For those who’re right here, which means you’re contemplating a BIOS replace to your laptop computer or desktop motherboard. Earlier than we start, we should warning you to be cautious. For those who incorrectly replace your BIOS or push an incompatible model, you may render your pc unusable. And not using a correctly operating, appropriate Fundamental Enter/Output System, your pc received’t have the ability to boot up, not to mention operate. It’s sometimes not a good suggestion to replace your BIOS manually, except it comes as a part of a Home windows Replace. For those who’re nonetheless useless set on updating your pc’s BIOS, that is how you can replace the BIOS in your pc.
Learn extra: Learn how to change the Home windows boot drive in BIOS
QUICK ANSWER
To replace the BIOS in your pc, go to your motherboard or laptop computer’s help web page. Obtain the proper BIOS file, then set up it as instructed by the motherboard or laptop computer producer. This course of is subjective and differs from OEM to OEM.
JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS
Ought to I replace my BIOS?
Most likely not.
Updating your BIOS is just not like updating your cellphone from Android 12 to Android 13 or one thing. It isn’t an working system replace. You’re tinkering with the very factor that controls your pc’s capacity to energy on, in addition to how the working system interacts with parts hooked up to the motherboard.
Right here’s the rule of thumb: solely replace your BIOS should you completely need to. If there’s something critically unsuitable with the best way your pc is functioning, otherwise you want a particular operate enabled by the replace, you could take into account a BIOS replace. For instance, I lately up to date the BIOS firmware on my MSI B450 motherboard as a result of I used to be upgrading to AMD’s newest Ryzen 7 5800X3D chip. That chip is barely appropriate with the newest BIOS model, so I had to replace my BIOS. Previous to that, I had by no means touched the BIOS.
You should not replace your BIOS previous the model that shipped together with your pc except completely vital.
For those who’ve troubleshot all different attainable points and are nonetheless useless set on updating your BIOS, you’ve been warned. Let’s go over how you can replace your pc’s BIOS.
Learn how to examine your motherboard (or laptop computer mannequin)
BIOS updates are OEM-specific. Which means the method for updating your BIOS will differ from producer to producer. For instance, the best way you replace the BIOS on an MSI motherboard requires you besides into their proprietary “M-FLASH” mode together with your new model on a USB stick. That is totally different from different kinds of motherboards, the place all it is advisable to do is click on open the brand new file. Different occasions, BIOS updates are pushed out by means of Home windows Replace.
There isn’t a ‘one technique to rule all of them’ by way of BIOS updates. All producers are totally different.
Whatever the scenario, you should know your motherboard data. That means, you’ll be able to go to the correct help web page and discover the proper BIOS replace to your system.
Open the Begin menu and, within the Search bar, kind in “system data.” Click on on the System Data program to launch it.
Your motherboard data seems subsequent to BaseBoard Producer, BaseBoard Product, and BaseBoard Model. BaseBoard, on this case, is the very same factor as a motherboard.
What if I’ve a laptop computer?
Laptops are put collectively by OEMs (like Dell, HP, and Acer), so you should go to the OEM’s help web page. As such, you should know your laptop computer mannequin and producer.
TIPS AND TRICKS
Nearly all OEMs have their very own BIOS replace utility. As such, you could need to go to your laptop computer producer’s foremost help web page to search for a BIOS replace utility, which is able to routinely learn your pc’s present model and discover the proper BIOS replace for you.
Your laptop computer mannequin identify and quantity will also be present in System Data. Open the Begin menu and go to System Data.
Search for your laptop computer mannequin subsequent to System Mannequin.
Learn how to examine your BIOS model/date
Once you go to the help web page to your motherboard or laptop computer, you will notice all out there BIOS information. As such, you’ll want to know which model you might be presently operating, so you’ll be able to obtain and apply the proper replace quite than your present (or an older) BIOS file.
Open your Begin menu and go to System Data.
Find the Bios Model/Date subject to examine your present BIOS model. You’ll need to know this so that you don’t obtain this actual BIOS file (or an older one) from the help web page.
Learn how to replace your pc’s BIOS
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
Go to the help web page to your motherboard or laptop computer. For those who’re on the primary help web page, slim the outcomes all the way down to your particular motherboard or laptop computer mannequin.
From there, go to the BIOS part and find the BIOS replace you want to apply. Obtain the file, then unzip/extract it.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
From right here on out, you’re by yourself. On the help web page to your motherboard or laptop computer, there shall be directions on how you can correctly set up the brand new BIOS replace. This text goes into how you can decide all the things it is advisable to get to the proper BIOS file, however we can’t let you know how you can set up that actual file as a result of there are numerous varieties of laptops and motherboards, and the BIOS flashing course of is subjective. Which means it’s totally different for every product. For instance, as talked about earlier than, the best way you replace the BIOS on an MSI motherboard requires you besides into their proprietary “M-FLASH” mode together with your new model on a USB stick. That is just like the best way you do it for many Intel motherboards. Nevertheless, for laptops and different motherboard varieties, there are totally different procedures.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
FAQs
Some motherboard producers and OEMs launch BIOS updates by means of Home windows Replace (often as an optionally available driver replace, however in uncommon circumstances a compulsory replace).
Work computer systems on company networks sometimes use Microsoft Intune, a instrument for IT directors to regulate which computer systems on their community get which updates. These computer systems would use “Home windows Replace for Enterprise.” These have a delayed rollout schedule in comparison with the traditional Home windows Replace, often.
