How to Remove the Operating System Selection Menu at Startup

If you see an OS selection menu every time you start your computer, it can be annoying and slow down the boot process. This menu usually appears if multiple operating systems are installed or if there were previous attempts to install different OS versions. Here’s how to remove this menu for a seamless startup with your preferred OS.

1. Disabling the OS Selection Menu in Windows

If you’re using Windows, follow these steps:

  1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
  2. Go to the Boot tab.
  3. Select the OS you want to use by default from the list and click Set as Default.
  4. Remove any unnecessary operating systems from the list if you’re sure you don’t need them. Be cautious with this step to avoid deleting an OS you might still need.
  5. Apply the changes and restart your computer. The OS selection menu should no longer appear.

2. Adjusting the Menu Display Time

If you don’t want to remove the menu entirely but want to shorten its display time:

  1. Open msconfig again and go to the Boot tab.
  2. Set the display time for the menu, for example, to 5 seconds.
  3. Apply the changes and restart your computer.

3. Modifying Boot Settings in System Settings (for Windows 10 and 11)

In newer Windows versions, you can also configure boot options directly through the System Settings:

  1. Go to Settings → System → About.
  2. Click on Advanced system settings.
  3. In the Startup and Recovery section, select Settings....
  4. Uncheck the option Time to display list of operating systems or set it to a minimal display time.

4. Configuring Boot Loader Through BIOS/UEFI

If you have a Linux or dual-boot system, you can try adjusting the boot settings via BIOS/UEFI. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI menu (usually by pressing F2 or Delete at startup). In the Boot settings, select the default OS or set the preferred bootloader.