HP boot menu and BIOS key: Esc, F9 and F10
On HP computers the keys work in two steps: Esc first opens the Startup Menu, then you press the key for the function you want.
| HP | Key |
|---|---|
| Startup Menu | Esc |
| Boot menu (Boot Device Options) | Esc, then F9 |
| BIOS | Esc, then F10 |
According to HP, some models also open the boot menu with F12.
Booting from USB
- Turn the computer off, turn it on and press Esc repeatedly.
- When the Startup Menu opens, press F9.
- Select the USB drive in the list and press Enter.
According to HP, using the boot menu does not change the default boot order; it applies to that one start only.
F keys (Action Keys Mode)
On HP laptops the F keys may work as volume/brightness keys by default. HP's official method is the Action Keys Mode setting in the BIOS (F10 > System Configuration): when Enabled, the printed functions work without pressing Fn. If F9/F10 do not respond in the Startup Menu, try pressing them together with Fn.
If the key does not work
- Press the key repeatedly as soon as the logo appears; if the Windows logo shows up, you were too late.
- If pressing the F key changes volume or brightness, press the same key together with Fn (Fn key and Fn Lock).
- The menu may not appear when resuming from sleep or fast startup; shut the computer down fully and start it again.
If setup cannot find the drive, shows "This PC can't run Windows 11" or the USB drive does not start: Windows 11 installation problems. All brands: boot menu and BIOS keys table.