On Windows, the fastest way to check the active firmware mode is to open System Information: press the Windows key, type msinfo32, open the app, and read BIOS Mode under System Summary. The value will be UEFI or Legacy. This reports how the current Windows installation started; it does not list every mode your motherboard supports and it does not show whether Secure Boot is enabled.
Check the current boot mode in Windows
You do not need to enter firmware setup, change a setting, convert your disk, reinstall Windows, or install another utility just to identify the mode Windows is using. Microsoft documents the built-in System Information check for this purpose, and it costs nothing.
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- Press the Windows key, or select Start.
- Type
msinfo32. - Open System Information from the results.
- Leave System Summary selected in the left pane.
- In the details pane, find BIOS Mode.
- Read the value shown beside it: UEFI or Legacy.
Microsoft’s troubleshooting instructions identify this exact field and navigation path: System Information > System Summary > BIOS Mode. A Microsoft deployment checklist also recommends running msinfo32 to verify whether a machine is currently booted in BIOS or UEFI mode (MBR2GPT Tool Test Guidance).
If System Information does not appear in search
Use the Run dialog instead: press Windows+R, enter msinfo32, and press Enter. You can also open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run msinfo32. The same System Information window should open, and the field is still located under System Summary. Be sure you open Microsoft’s desktop utility rather than a similarly named third-party diagnostic program.
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A quick decision guide
- If you only need the active mode, use
msinfo32and stop after reading BIOS Mode. - If you are checking a Windows 11 or Secure Boot requirement, read BIOS Mode and Secure Boot State separately.
- If you are preparing a deployment or repair USB, record the current mode before changing boot settings.
- If Windows cannot start, System Information cannot provide the value; use the computer maker’s recovery and firmware documentation instead.
What the BIOS Mode value means
| Value in BIOS Mode | Meaning | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| UEFI | The current Windows session was started by the computer’s Unified Extensible Firmware Interface firmware. | It does not prove that Secure Boot is enabled, or that every operating system on the PC uses UEFI. |
| Legacy | Windows was started through the older BIOS-compatible path. Firmware may label this option Legacy BIOS or CSM (Compatibility Support Module). | It does not prove that the hardware lacks UEFI support. The firmware may support UEFI even though this Windows installation currently uses the legacy path. |
The result describes the boot path used for the running Windows installation. It is not a complete inventory of firmware capabilities. For model-specific support and menu names, Microsoft advises consulting the computer manufacturer’s documentation (Windows 11 and Secure Boot).
UEFI, legacy BIOS, Secure Boot and CSM: how the terms relate
UEFI is the modern firmware boot mode
UEFI is firmware that initializes the hardware and starts an operating system using a modern boot process. Microsoft’s OEM requirements documentation describes UEFI capabilities and the platform features built around it (UEFI firmware requirements). Windows can report UEFI even when individual firmware options, such as Secure Boot, are disabled.
Legacy BIOS is the compatibility path
Legacy mode emulates the traditional BIOS boot process. On many newer computers, the compatibility layer is called CSM. A PC can therefore have UEFI-capable firmware while Windows remains installed and booted in legacy mode. Some firmware screens show UEFI and CSM as boot choices, while others show a single setting such as “UEFI/Legacy Boot.” The wording and location vary by manufacturer.
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Secure Boot is a UEFI security feature that checks whether boot components are trusted before allowing them to run. A BIOS Mode: UEFI result only tells you that Windows used UEFI; it does not tell you whether Secure Boot is on. Check Secure Boot separately in System Information by finding Secure Boot State, when that field is available, or follow the manufacturer’s firmware instructions. Microsoft’s Secure Boot guidance treats the boot mode and Secure Boot state as separate pieces of information (Windows 11 and Secure Boot).
What Windows is actually reporting
The utility reads the mode used to start the currently running Windows installation. This distinction matters when a computer has multiple operating systems, multiple boot entries, or firmware that supports both paths. The value is about the current session, not a permanent statement about the motherboard.
- A UEFI result means the current Windows boot loader was launched through UEFI.
- A Legacy result means the current Windows boot loader was launched through the BIOS-compatible path.
- The result can differ from what you see in a firmware menu, because a menu may list modes the firmware can use even if Windows was not installed in those modes.
- Checking the value makes no changes to firmware, partitions, boot files, or encryption.
Microsoft’s deployment documentation states that Windows normally continues to boot in the mode in which it was installed: “After Windows is installed, the device boots automatically using the same mode it was installed with.” See Boot to UEFI Mode or Legacy BIOS mode.
Why the current session matters
Suppose a PC has two Windows installations or a second operating system. Starting one entry in UEFI mode and another through CSM can produce different results, because BIOS Mode describes the copy of Windows that is running now. Likewise, a firmware reset can change which boot entry is selected without changing the files on the disk. Always note which installation and which machine you checked when sharing the result with a technician.
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Optional administrator check in Windows PE
The msinfo32 method is the practical choice for a normal Windows desktop. Administrators working in Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) can use Microsoft’s documented registry-based check instead.
- Run
wpeutil UpdateBootInfoso WinPE refreshes its boot-information data. - Query the
PEFirmwareTypevalue underHKLMSystemCurrentControlSetControl. - Interpret the value:
0x1means BIOS and0x2means UEFI.
Microsoft documents this sequence in Boot to UEFI Mode or Legacy BIOS mode. It is intended for deployment and repair environments, not as a simpler replacement for checking System Information in an ordinary Windows session. If you are not actually booted into WinPE, this registry value is not the appropriate everyday check.
Why you might need to check
Windows installation and deployment
Installation media and deployment plans may require a particular firmware mode. Confirm the mode before changing a disk layout or recreating boot media, because the existing Windows installation was configured for the mode it currently uses. Record the result in the deployment notes so another person does not mistake a firmware capability for the mode used by Windows.
Secure Boot or Windows 11 troubleshooting
Secure Boot requires UEFI firmware support, but the BIOS Mode field alone does not establish that Secure Boot is enabled. Check both fields when troubleshooting a Secure Boot requirement, and use the manufacturer’s instructions for any firmware-side setting. If the result is Legacy, that explains why a Secure Boot check may fail, but it still does not tell you whether switching modes is safe.
BitLocker and recovery investigations
Firmware-mode changes can alter the boot environment that disk encryption and recovery tools expect. Record the current BIOS Mode before repair work, and make sure you have the required recovery information before changing boot configuration. A mode check is read-only; it does not suspend encryption, unlock a drive, or create a recovery key.
Diagnosing a failed boot
If a machine stops booting after a firmware reset or hardware change, the original Windows installation may still be intact but the firmware may now be selecting a different boot mode. The msinfo32 check is useful once Windows can start again; while the system is unbootable, use the model-specific recovery and firmware documentation rather than guessing at settings.
Support and handoffs
When opening a support case, provide the exact value rather than saying only that the computer is “UEFI compatible.” Include the computer or motherboard model, Windows version, BIOS Mode, and Secure Boot State if shown. Those details let the next person distinguish a current-boot issue from a firmware-capability question.
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Do not switch modes just to change the displayed result
A Legacy result is not an instruction to turn on UEFI. Changing the firmware setting without preparing Windows can make the existing installation or its recovery environment unbootable. Microsoft warns that firmware-mode changes can affect startup and recommends following the computer maker’s guidance (Firmware WEG: Frequently Asked Questions).
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Before considering a conversion, identify all of the following:
- The exact computer or motherboard model and its supported firmware options.
- The mode in which Windows was installed, confirmed by BIOS Mode.
- The disk’s partition style and boot files.
- Whether BitLocker or another encryption system is active, and where its recovery key is stored.
- Whether you have a tested Windows recovery drive or installation environment.
- Whether the firmware’s boot entries and storage-controller settings will change as part of the process.
- Whether other operating systems or boot managers share the computer.
- Whether you can restore the original firmware settings if the first boot attempt fails.
Only after those checks should you follow a documented conversion procedure for that specific model and Windows configuration. The quick diagnostic does not, by itself, establish that conversion is safe. Do not assume that changing a disk from MBR to GPT, disabling CSM, or enabling Secure Boot is an interchangeable step; each can affect startup in a different way.
Common points of confusion
“My firmware screen says UEFI, but Windows says Legacy.”
This usually means the firmware supports UEFI but is currently launching the Windows installation through Legacy/CSM. The two observations are not contradictory: one describes capability or a menu option, while BIOS Mode describes the path used for the current Windows boot.
“BIOS Mode says UEFI, so Secure Boot must be on.”
No. UEFI and Secure Boot are independent states. Check Secure Boot State in System Information, or inspect the Secure Boot setting using the manufacturer’s documented firmware procedure.
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Partition style is related to common installation patterns, but it is not the direct answer to this question. The authoritative check for the running Windows session is the BIOS Mode field. Do not infer the active boot mode solely from a disk-management label.
“Will checking this erase anything?”
No. Opening System Information and reading the field is a read-only diagnostic action. It does not alter firmware settings or disk contents.
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“Is UEFI always faster?”
The BIOS Mode field is a diagnostic result, not a performance benchmark. Microsoft documents UEFI as having more security features than legacy BIOS in general, but the check does not provide a universal speed comparison. Do not change a working installation solely to pursue an assumed performance gain.
“Does a Legacy result mean my PC is too old for UEFI?”
No. It only identifies the path used by this Windows installation. The firmware may support UEFI while retaining a Legacy or CSM option for older installations and boot media. Confirm capability and available settings in the documentation for the exact model.
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- Confirm that you opened the Windows System Information desktop app, not a search result for a third-party utility.
- Select System Summary in the left pane; the BIOS Mode entry is listed in that view.
- Run
msinfo32fromWindows+Rif the Start-menu search did not open the correct app. - If Windows is running inside a virtual machine, check the virtual machine’s firmware configuration as well as the host computer. The value describes the environment in which that Windows instance booted.
- If you are in WinPE rather than full Windows, use
wpeutil UpdateBootInfoand thePEFirmwareTypequery documented by Microsoft. - For a machine that cannot boot Windows, use the exact model’s support documentation; System Information cannot report a value until the operating system is running.
A result that differs from an older note is not automatically an error. You may have booted a different operating-system entry, restored firmware defaults, or reinstalled Windows in another mode. Re-run the check in the installation that is actually having the problem and write down the date.
What to record before troubleshooting further
For a support case or installation plan, record the exact text of BIOS Mode, the value of Secure Boot State if shown, the Windows edition and version, the computer model, and whether device encryption or BitLocker is enabled. Also note whether the system has more than one operating system, whether a firmware reset recently occurred, and whether the machine boots from internal storage or external media.
Keep the result tied to the date and machine you checked. A firmware reset, operating-system reinstall, or booting a different Windows installation can legitimately produce a different value later. A screenshot of System Summary can help, but redact personal identifiers before sending it to someone else.
Cost, tools and what you do not need
The check uses a Windows component already included with the operating system. There is no purchase, subscription, special cable, USB drive, disk conversion, or third-party diagnostic program required to read BIOS Mode. A USB recovery drive can be useful for later repair work, but it is unrelated to the simple act of identifying the current mode. Avoid utilities that promise to “force” UEFI merely to change this label.
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Bottom line for the check
Use msinfo32, open System Information, stay on System Summary, and read BIOS Mode. UEFI means the current Windows session booted through UEFI; Legacy means it used the BIOS-compatible path. Treat Secure Boot as a separate setting, and do not change firmware mode until you have checked the model-specific risks and prepared recovery options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if Windows is using UEFI or Legacy BIOS?
Press the Windows key, type msinfo32, open System Information, select System Summary, and read the BIOS Mode entry. It will say UEFI or Legacy.
Where is BIOS Mode in System Information?
Open System Information and leave System Summary selected in the left pane. BIOS Mode appears in the details pane alongside the other system summary fields.
Does BIOS Mode: UEFI mean Secure Boot is enabled?
No. UEFI identifies the firmware path used to start Windows. Read Secure Boot State separately in System Information, when available, or check the manufacturer’s documented firmware settings.
Can I switch from Legacy to UEFI after checking?
Do not switch it merely because the result says Legacy. Changing firmware mode can prevent the existing Windows installation or recovery environment from booting. Check the exact model, partition layout, encryption status, boot files, and recovery options, then follow a model-specific procedure.
What does CSM mean in a firmware menu?
CSM means Compatibility Support Module, a firmware compatibility path commonly associated with Legacy BIOS booting. A CSM option does not prove that Windows is currently using it; BIOS Mode in System Information reports the active Windows boot path.
How can I check the mode when Windows will not boot?
System Information cannot run until Windows or another environment starts. In Windows PE, run wpeutil UpdateBootInfo and query HKLMSystemCurrentControlSetControlPEFirmwareType; Microsoft documents 0x1 as BIOS and 0x2 as UEFI. For other cases, use the exact PC model’s recovery and firmware instructions.
The Bottom Line
Fast answer: run msinfo32, open System Information > System Summary, and read BIOS Mode. UEFI and Legacy describe the current Windows boot path; Secure Boot is a separate state, and a Legacy result does not by itself mean the hardware lacks UEFI support.
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