How to Turn Off the Keyboard in an ASUS BIOS

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If you want to use a PC as a server or to run an application that requires little or no user interaction, creating a "headless" computer without any connected peripherals saves space and energy and helps to prevent tampering. Most computers will boot normally even with no mouse or monitor connected. However, if you attempt to boot a computer without connecting a keyboard, the BIOS usually generates an error and forces a restart. If your computer has an ASUS motherboard, though, you can disable the "Keyboard error or no keyboard detected" boot error completely and use the machine without a keyboard.

How to Turn Off the Keyboard in BIOS for ASUS

Shut down the computer and restart it.

Tap the "Delete" key a few times as soon as you see the ASUS logo or the initial POST screen. Wait a few seconds for the computer to display the BIOS setup menu. Enter your System Administrator password for the BIOS if prompted.

Press the "Left" cursor key to navigate to the "Main" menu header if not already active. Press the "Down" cursor key to scroll down to the "Halt On" or "Halt On Errors" option, then press "Enter."

Scroll down to the "All but Keyboard" value option to highlight it, then press "Enter."

Press the "F10" key to save the BIOS changes and restart the computer. While the computer restarts, disconnect the keyboard. Disconnect the mouse and monitor as well if needed.

Alternative ASUS Boot to BIOS

If you struggle to get into BIOS using the approach above, ASUS recommends Windows users search "Change advanced startup options" in Windows. This should take you to "Recovery" under the "System" menu. Choose "Restart now" from the "Advanced startup" section and your computer will restart.

When your computer restarts, you'll be taken to a menu. Choose "Troubleshoot" and then "Advanced options," and finally "UEFI Firmware Settings." Click "Restart" and the computer will restart and take you to the BIOS for your ASUS laptop. This is a good approach if you need to know how to get to BIOS without a keyboard.

Turn Off ASUS Keyboard on Newer Intel Chipsets

ASUS motherboards based on Intel H67, P67 and a few other newer Intel chipsets do not include the "Halt on errors" option in the BIOS. With these motherboards, the BIOS will display an error message if you do not connect a keyboard. However, after about five seconds, the computer will boot normally as long as the designated boot drive functions properly and has a bootable operating system.

If you need to make changes to the system, just connect the keyboard to the system and push the "Power" button to restart the system.

Some, but not all, ASUS laptops include the "Halt on errors" option in the BIOS as well. Using the BIOS "Halt on errors" option can be helpful if the keyboard on an ASUS laptop fails and you need to boot the machine and navigate using the mouse only or a USB keyboard.