How to go to BIOS on a Xiaomi Mi Air laptop: all ways

Notebooks line Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air has proven to be stylish and productive ultrabooks, but their hardware architecture often confuses users when you need to make changes at a low level. Standard procedures familiar to PCs of other manufacturers, here may not work because of the features of the implementation of UEFI and fast boot Windows. Users often face a situation where the system simply ignores the keystrokes, instantly starting the operating system.

The problem lies in the high initialization speed of the hardware and the default Fast Boot function, which reduces the time waiting for input from the user to a minimum. To successfully get into the BIOS settings or the boot device selection menu, you need to know the exact algorithm of actions and press timings. In this article, we will discuss all available login methods, including software methods through Windows, which are often more effective than mechanical ones.

Signing in to the BIOS firmware is required to change boot priority, disable Secure Boot when installing Linux, or diagnose hardware failures. Mistakes can lead to unstable system operation, so it is important to clearly understand which configuration mode you need: the classic BIOS Setup or the Boot Menu menu. We will look at both options and explain the difference between them.

Hardware method of entering with the keyboard

The most traditional way to get into the settings of the basic I/O system is to use a special key immediately after power is turned on. In Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air laptops, the F2 key is responsible for this action. However, the simplicity of description hides the technical nuances: the laptop should be completely turned off, rather than being in sleep or hibernation mode.

The process is this: you press the F2 button and then you press the power button for a short time. You hold the F2 until the MI logo or settings screen appears. If you release the key too early, the system will ignore the request and continue to load Windows. This is especially true for models with SSDs that start instantly.

Sometimes a one-time press is not enough because of the debounce effect of the keyboard or the characteristics of the controller, in this case, it is recommended to use the method of “machine gun queue”: start often but rhythmically pressing F2 before power is turned on and continue at the same pace until you see the BIOS screen.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air models, the default function keys are multimedia. F2 It doesn’t work, try the Fn combination. + F2, Although this rarely works in the off laptop mode, as the Fn drivers may not be activated yet.

There is also an alternative key. F12, It's not settings, it's a Boot Menu menu, and it's a temporary menu that allows you to select a device that you can download once, for example, USB-The Difference Between the Installer F2 and F12 The first changes the settings forever (until the next change), the second only acts once.

Programmatic login via Windows 10 and 11 settings

Modern Windows operating systems have deep access to the laptop firmware, which allows you to bypass the problem of download speed, this method is the most reliable for the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air, since it guarantees a UEFI login regardless of the speed of the SSD.

Open Options (you can click Win + I), go to Update & Security (or System in Windows 11) and select Restore. In Special Boot Options, click Reboot Now. After rebooting, you will see a blue action screen where you need to go along the way: Troubleshooting → Additional settings → UEFI built-in software settings.

Pressing the Reset button on this menu initiates the laptop to switch to BIOS settings immediately after shutdown, a method that eliminates human factor and timings. It is especially useful if the laptop keyboard is defective or if the Ultra Fast Boot feature is enabled, which completely disables the keyboard survey in the early stages.

Importantly, this method requires that the system boot normally. If Windows is damaged and does not start, this method will not be available, and you will have to rely on hardware keys or boot media. Also make sure that your laptop runs in UEFI mode, not in the outdated Legacy BIOS, although the Xiaomi Mi Air only comes with UEFI.

Using the command line for a quick reboot

For power users who prefer minimalism and speed, there is a way to log in to the BIOS through a single command, which allows you to avoid long transitions through the Windows settings menu.

You need to open the command line with administrator rights, and you can do this by finding cmd in the search, right-clicking and selecting the appropriate item.

shutdown /r /o /f /t 00

Let’s take a look at the parameters: /r means reboot, /o sends the system to the menu of special download options, /f forcibly closes applications, and /t 00 sets a timer for 0 seconds. After completing the command, the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air laptop will immediately go to the blue action screen where you need to select the Search and troubleshooting, then Additional options and finally the UEFI embedded software settings.

⚠️ Warning: Command is executed instantly. Make sure all unsaved documents are closed as the flag /f It will force all programs to terminate without warning, which can result in data loss in open files.

This method is especially handy if you plan to reinstall the system and you need to change boot priority often or switch Secure Boot modes.It saves time and reduces the risk of error when you press keys.It also works the same on all versions of Windows starting with Windows 8, making it a versatile tool for a specialist.

Navigation and main sections of the BIOS interface

The BIOS interface on Xiaomi laptops is usually graphical with mouse support, although keyboard management remains the main one. The screen is divided into several tabs, each of which is responsible for a certain aspect of the hardware. Understanding the structure of the menu will help avoid accidental changes in critical settings.

The main tabs include Main (basic system information), Boot (boot options), Security (security settings) and Exit (output). In the Information section, you will see the processor model, RAM, BIOS version and device serial number, which is useful when diagnosing or searching for drivers.

The Boot tab is the most visited tab. This is the Boot Option Priorities, where you can set the order of the device survey. USB-The drive should come first, and you can also turn on or off Fast Boot, which directly affects the speed of the laptop.

The Security section contains password settings. You can set a password to log in to the BIOS itself (Administrator Password) and a password to boot the system (User Password), and it also manages Secure Boot, which prevents operating systems with an invalid digital signature from booting.

Table of hot keys and their purpose

To manage the BIOS effectively, it is not enough to know only the input keys. There are a number of combinations that speed up navigation and allow you to quickly save changes. Below is a table of keys that are relevant to the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air and most modern UEFI systems.

Using the F9 (Load Defaults) key is the first step in troubleshooting loading problems. If after experimenting with the settings, the laptop stopped behaving adequately, resetting to factory settings often solves the problem. However, remember that this will also reset your boot priority, so after reset, you may have to choose the hard drive again as the main device.

The F10 key is the most important. Any changes you make to the menu don't take effect until you press F10 and confirm the action. If you just turn off the laptop or press Esc, all changes are lost. It's a safety mechanism against random errors.

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Before you change your settings in the BIOS, take a picture of the screen on your phone, which will help you restore the original settings if something goes wrong.

Solving common problems at entry

Even if you know the right key, you can have a hard time. One of the common problems is that Windows' Fast Startup feature is enabled, and it doesn't shut down the computer completely, it puts it into deep hibernation, which means that when you turn it on, the system doesn't go through a full hardware check and ignores the keystrokes.

To solve this, you need to turn it off completely. Press the Shift key on the keyboard and, holding it, select the Start menu item "Complete." The computer will shut down completely. The next turn on will be "cold", and the chance to get into the BIOS on the F2 key will increase significantly.

Another problem is external keyboards. USB-The keyboards are not initialized by the controller when the power is turned on. BIOS, Use the built-in laptop keyboard. If that doesn't work, try connecting the keyboard through the computer. USB 2.0 port (if any) or use the software method through Windows.

⚠️ Note: Do not interrupt the update process BIOS, If you decide to update the firmware from the inside of the menu, this can cause permanent damage to the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air motherboard and require a programmer to restore it.

If the screen BIOS It appears, but it goes off immediately, or the laptop goes into the black screen, maybe the problem is with the connected peripherals. USB-devices, memory cards and external drives, leaving only the charger. POST Does not allow to complete the initialization of the interface.

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The most reliable way to log into the BIOS on Xiaomi Mi Air is to use the Windows Restore Menu, as it does not depend on the user’s reaction speed and keyboard condition.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)