How to go to Bios on a Xiaomi laptop: a complete guide to models and keys

Modern laptops from the Chinese brand Xiaomi and the sub-brand Redmi have gained popularity due to their stylish design and high performance, but access to the basic I/O system here is often hidden from the eyes of the average user. Unlike the usual desktop computers or old laptops, where you entered the settings with the simple press of a button, ultrabooks require accurate timing and knowledge of specific combinations. BIOS (or its modern counterpart UEFI) is a fundamental level of iron management necessary for reinstallation of the operating system, changing the order of boot or diagnosing hardware failures.

Users often face a situation where standard methods do not work due to fast Windows boot or the features of the motherboard firmware. In this article, we will discuss in detail what keys to use for different series of laptops, how to bypass the lock of fast start and what to do if the screen remains black. On most current models of Xiaomi Mi Notebook and RedmiBook, the only working key to log into the BIOS is F2, but you need to press it before the appearance of the logo.

Features of BIOS and UEFI on Xiaomi devices

Technically speaking, classical BIOS Xiaomi is no longer used on modern devices, its place has been taken by the system. UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. Although users are used to saying "Bios," the interface you see will be graphical and usually mouse-controlled, not just a keyboard. AMD, What dictates the standard for the industry access methods, but with the nuances of implementation of the OEM-manufacturer.

The main feature is the aggressive optimization of loading times. Mi Notebook Air, Mi Notebook Pro and RedmiBook laptops are equipped with fast laptops. SSD-With drives that start the operating system in seconds, the user has very little window of opportunity to intercept keyboard control before booting Windows. In addition, the keyboard may not have time to initialize in the first milliseconds after power is turned on.

It is important to understand the difference between the keyboard mode during POST (self-testing) and after loading OS drivers. At the time of activation, only the base controller is running, so complex macros or multimedia key functions may not work. You need to use the function keys in their “clean” form, without pressing the Fn button, unless otherwise specified in the specification of a particular model.

The main key combinations for entry

There is a universal keyset that works on the vast majority of the Chinese giant's laptops. However, depending on the year of release and the series of the device, the priority button may differ. The most common combination is a single press of the F2 key. This is the one that Xiaomi engineers reserved to enter the firmware settings. The process should look like this: you completely turn off the laptop, pinch F2 and press the on button without letting it go.

In some rare cases, especially older models or specific modifications for the Chinese market, it may be necessary to use the F12 key.This button usually calls the Boot Menu (boot menu), from where you can already go to the Setup Utility settings. Also worth mentioning is the Esc key, which on some RedmiBook devices displays the logo and suggests selecting an action, including logging into the BIOS.

The Fn key is a special issue to be addressed. Xiaomi laptops have their default multimedia key mode activated. This means that the top row of buttons is responsible for volume and brightness. To use them as functional (F1-F12), you theoretically need to pinch Fn. However, at the time of preboot diagnosis, priority is often given to the core functions, so try pressing just F2 first, and only if this does not work, experiment with the Fn + F2 combination.

Step-by-step instruction for entering through the off state

The most reliable and time-tested method is cold input, which requires a certain dexterity of fingers and understanding of the sequence of actions, and this is the case when the operating system is not booting or you need to change the priority of boot devices before installing Linux or Windows.

First, make sure the laptop is completely off, not in sleep or hibernation mode. If the lights are on or flashing, hold the power button for 5-10 seconds until the screen is completely turned off. Then connect the device to the network to exclude battery discharge during the settings.

The critical point is that you need to start pressing the key before or at the same time you press the power button. The screen can stay black for a few seconds, which is normal in modern matrices. Don't let go of the key until you see the brand logo or settings menu. If you release the button too early, the system will ignore the request and continue to boot Windows.

⚠️ Note: On some models with keyboards without backlighting or with hidden font on the keys it is easy to confuse F2 Make sure you press the second key of the function series, not, for example, the power button or touchpad.

Signing in to the BIOS via Windows 10 and 11 settings

If the drum dance around the keyboard is not working because of super-fast boot, the built-in functionality of the Windows operating system comes to the rescue. This method is the most guaranteed, since it programmatically forces the computer to restart in diagnostic mode, ignoring keyboard timings. This is especially true for owners of the Mi Notebook Pro with 4K screens, where the logo can appear very late.

To do this, your laptop must load the operating system correctly. Go to the Start menu and select Settings (cog icon). Follow Update and Security (in Windows 10) or System → Recovery (in Windows 11).

In Advanced startup, click the Reboot Now button, and instead of the desktop, the computer will reboot, and offer a blue screen with a choice of actions, and then select Find and troubleshoot, then Additional settings, and finally UEFI Embedded Software Settings. Once you click the Reboot button, the laptop will open the BIOS interface itself.

This method is also useful for those who are afraid of not getting into the keyboard timing. The system will perform all the necessary interrupts. However, remember that if you make critical changes to the BIOS (for example, disable the disk controller), Windows may stop booting, and you still have to deal with the settings manually.

Table of combinations for different series of laptops

Different product lines may have different firmware features, and here is a summary table that will help you navigate your model, and it's relevant for most devices released after 2018.

As you can see from the table, the F2 key is dominant across the entire ecosystem, but if you have the Mi Gaming Laptop series, developers could have left the Del key, which is a feature of desktop motherboards, to expand the functionality for enthusiasts.

It is worth noting that some European versions of laptops may have different keyboard layouts, but the positioning of the function keys in the top row remains standard. If you have a model released specifically for the Chinese market, the keys may have Chinese characters on the keys, but the Latin marking F1-F12 is usually present.

Problem Solving: If the BIOS does not open

There are times when none of these methods work. The screen lights up, the logo appears, but the system immediately loads Windows. One of the most common reasons is the Fast Boot feature in the BIOS itself. It speeds up the process so much that the keyboard survey is too fast, and the Forced Interruption method helps.

Try turning on your laptop and, as soon as the screen lights up, force it to turn off by holding the power button for 5 seconds. Repeat this procedure 2-3 times. Windows will consider this as a critical startup error and automatically go to the recovery menu, from where you can get to UEFI, as described in the section on Windows settings.

💡

If your laptop is connected to a docking station or an external monitor, try turning off the periphery. USB-Devices conflict with the process POST and block the entrance BIOS.

The problem may also be in a discharged CMOS battery (although it is often missing or charged from the main battery in modern laptops). If the time and date settings are constantly reset, it may be that a hardware failure prevents you from saving changes to the BIOS. In this case, it is recommended to reset the settings to factory (Load Optimized Defaults) if you can get there.

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to disassemble the laptop and close contacts on the motherboard for resetting BIOS, If you're not qualified as an engineer, it will result in a loss of warranty and a possible failure of the device.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

💡

The most reliable way to get into the BIOS on Xiaomi is to use the Windows Recovery Menu (Advanced Startup), as it does not depend on the user’s reaction speed and keyboard condition.