How to update BIOS
Quick answer
Check your current version in System Information (Windows + R, then msinfo32). Download the update only from your PC or motherboard maker and install it with their tool or the board’s built-in flash utility. Keep the PC plugged in and never turn it off during the update.
The BIOS, or on modern PCs the UEFI firmware, is the software that starts your computer before Windows loads. Updating it is usually easy, but it’s one of the few PC jobs where an interruption can cause real trouble, so it’s worth doing carefully.
Should you update your BIOS?
Update if:
- The update fixes a problem you actually have.
- You’re installing a new processor that needs it.
- The maker lists it as a security fix.
If your PC works fine and the release notes don’t mention anything relevant, it’s perfectly reasonable to wait.
Step 1: Check your current BIOS version
Press Windows + R, type msinfo32 and press Enter. Look for BIOS Version/Date. You’ll also need your exact model, listed as System Model, or for a desktop you built, the motherboard model under BaseBoard Product.
Step 2: Get the update from the right place
| PC type | Where to get the update |
|---|---|
| Dell, HP, Lenovo laptops and desktops | The maker’s support site or app: Dell SupportAssist, HP Support Assistant, Lenovo Vantage |
| Custom-built PC | The motherboard maker’s support page for your exact board |
| Some PCs | Windows Update, under Optional updates > Firmware |
Never download BIOS files from random download sites.
Step 3: Install it
Laptops and brand-name PCs: Run the maker’s tool or the downloaded file from Windows. It restarts the PC and installs the update automatically.
Custom-built PCs: Copy the file to a USB drive, restart into the BIOS (usually by pressing Delete or F2 at startup) and use the built-in flash tool, such as ASUS EZ Flash, MSI M-Flash or Gigabyte Q-Flash.
Safety rules
- Plug a laptop into power and keep the battery above 50%.
- Don’t turn off or restart the PC while the update runs, even if the screen goes black for a while.
- Close other programs, and if you use BitLocker encryption, make sure you have your recovery key saved, since some updates ask for it on the next start.
For everything that runs inside Windows, see how to update drivers.
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