How To Change Boot Order Windows 10 [exclusive] May 2026

Her computer was following a strict set of instructions called the . This is a priority list stored in a special chip on the motherboard (the BIOS/UEFI) that tells the computer: "First, check the USB port. If nothing is there, check the DVD drive. Finally, boot from the hard drive."

Inside, she saw a screen that looked like a blast from the 1990s (text-based) or a sleek modern interface with mouse support. She found the tab. how to change boot order windows 10

She restarted again, but this time she tapped a different key: F2 , Delete , or F10 (again, manufacturer-specific). This opened the — the low-level firmware that controls hardware before Windows loads. Her computer was following a strict set of

By default, most Windows 10 PCs put the hard drive first. Maya needed to change that to give the USB drive top priority. Finally, boot from the hard drive

It was a quiet Tuesday when Maya’s Windows 10 desktop started acting up. A blue screen. Then another. Her files were backed up, but the operating system itself was corrupted. She needed to reinstall Windows from a USB flash drive.

She inserted the drive, restarted the computer... and Windows booted normally again, ignoring the USB stick entirely.

She learned that the boot order is like a bouncer at a club: it decides who gets in first. And with a few key taps at startup, you can change that bouncer's list anytime.