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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →For a typical Windows PC installed in UEFI mode, set Windows Boot Manager as the first firmware boot entry. This tells the firmware which operating-system loader to try first; it does not by itself make startup measurably faster or improve Secure Boot protection. Change only the intended boot entry, keep security settings enabled unless compatibility requires otherwise, and follow your PC maker’s instructions for its firmware menus.
What boot order controls
Boot order is the firmware’s preference for startup targets, such as an operating-system loader, a USB device, or another operating system. With UEFI, the firmware uses boot variables to choose an EFI application to launch. For a standard Windows UEFI installation, Windows Boot Manager points to \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\Bootmgfw.efi. Microsoft recommends that Windows Boot Manager be first in the UEFI firmware display order: Microsoft Learn: BCD System Store Settings for UEFI.
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Should Windows Boot Manager be first in boot order?
Usually, yes, if Windows is the operating system you want to start by default and the PC uses UEFI. Making it first avoids trying other listed targets before the usual Windows loader. It does not mean removing other entries: a USB installer, recovery device, or second operating system can remain available for when you deliberately need it.
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If the PC has multiple operating systems, decide which one should start automatically and retain the corresponding loader entry. Check the selected default before saving changes. UEFI and legacy/CSM entries may both appear on systems that support both modes; choose the entry that matches the intended installation rather than changing modes as part of an ordinary boot-order adjustment.
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How do I change the boot order in BIOS or UEFI?
Firmware screens and labels differ by manufacturer and model, so there is no universal key sequence or menu path. Use the device maker’s instructions for entering firmware and changing boot priority. On supported devices, Windows also provides a route into firmware settings:
- Save your work and open Windows recovery options by holding Shift while selecting Restart.
- Choose Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then UEFI Firmware Settings, and select Restart. The option is available only on supported devices.
- In firmware setup, open the boot or startup settings. Note the current order, then move Windows Boot Manager to the first position without changing unrelated options.
- Save and exit using the firmware’s on-screen instructions, then let the PC restart.
Microsoft documents the Windows recovery route and advises consulting the manufacturer for model-specific Secure Boot procedures: Microsoft Learn: Disabling Secure Boot.
Microsoft also documents a BCD command for setting Windows Boot Manager first: bcdedit /set {fwbootmgr} displayorder {bootmgr} /addfirst. That is technical deployment guidance, not the simplest method for most home users; use the firmware interface and the PC maker’s instructions unless you have a specific reason to manage boot entries through BCD.
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It can prevent the firmware from trying an unintended target before the operating system you normally use, but Microsoft’s boot-order guidance does not publish a measured startup-time improvement. The actual effect depends on the PC and its configuration, so there is no supported universal seconds-or-percentage gain to promise. Boot order selects what the firmware tries; it is not a general Windows performance setting.
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Should Secure Boot be enabled?
For a Windows installation that supports it, leave Secure Boot enabled unless you have a specific compatibility need. Secure Boot checks signatures of boot software before it is trusted. Windows Trusted Boot continues integrity checks as Windows starts. These are protections, not consequences of placing Windows Boot Manager first: changing boot order alone does not turn them on or off. Microsoft describes the UEFI-to-Windows protection chain in Secure Boot and Trusted Boot.
Some hardware or operating systems may not work with Secure Boot enabled. If you encounter a genuine compatibility problem, check the manufacturer’s guidance and consider whether disabling the setting is necessary before changing it. Changing the boot target and disabling Secure Boot are separate actions; do not alter both simply because they appear near each other in firmware setup.
What if the PC starts the wrong device or will not boot?
- If Windows starts another operating system or enters a recovery environment, return to firmware setup and check which boot entry is first. Restore the intended loader as the default while preserving entries you still need.
- If you changed an entry and Windows no longer starts, return to firmware and restore the original order you noted. Avoid changing several boot or security settings at once, so you can identify which change caused the problem.
- If a USB installer or recovery device is meant to start once, use the PC maker’s documented one-time boot menu if available rather than leaving removable media permanently ahead of the everyday operating system.
- If you cannot reach firmware setup or cannot identify the correct entry, consult the PC manufacturer’s instructions for your exact model.
Secure Boot certificate transition: what Windows users need to know
Microsoft’s OEM guidance said that older 2011 Secure Boot certificates would begin expiring in June 2026. That date has passed. The guidance concerns certificate deployment and management, not a universal instruction for every PC owner to change boot order or disable Secure Boot. For current status and any action that applies to a specific device, consult Microsoft’s Windows Secure Boot Key Creation and Management Guidance and the PC manufacturer’s support information. The applicable process can depend on the device and Windows configuration.
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