Windows 11 can show how long the PC's firmware took to finish its pre-boot work before Windows began loading. Task Manager labels that reading Last BIOS time even on modern UEFI systems.
I reproduced the check on Windows 11 Home Single Language version 25H2, build 26220.7872. The tested PC reported 8.6 seconds. I did not enable or disable a startup app, change Task Manager settings permanently, enter firmware setup, or restart the PC solely for the test.
What does Last BIOS time mean?
Last BIOS time is the firmware portion of the most recent startup that Task Manager can report. Microsoft describes the first startup phase as PreBoot: the firmware performs its power-on checks, loads firmware settings, finds a valid system disk, and then starts Windows Boot Manager.
That makes the value narrower than total boot time. It does not include every second spent loading the Windows kernel, drivers, services, the sign-in screen, your profile, or apps that run after sign-in.
The label still says BIOS for familiarity, but a Windows 11 PC normally uses UEFI firmware. Microsoft explains that UEFI controls the early boot process and hands control to Windows. Read the Task Manager number as firmware-to-Windows handoff timing, not as a stopwatch for the whole startup.
Table of contents
How can you check the Last BIOS time in Task Manager?
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Select Startup apps in the left navigation bar.
- Read Last BIOS time near the upper-right corner of the page.
- Close Task Manager when you finish. You do not need to select an app or use Enable or Disable.
The Startup apps page also contains controls that can change which apps run after you sign in. Those controls are unrelated to reading the firmware time. Leave them alone during this observational check.
Why might Last BIOS time be missing?
Task Manager can show no value if the firmware or its Windows interface does not expose the measurement. A blank or missing label does not by itself prove the PC has a boot problem.
The page can also look different on older Windows builds or organization-managed devices. Confirm that you opened Startup apps, not the similarly named Apps > Startup page in Settings. Settings can manage startup apps, but the reproduced firmware timing appears in Task Manager.
Why can the number change between starts?
Firmware work is not identical on every start. Hardware initialization, attached devices, firmware updates, the type of restart or power-on, and device-specific checks can affect how long PreBoot takes. Small changes between readings are therefore possible.
Do not judge a PC from one number or compare unlike devices as if the results were a benchmark. A desktop with several storage devices and add-in cards can have different firmware work from a thin laptop. What matters more is a repeatable change on the same PC together with an actual startup symptom.
Is Last BIOS time the same as Windows startup time?
No. Last BIOS time ends around the point where firmware hands off to Windows Boot Manager. Windows then loads the operating-system components, drivers, services, sign-in experience, and your user session.
This distinction prevents a common troubleshooting mistake. A low Last BIOS time does not rule out a slow Windows sign-in, and a higher firmware number does not tell you which startup app is slow. The app list and its Startup impact column describe a different, later part of the experience.
How should you investigate an unexpected reading safely?
- Check the value after several normal starts before deciding that it changed meaningfully.
- Write down whether the delay happens before the Windows logo, during Windows loading, or after sign-in. Those are different phases.
- Review Windows Update and your PC manufacturer's support page for your exact model if the change followed a documented firmware update.
- Do not flash firmware, clear UEFI settings, disable Secure Boot, or change storage mode only to chase a lower number.
- For a managed work or school PC, ask the administrator before changing any startup or firmware setting.
If the PC starts normally and the only change is a small timing difference, keep observing rather than applying a risky fix. Firmware updates are device-specific and need the manufacturer's instructions, stable power, and a real reason.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Last BIOS time include the Windows sign-in screen?
No. It represents the earlier firmware phase before Windows Boot Manager and the later Windows startup and sign-in work.
Is a lower Last BIOS time always better?
A lower firmware time is shorter, but the number alone is not a complete performance score. Hardware, attached devices, firmware behavior, and the later Windows startup phases all affect the experience.
Why does Task Manager say BIOS on a UEFI PC?
Task Manager uses the familiar Last BIOS time label. Windows 11 PCs normally use UEFI, which performs the early firmware work and then hands control to Windows.
Can checking Last BIOS time change a startup app?
No. Opening Startup apps and reading the value is observational. A startup app changes only if you deliberately use Enable, Disable, or another management action.
Treat it as one startup phase, not the whole boot
Open Task Manager, select Startup apps, and read Last BIOS time without touching an app control. Use the value to separate firmware work from later Windows loading, compare the same PC across normal starts, and avoid risky firmware changes based on one reading.
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