How to Enter BIOS or the Boot Menu on an ASUS Computer
F2 for most laptops, with a different key on some older desktop motherboards.
Before you start: save any open work and note down what you were doing when the problem started — that context helps if you need to search further or ask for help.
- Restart or power on the ASUS laptop, and hold down F2 (rather than tapping it repeatedly) from the moment you press the power button, until BIOS Setup appears.
- For the one-time boot menu instead, hold F8 or Esc, depending on the model — ASUS varies this one more than the BIOS key itself.
- On an ASUS desktop or motherboard rather than a laptop, try Delete instead of F2, which is the more common BIOS key for desktop motherboards generally, ASUS included.
- If holding the key doesn't work, try tapping it repeatedly instead — some ASUS models specifically expect repeated taps rather than a held key, and it's easy to have the technique backwards for your specific model.
- If you reach a colorful, mouse-navigable interface, you're in ASUS's EZ Mode BIOS — a simplified view; look for an "Advanced Mode" or F7 option if you need more detailed settings.
Still not fixed? Send us the details and we'll help you dig further, or browse related guides in ASUS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does ASUS sometimes want a held key and sometimes a tapped key?
It genuinely varies by model — there's no single consistent rule across ASUS's whole lineup, which is why trying both approaches is worth doing if the first doesn't work.
What is EZ Mode in ASUS BIOS?
It's a simplified, mouse-navigable version of BIOS Setup showing the most commonly changed settings, with an option to switch to the more detailed Advanced Mode (often F7) if you need settings not shown there.
Related guides
ASUS System Diagnostics Explained
Built directly into BIOS, accessible independently of whether Windows will even start.
Where to Get Official ASUS Drivers (and Avoid Fake Ones)
MyASUS and ASUS's own support site — not a third-party "driver updater" tool.
How to Factory Reset an ASUS Using the F9 Recovery Partition
A recovery environment built into the machine, independent of Windows — useful when Windows itself won't start.