Access Advanced Startup Options in Windows 10 or 8

How to Access Advanced Startup Options in Windows 10 or 8

Method 1: SHIFT + Restart

This is by far the easiest way to get this done. Just hold down either SHIFT key while selecting Restart, available from any Power icon.

Power icons are available throughout Windows 10 and Windows 8 as well as from the sign-in/lock screen.

All you do now is wait while the Advanced Startup Options menu opens!

This method does not seem to work with the on-screen keyboard. You'll need to have a physical keyboard connected to your computer or device to open the Advanced Startup Options menu this way.

Method 2: Settings Menu

1. In Windows 10, select the Start button, and then choose the settings button followed by Update & Security.

In Windows 8, Swipe from the right to open the charms bar. Select Change PC settings. Choose Update and recovery from the list on the left (or General prior to Windows 8.1).

2. Choose Recovery from the list of options on the left.

3. Locate Advanced startup, at the bottom of the list of options on your right.

4. Select Restart now.

5. Wait through the Please wait message until Advanced Startup Options opens.

Method 3: Shutdown Command

1. Open Command Prompt in Windows 10 or Windows 8.

Another option is to open Run if you can't get Command Prompt started for some reason, probably related to the issue you're having that has you here in the first place!

2. Save any open files before continuing or you'll lose any changes you've made since your last save.

3. Execute the shutdown command in the following way:

shutdown /r /o

To cancel the shutdown command once executed (like if you forgot to save your work!) execute shutdown /a in the same Command Prompt window.

4. Select Close to the You're about to be signed off message that appears a few seconds later.

5. After several seconds, during which nothing seems to be happening, Windows 10/8 will then close and you'll see a Please wait message.

6. Wait just a few seconds more until the Advanced Startup Options menu opens.

Method 4: Boot From Your Windows 10/8 Installation Media

1. Insert into your computer a Windows 10 or Windows 8 DVD or a flash drive with the Windows installation files on it.

You can borrow someone else's Windows 10 or Windows 8 disc (or other media) if you need to. You're not installing or reinstalling Windows, you're just accessing Advanced Startup Options — no product key or license breaking required.

2. Boot from the disc or boot from the USB device, whatever your situation calls for.

3. Select Next from the Windows Setup screen.

4. Choose Repair your computer at the bottom of the window.

5. Advanced Startup Options will start, almost immediately.

Method 5: Boot From a Windows 10/8 Recovery Drive

1. Insert your Windows 10 or Windows 8 Recovery Drive into a free USB port.

Don't worry if you weren't proactive and never got around to creating a Recovery Drive. If you have another computer with the same version of Windows or a friend's computer with Windows 10/8, see How to Create a Windows 10 or Windows 8 Recovery Drive for instructions.

2. Boot your computer from the flash drive.

3. On the Choose your keyboard layout screen, select U.S. or whatever keyboard layout you'd like to use.

4. Advanced Startup Options will begin instantly.

Method 6: Boot Directly to Advanced Startup Options

1. Start or restart your computer or device.

2. Choose the boot option for System Recovery, Advanced Startup, Recovery, etc.

On some Windows 10 and Windows 8 computers, for example, pressing F11 starts System Recovery.

What this boot option is called is configurable by your hardware maker, so the options mentioned here are just some that we've seen or heard. Whatever the name, it should be clear that what you're about to do is a boot to the advanced recovery features included in Windows.

The ability to boot directly to Advanced Startup Options isn't one that's available with a traditional BIOS. Your computer will need to support UEFI and then also be configured properly to boot directly to the ASO menu. Fortunately, this is very common these days.

3. Wait for Advanced Startup Options to begin.

What About F8 and SHIFT+F8?

Neither F8 nor SHIFT+F8 is a reliable option for booting to the Advanced Startup Options menu. See How to Start Windows 10 or Windows 8 in Safe Mode for more on this.

If you need to access Advanced Startup Options, you can do so with any of the several methods listed above.

How to Exit Advanced Startup Options

Whenever you're finished using the Advanced Startup Options menu, you can choose Continue to restart your computer. Assuming it's working properly now, this will boot you back into Windows 10/8.

Your other option is Turn off your PC, which will do just that.