Owners of modern laptops of the Chinese brand often face unusual behavior of the system when trying to change the parameters of the low level. BIOS or, more modernly speaking, UEFI on Xiaomi RedmiBook devices is hidden from the eyes of the average user by default. This is not accidental: the company's engineers are trying to protect untrained owners from accidental system failure, which can occur when changing critical hardware settings.
However, access to firmware is essential for a number of important tasks: You may need to change the boot order to install a new operating system, activate virtualization for emulators, or reset the configuration after hardware changes. Unlike classic PCs, where the login process has been standardized for decades, Xiaomi laptops have their own nuances, ignoring which leads to the system simply loading Windows in normal mode.
In this article, we will take a look at all the known ways to log into the settings menu, look at the features of keyboard combinations, and pay attention to software methods for logging in through the Windows environment. Understanding the algorithm of actions will allow you to avoid unnecessary reboots and stress. We will also touch on the topic of security and explain which parameters should not be touched, so as not to turn your work laptop into a useless piece of plastic and metal.
Features of UEFI on Xiaomi and RedmiBook laptops
The first thing that a user tries to get into the settings is the lack of the usual blue or gray screen with a text menu. Modern RedmiBook and Mi Notebook laptops are equipped with a UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) graphical interface, which is visually different from the good old BIOS. It supports mouse control, has a more complex menu structure and is often completely translated into English, even if the system is installed in Russian.
Another important feature is aggressive loading time optimization, known as Fast Boot. This feature minimizes the time between power on and the appearance of the operating system logo, reducing the window to intercept the input key to the settings to a minimum. If you are used to pressing the button a second after turning on, then on Xiaomi this method may not work, since the system will already miss the keyboard survey stage.
⚠️ Attention: Interface UEFI RedmiBook is sensitive to sudden power outages while you save settings. If you change any setting, wait for the device to restart completely before turning it off again.
It’s also worth noting the difference in the behavior of the touchpad and keyboard during the preload phase. In some motherboard revisions, the touchpad may be inactive until the Windows drivers load, so rely solely on the physical keyboard. Navigation is done by arrows, and the selection of points by Enter keys.
Standard keys and combinations for entry
The most common and quick way to get into the settings menu is to use hotkeys immediately after power is turned on. For Xiaomi and RedmiBook laptops, the main key is F2. However, due to the layout of the keyboard and functional layers, simply pressing may not be enough.
The login process requires a certain skill and timing. You need to press the on button, wait for the Mi or Redmi logo to appear on the black screen and start often, rhythmically pressing the desired key. You do not need to keep your finger clamped - it is the repeated press (pulsation) that ensures that the signal will be sent in the right microsecond period of time.
If a standard F2 press fails, try using a combination with a functional modifier. Many RedmiBook models have functional keys that perform multimedia actions (brightness, volume) by default, so you need to press the Fn key to activate their main function.
- 🔹 Basic method: Press F2 repeatedly after switching on the laptop.
- 🔹 Alternative method: Use the combination of Fn + F2, If the direct press is ignored by the system.
- 🔹 Loading menu: Keyboard F12 It calls Boot Menu, where you can also go to Setup if you have this option available.
- 🔹 Rare case: Some older models may have a Delete key, but it's more of an exception to this lineup.
It is important to understand that if the Windows logo or download points are already on the screen, the moment is missed, in which case you need to wait for the operating system to fully load, turn off the laptop correctly through the Start menu and repeat the procedure again.
Entering through Windows 10 and 11 settings
If the drum dance around the keyboard fails because of super-fast loading or key failure, the software method comes to the rescue. Windows operating systems, since version 8, have a built-in mechanism for transitioning to Advanced Startup mode. This is the most reliable way to guarantee UEFI login even on devices with locked buttons.
To do this, your system needs to be functional and boot to the desktop. The algorithm is universal for Windows 10 and Windows 11, although the paths to the menu may vary slightly visually. The point is to give the operating system a command to restart in a special way, handing over control (firmware) of the laptop.
☑️ Login algorithm through Windows
Let’s take a step-by-step approach to current OS versions. First, open the Start menu and select the Settings gear icon. Next, go to Update and Security (for Windows 10) or System -> Recovery (for Windows 11). Find the Special Boot Options or Extended Start box and click Reboot Now.
After the reboot, you will see a blue screen with a suggestion to select an action. You need to sequentially go along the path: Troubleshooting → Additional settings → UEFI built-in software settings. By clicking the Reboot button in this menu, the laptop will log into the BIOS/UEFI itself.
This method is especially useful if you have a fast NVMe disk system that loads Windows in 3-4 seconds, and it is physically impossible to catch the moment to press the key, and this solution is suitable if the laptop keyboard malfunctions or does not work properly during the preboot stage.
Using the command line to reboot
For users who prefer console commands or who don’t have the standard settings menu open, there is a quick way to initiate UEFI login via the command line, a method that requires minimal action and works at the system call level, forcing the computer to go into diagnostic mode the next time it restarts.
You'll need to open the command line with administrator permissions, and you can do this by searching the cmd or command line application in the system, right-clicking and selecting "Run on behalf of the administrator." Without administrator rights, the command will not be executed.
In the window that opens, the following command must be entered:
shutdown /r /o /f /t 00Let's break down the syntax of this command so you understand what's going on: /r is responsible for rebooting, /o activates the option menu, /f forcibly closes running applications without warning, and /t 00 sets a wait timer of zero seconds, meaning the action is instantaneous.
What to do if the team is not working?
Once you type in and press Enter, the laptop will immediately start the reboot process and go to the blue action menu described in the previous section. From there, you again choose the path through Search and Troubleshooting to the embedded software settings. This is the most technically competent way to eliminate the human factor when you press the buttons.
Problem Solving: If the BIOS does not open
None of the above methods work, but it is possible. Most often it is not a hardware malfunction, but rather an energy saving setting or battery condition. Xiaomi laptops are known for their strict power management policies.
The first thing to check is the battery level: If the battery is discharged below the critical minimum (usually 5-10%) or, conversely, the system considers it to be faulty, the laptop can block access to changing system settings to avoid data loss or damage to the file system during a potential microcode update.
| Problem. | Probable cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard's not responding. | Driver conflict or Fast Boot conflict | Use the login method through Windows |
| The menu doesn't appear. | Wrong timing of pressing | Start pressing F2 before the logo appears |
| The system immediately loads Windows | Priority of loading | Turn off Fast Startup in the power supply |
| Black screen at the entrance | The video output problem | Connect an external monitor via HDMI |
Another common problem is the Fast Startup feature in Windows itself, which puts your computer into hybrid sleep mode instead of shutting down completely, which can prevent you from starting the POST (Power-On Self-Test) procedure correctly. To turn it off, go to Control Panel → PowerPower → Power Button Action and check the box on Quick Start.
⚠️ Note: If you have multiple attempts to enter BIOS The screen is black or the laptop is beeping, don't keep trying, this could indicate a hardware malfunction of the motherboard or memory module.
Setting up parameters and exiting the BIOS
Once you finally get to the cherished menu, you'll see a few tabs. Xiaomi UEFI interface is usually minimalist. The main tabs include Information (system information), Main (main settings), Advanced (advanced settings) and Boot (download), and this is where the key tasks you came here to solve are solved.
In the Boot tab, you can change the priority of boot devices. If you install Windows from a flash drive, make sure your device is not in the boot. USB-The drive is the first on the list or use Boot Option #1. Also here is often the Secure Boot switch, which sometimes needs to be turned off to install Linux or third-party OSes, although for Windows. 10/11 It's best left on.
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Before changing any settings in the Advanced section, take a photo of the screen on your phone, which will allow you to return everything as it was, if after the changes, the laptop stops booting.
The Advanced section often hides the CPU and peripheral settings, and you can find the Virtualization Technology (VT-x) option you need to run Android emulators (like BlueStacks) or virtual machines, which can be turned off by default (Disabled), and you need to switch to Enabled.
To exit the BIOS, go to the Exit tab, and you'll be offered two main options: Exit Saving Changes and Exit Discarding Changes. If you've just looked at the settings, choose the second option. If you've made the changes, the first one. The system will ask for Yes/No confirmation, which you need to answer with direction and Enter.
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Saving settings only occurs after selecting the option "Exit Saving Changes". Simply turning off the laptop with the power button can lead to loss of the changes made.
After you choose to save, the laptop will restart. If you change boot priority, it will try to start from the selected device. If you have enabled virtualization, you can check it in Windows Task Manager in the Performance -> CPU tab.