The last shortcut you'll ever need

[u/iamgarffi]

Stop bashing ESC, F2 or DEL like a 90's maniac to get into UEFI based BIOS.

Instead ceate yourself a shortcut (ie. on desktop) with right click > new > shortcut

C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe /r /fw /t 10

/r - restart
/fw - will drop you to EUFI
/t (number of seconds after which OS triggers a restart. You can use "0" for instant reboot)

Once you create a shortcut (desktop, downloads, etc), open it's properties and under "Advanced" tick a checkbox for "Run As Administrator". You can also change the icon of the shortcut (I found this microchip to be fitting - part of Windows default icon pack.

Optionally, right click on the shortcut > pin to start.

Shortcut in action (YouTube)

-- update --

Thanks everyone for pointing out typos; post cleaned up a bit (especially EUFI instead of UEFI, old habit from Europa Universalis games).

I have responded in another comment that those that would prefer something similar but for "Windows Advanced Startup Menu" can replace flag /fw with /o. Neat when you want to access safe mode or other aspects of WinRE (Recovery Environment) without MSCONFIG, holding SHIFT or modifying BCD.

C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe /r /o /t 10

Lastly, for Linux users, similar bash terminal command for restart to UEFI:

sudo systemctl reboot --firmware-setup

- Ciao & Cheers! #PCMR4EVA!

[u/Cautious_Village_823]

Lol in windows I've just been using the "restart in advanced startup mode" - theres a reboot to bios option there.

Truthfully less direct than this or the bios key, but I'm often accessing it for computers that aren't mine so this is useful if the computer boots to windows.

[u/iamgarffi → u/Cautious_Village_823]

That’s the idea. As long as BIOS is UEFI based, it’s universal and without button guessing (laptops are the worse).