What is UEFI?
UEFI is the software that starts your computer before the operating system loads. It helps your PC find the boot drive, initialize hardware, and begin startup.
In more detail
UEFI stands for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. It is the low-level startup software built into a computer’s motherboard that runs before Windows, macOS, or another operating system begins loading.
UEFI checks basic hardware, looks for a bootable device, and hands control to the operating system. It also provides settings for things like boot order, secure boot, and hardware configuration.
It matters because UEFI affects how your computer starts up and what it can boot from. In everyday use, you may only notice it when changing startup settings, installing an operating system, or troubleshooting a computer that will not boot.
Examples
- Changing the boot order to start from a USB drive
- Turning Secure Boot on or off
- Opening UEFI settings to troubleshoot a PC that will not start
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