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What the Headless Operation Mode Active POST message means and how to stop it appearing during start-up

Summary: The following article explains what the Headless Operation Mode Active message during Power On Self-Test (POST) means. It takes you through how you can stop it from appearing during the computers start up. ...

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Symptoms

 

Did you see an error message as the computer started up?

 

Was it an error message or was it an information message?

Did it say ***HEADLESS OPERATION MODE ACTIVE***?

This message is not an error and only shows on-screen for two seconds during POST. It is instead an information message to let you know that Warnings and Error messaging during POST has not been configured in your systems BIOS. That they do not appear on your computer.


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Cause

Follow the instructions below to configure this setting in order to stop this message appearing. If you are receiving a different message on boot, then search using the term from the message on-screen for another guide.


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Resolution

 

How to stop this message appearing

 

You can stop the message from appearing by configuring your BIOS to provide warnings and errors and stop during POST. The two continue options result in the Headless Operation Mode Active message to be shown. There are three possible options, the steps take you through what each option means so you can decide which is best for you.

SLN309645_en_US__1Headless Operation Mode Active BIOS

(Figure.1 BIOS Screen options)

  1. The easiest and quickest way into your BIOS is to rapidly tap the F2 key, when your computer reaches the Dell Splash Screen.

  2. Browse POST Behavior.

  3. Under Warnings and Errors, select one of the three following options:

    • Prompt on Warnings and Errors causes the computer to stop at the warning or error during POST.

    • Continue on Warnings let the computer continue to POST and Boot without addressing the warning.

    • Continue on Warnings and Errors let the computer continue to POST and Boot without addressing the warning or error.

Note: Any errors deemed critical to the operation of the computer hardware continue to cause the computer to stop.


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Affected Products

Latitude, XPS, Fixed Workstations, Dell Canvas 27
Article Properties
Article Number: 000139731
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 17 Mar 2025
Version:  9
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