BCDEdit Options Reference

Boot entry parameters, or boot parameters, are optional, system-specific settings that represent configuration options. You can add boot parameters to a boot entry for an operating system. They are stored in a boot configuration data (BCD) store.

This section describes the boot options for supported versions of Windows that are related to developing, testing, and debugging drivers on computers with x86-based and x64-based processors. You can add these parameters to the boot entries for Windows operating systems.

Caution

Administrative privileges are required to use BCDEdit to modify BCD. Changing some boot entry options using the BCDEdit /set command could render your computer inoperable. As an alternative, use the System Configuration utility (MSConfig.exe) to change boot settings. For more information, see How to open MSConfig in Windows 10.

Note

Before setting BCDEdit options you might need to disable or suspend BitLocker and Secure Boot on the computer.

In this section

Topic Description
BCDEdit /bootdebug The /bootdebug boot option enables or disables boot debugging of the current or specified Windows operating system boot entry.
BCDEdit /bootsequence Sets the one-time boot sequence for the boot manager.
BCDEdit /dbgsettings The /dbgsettings option sets or displays the current global debugger settings for the computer. To enable or disable the kernel debugger, use the BCDEdit /debug option.
BCDEdit /debug The /debug boot option enables or disables kernel debugging of the Windows operating system associated with the specified boot entry or the current boot entry.
BCDEdit /default Sets the default entry that the boot manager will use.
BCDEdit /deletevalue The /deletevalue option deletes or removes a boot entry option (and its value) from the Windows boot configuration data store (BCD). Use the BCDEdit /deletevalue command to remove options that were added using BCDEdit /set command. You might need to remove boot entry options when you are testing and debugging your driver.
BCDEdit /displayorder Sets the order in which the boot manager displays the multiboot menu.
BCDEdit /ems The /ems option enables or disables Emergency Management Services (EMS) for the specified operating system boot entry.
BCDEdit /emssettings The /emssettings option sets the global Emergency Management Services (EMS) settings for the computer. To enable or disable EMS, use the /ems option. The /emssettings option does not enable or disable EMS for any boot entry.
BCDEdit /enum The /enum command lists entries in boot configuration data (BCD) store.
BCDEdit /event The /event command enables or disables the remote event logging for the specified boot entry.
BCDEdit /hypervisorsettings The /hypervisorsettings option sets or displays the hypervisor debugger settings for the system.
BCDEdit /set The BCDEdit /set command sets a boot entry option value in the Windows boot configuration data store (BCD). Use the BCDEdit /set command to configure specific boot entry elements, such as kernel debugger settings, memory options, or options that enable test-signed kernel-mode code or load alternate hardware abstraction layer (HAL) and kernel files. To remove a boot entry option, use the BCDEdit /deletevalue command.
BCDEdit /timeout Sets the boot manager time-out value.
BCDEdit /toolsdisplayorder Sets the order in which the boot manager displays the tools menu.

See also

Adding Boot Entries