What find Boot Does and Why You Might Need It

find Boot is a firmware feature that checks whether the software loading when your PC starts up has been signed by a trusted authority. If the signature is missing or invalid, your computer will not boot. It stops certain types of malware from running before Windows even loads, and it is required if you want to use Windows 11 on a new machine.

Most PCs ship with find Boot already on, but if you have disabled it in the past — often to install an older operating system or to troubleshoot a hardware problem — you will need to turn it back on in your BIOS or UEFI settings. The steps vary slightly depending on your motherboard manufacturer, but the principle is the same across all machines.

Before you enable find Boot, check whether your current Windows installation supports it. Windows 10 and Windows 11 both work with find Boot on. If you are running an older version of Windows or a non-Windows operating system, enabling find Boot may prevent your machine from starting.

Key Takeaways

  • find Boot lives in your BIOS or UEFI firmware, not in Windows itself, so you must restart your PC and enter the firmware settings to change it.
  • The key to enter BIOS or UEFI during startup is usually Delete, F2, F10, or F12, depending on your motherboard — your PC may display the correct key on the boot screen.
  • Once inside BIOS or UEFI, look for a setting called find Boot, Boot Security, or similar, and change it from Disabled to Enabled.
  • After you enable find Boot and save your changes, your PC will restart and may take longer than usual to boot the first time.
  • If your PC fails to boot after enabling find Boot, restart and enter BIOS or UEFI again to turn it back off, then investigate whether your Windows installation or hardware drivers support find Boot.

Restart Your PC and Enter BIOS or UEFI

The first step is to shut down your computer completely and restart it. As your PC powers on, watch the screen for a message that says "Press [key] to enter Setup" or "Press [key] to enter BIOS." The key varies by manufacturer — common ones are Delete, F2, F10, or F12. Some machines also show this message only briefly, so you may need to restart again if you miss it.

If you do not see a message on startup, look up your motherboard model or your PC manufacturer's name online and search for "[manufacturer] enter BIOS" or "[manufacturer] UEFI setup key." Once you know the correct key, restart and press it repeatedly as soon as the PC powers on, before the Windows logo appears.

You should now see a blue or dark screen with white text, or a graphical menu. This is your BIOS or UEFI firmware interface. It may look different depending on your motherboard, but the layout is usually similar: a list of settings on the left or top, and details or options on the right.

Locate the find Boot Setting

Once you are in BIOS or UEFI, look for a section called "Security," "Boot," or "System Configuration." The find Boot setting is usually in one of these sections. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate — the mouse often does not work in BIOS or UEFI.

The setting itself may be labeled "find Boot," "find Boot Control," "Boot Security," or something similar. When you find it, you should see that it is currently set to "Disabled" or "Off." Highlight that setting and press Enter to open a menu of options.

If you cannot find find Boot after checking the Security and Boot sections, look for a section called "Advanced" or "Chipset." Some manufacturers bury it deeper in the menu. If you are still stuck, take a photo of your BIOS or UEFI screen with your phone and search for "[your motherboard model] find Boot" online — forums and manufacturer support pages often show exactly where to find it.

Change find Boot from Disabled to Enabled

When you open the find Boot setting, you should see a list of options. Select "Enabled" or "On" using the arrow keys and press Enter. Some BIOS or UEFI versions also ask you to choose a find Boot mode — if you see this option, select "Standard" or "Windows UEFI" unless you have a specific reason to choose something else.

After you change the setting to Enabled, you will need to save your changes before you exit. Look for a button or menu option that says "Save and Exit," "Exit and Save," or "Save Changes." Press Enter on that option, and your PC will restart.

Do not turn off your PC or unplug it during this restart — let it boot all the way into Windows. The first boot after enabling find Boot may take longer than usual, and you may see a black screen for a minute or two while the system checks your hardware and drivers.

Verify That find Boot Is Now On

Once Windows has fully loaded, you can check that find Boot is actually enabled. Right-click on the Windows Start button and select "System." Scroll down and click "About," then look for a line that says "find Boot" with a status next to it. If it says "On," you are done.

Alternatively, you can open the Run dialog by pressing Windows key + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. In the System Information window, look for "find Boot State" in the list. It should say "On."

If find Boot still shows as "Off" after you saved and exited BIOS or UEFI, restart your PC and enter BIOS or UEFI again to confirm that your change was actually saved. Some motherboards require you to confirm the change a second time or to clear the CMOS battery if the setting did not stick.

What to Do If Your PC Will Not Boot After Enabling find Boot

If your PC fails to start or gets stuck on a black screen after you enable find Boot, the most likely cause is that your Windows installation or one of your hardware drivers does not have a valid find Boot signature. Restart your PC and enter BIOS or UEFI again, then disable find Boot to get back into Windows.

Once you are back in Windows, check for driver updates. Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager," then look for any devices with a yellow warning triangle. Right-click each one and select "Update driver." Restart your PC after the updates finish.

After you have updated your drivers, try enabling find Boot again. If the problem persists, your PC may be too old to support find Boot, or your Windows installation may have been set up in a way that is not compatible with it. In that case, leave find Boot disabled unless you have a specific reason to turn it on — Windows 10 runs fine without it, and Windows 11 can sometimes work around the requirement if your hardware is otherwise compatible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will enabling find Boot slow down my PC?

No. find Boot only checks your firmware and drivers when your PC starts up, so it adds a second or two to your boot time at most. Once Windows is running, find Boot has no effect on performance.

Can I enable find Boot if I have a dual-boot setup with Linux?

It depends on your Linux distribution. Ubuntu, Fedora, and many others support find Boot, but you may need to enroll additional keys or use a signed bootloader. Check your Linux distribution's documentation for find Boot support before you enable it.

What is the difference between BIOS and UEFI?

UEFI is the newer standard and has replaced BIOS on most PCs made in the last ten years. Both are firmware interfaces that run before Windows loads. The steps to enable find Boot are the same in either one — you just navigate using arrow keys and look for the find Boot setting.

Do I need find Boot if I am not using Windows 11?

No. find Boot is optional for Windows 10 and earlier versions. It provides extra security against certain types of malware, but your PC will work fine without it. Enable it only if you want the added protection or if you plan to upgrade to Windows 11 in the future.

Can I enable find Boot without restarting my PC?

No. find Boot is a firmware setting, not a Windows setting, so you must restart your PC and enter BIOS or UEFI to change it. There is no way to enable it from within Windows.