How to Restore the BIOS or UEFI (System Setup) to Factory Defaults on a Dell Computer

The information that is stored in the BIOS or UEFI, known as Extended System Configuration Data (ESCD) can occasionally become corrupt due to various reasons such as power events, incorrect settings, and hardware incompatibility due to a specific setting. In these cases, it is sometimes necessary to reset the BIOS or UEFI to factory default settings.

To access the BIOS or UEFI interface on your Dell computer:

1. Turn on or restart the computer.
2. At the Dell logo, press the F2 key several times until Entering System Setup appears.
   NOTE: If the computer boots into the operating system, restart the computer and try again.

The BIOS or UEFI interface may vary across different Dell computers. See the images below and match the one on your Dell computer for information about how to reset the BIOS or UEFI to factory default settings. If the image does not match, see the user manual of your Dell computer for product-specific information.

Figure 1: BIOS with UEFI support.

1. On the BIOS (System Setup) screen, click Load Defaults.
2. Ensure that BIOS Defaults is selected. Click OK (Figure 2).
   
   Figure 2. Ensure that BIOS Defaults is selected
3. A warning message appears. Click OK (Figure 3 and 4).
   
   Figure 3. First warning message
   
   Figure 4.; Second warning message

Your computer restarts at this time.

Figure 5. UEFI BIOS interface on a Dell computer.

1. On the BIOS (System Setup) screen, click Restore Settings or Load Defaults (whichever is listed).
2. Ensure that BIOS Defaults is selected, or confirm to load the defaults when offered. Click OK.
3. Click Exit.
4. Confirm to exit the BIOS (System Setup) screen, when offered.

Your computer restarts at this time.

Figure 6. Legacy BIOS interface on a Dell computer.

1. On the BIOS screen, press the Right Arrow key until the Exit option is highlighted.
2. Press the Down Arrow key until Restore Defaults or Load Optimal Defaults is highlighted (whichever is listed), and then press the Enter key.
3. Press the Enter key on Yes to Load Optimized Defaults or Load Optimal Defaults (whichever is listed).

Your computer restarts at this time.

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