings without disassembling half the computer, but there are occasions when the entry process gets complicated by other issues (say, an unusual key combination or a very short press window).
Fortunately, Windows has something that can help us. With the incorporation of the UEFI interface, entering the BIOS via software is perfectly possible, and this also allows us to create a shortcut that reduces the whole task to a couple of clicks.
How to enter the BIOS with a desktop shortcut
In essence, all you have to do is prepare a new shortcut with the command Shutdown /r /fw /t 1. "Shutdown" is a real classic in the Windows universe, especially useful for shutting down or restarting the system.
The command is very simple to interpret: /r orders the computer to restart, /fw indicates that it must enter the "firmware user interface", and /t 1 sets a one-second delay.
Now, this command by itself is not enough: In the advanced options of the shortcut you must enable its execution with elevated privileges, otherwise it will not work.
Don't like the shortcut for some reason? Don't worry: Remember that holding down the Shift key while choosing Restart in the start menu will take you to the Windows recovery environment, and in its advanced options section you will find "UEFI firmware settings". Good luck!
