System Change Default Operating System to Run at Startup in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to change the default operating system to run at startup in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

If you have more than on operating system installed on your computer, you will see a boot options menu at startup to Choose an operating system.

The default boot entry is the entry that the boot loader selects when the boot menu time-out expires. You can change the default boot entry to ensure that the operating system you prefer is loaded automatically at startup.

The last operating system installed will be the default OS in the boot menu by default.

Reference:




EXAMPLE: Default OS listed first in boot options menu







1 While on the Choose an operating system at boot, click/tap on the Change defaults or choose other options link. (see screenshot below)


2 Click/tap on Choose a default operating system. (see screenshot below)


3 Click/tap on an available operating system (ex: "Windows 11") you want as the default. (see screenshot below)


4 Click/tap on the back arrow button. (see screenshot below)


5 Click/tap on the OS (ex: "Windows 11") you want to run now. (see screenshot below)

You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.

1 Open System Properties (sysdm.cpl).

2 Click/tap on the Advanced tab, and click/tap on Settings for "Startup and Recovery". (see screenshot below)


3 Select the OS (ex: "Windows 11") you want in the Default operating system drop menu, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)


4 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.

1 Open System Configuration (msconfig.exe).

2 Perform the following actions: (see screenshot below)

1. Click/tap on the Boot tab.
2. Select the OS (ex: "Windows 11") you want as default.
3. Click/tap on the Set as default button.
4. Click/tap on OK.

3 Click/tap on Exit without restart since a restart is not required to apply. (see screenshot below)






1 Open an elevated command prompt or command prompt at boot.

You must be signed in as an administrator to open an elevated command prompt.

2 Copy and paste the bcdedit command into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 3)

3 You can look under the top Windows Boot Loader section to see what the default entry shows as the identifier (ex: "{default}") for the current default OS. (see screenshot below)


4 Look under the Windows Boot Loader section for the Windows 11 "description" you want to be the default OS to see what its identifier (ex: "{current}") is. (see screenshot below step 5)

5 Type the command below into the command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

Substitute {identifier} in the command above with the actual identifier (ex: "{current}") from step 4.

For example: bcdedit /default {current}

That's it,
Shawn Brink