Your PC will not boot correctly, behaves strangely after a BIOS change, or needs its firmware settings returned to a clean default state. These steps apply broadly to desktop and laptop BIOS/UEFI menus from Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, and similar brands.
Does This Affect You?
Resetting BIOS restores firmware settings such as boot order, fan curves, overclocks, virtualization, Secure Boot-related choices, and memory profiles to factory defaults. It does not delete Windows or personal files, but you may need to re-enable settings you changed on purpose. We provide no warranty; proceed at your own risk.
Reset from Inside the BIOS Menu
Use this method when you can still enter setup.
- Restart the PC and press the BIOS key repeatedly during startup. Common keys include Delete, F2, F10, or Esc.
- Look for Load Setup Defaults, Load Optimized Defaults, Restore Defaults, or Reset to Default. It is often on the main page or under Exit or Save & Exit.
- On many motherboards, F9 opens the default-settings prompt directly.
- Confirm the reset when asked.
- Choose Save & Exit, often F10, and let the computer restart.
Hardware Reset if You Cannot Get into BIOS
Use this if a bad overclock, blank screen, or boot loop prevents normal BIOS access.
Before opening a desktop, shut it down, unplug the power cord, hold the power button for about 10 seconds, and ground yourself. Do not touch motherboard circuitry while the system is plugged in. For laptops, check the support manual first because reset procedures vary widely.
- Look for a dedicated Clear CMOS button on the motherboard rear I/O or board surface. With the PC unplugged, press and hold it for a few seconds.
- If there is no button, find the CLR_CMOS or CLRTC jumper in the motherboard manual. Move the jumper cap to the reset position for about 10 seconds, then move it back.
- If there is no jumper or you cannot access it, remove the CR2032 CMOS battery with the PC unplugged, wait about five minutes, then reinstall it in the same orientation.
- Reconnect power and start the PC. Enter BIOS to reset the date, time, and boot order.
After a reset, check boot order first if the PC says no bootable device. Also re-enable virtualization if you need VMs, XMP/EXPO if you want RAM to run at rated speed, and any custom fan curves.
If BIOS settings disappear again after every shutdown, the CMOS battery may be dying. Thin laptops may store firmware settings differently or use a manufacturer key-combination reset, so look up the exact model before opening one.
Sources
- Dell – Restore BIOS to factory default settings (2025)
- ASUS – How to reset BIOS/UEFI to default settings (2024)
- Intel – Clearing CMOS on a desktop board (2024)