Your version number BIOS is not something you need to keep track of all the time. The main reason you want to check what version it’s in is because you’re wondering if it’s available update BIOS .
Like most things in the tech world, software your motherboard (BIOS) is sometimes updated, sometimes to fix bugs, and sometimes to add new features.
As part of some troubleshooting processes hardware especially those that include new RAM or new CPU which won’t work correctly, updating the BIOS to the latest version is a good try.
Below are six different ways to check the BIOS version installed on the motherboard:
Methods 1 and 2 best suited if your computer is not working properly. They do not depend on operating system .
Methods 3, 4, 5 and 6 are more convenient ways to check the BIOS version, require your computer to be running, and run in Windows 10 , Windows 8 , Windows 7 , Windows Vista and Windows XP .
Method 1: Restart your computer and take note
The «traditional» way to check the BIOS version on a computer is to follow the version designation that appears on the screen during the procedure. post, when the computer starts boot .
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Restart your computer in normal mode if it works well enough for that. If not, turn off the power manually and then turn on the computer again.
If your computer is currently turned off, turning it on will work fine.
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Watch carefully as your computer starts up for the first time, and note the BIOS version shown on the screen.
On some computers, especially those made by large manufacturers, instead of POST results, a screen with a computer logo is displayed, which includes the BIOS version number. pressing Esc or Tab usually removes the logo screen and shows the POST information behind it.
If the POST result screen disappears too quickly, try pressing the Pause on keyboard. Most motherboards pause the boot process to allow enough time to read the BIOS version number.
If the pause doesn’t work, point your smartphone at the computer screen and make a short video of the POST results that will flash on the screen. Most cameras record at 60 frames per second or higher, a large number of frames is enough to view this BIOS version.
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Write down the BIOS version number as shown on the screen. It’s not always 100 percent clear which of the cryptic strings of letters and numbers on the screen is the version number, so log anything that might be.
To photograph! If you are lucky enough to pause the upload process on the POST results screen, take a picture with your phone. This will give you something specific to use later.
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You should now have your BIOS version number.
The reboot method is handy when you’re not using a work computer and can’t try one of the more convenient methods below.
However restart your computer over and over may be very frustrating if you still miss writing the BIOS version. The POST result screen is usually very fast, especially because computers are faster and load times are reduced.
Method 2: Let the BIOS update utility tell you
Updating the BIOS isn’t something you do manually, not completely anyway. In most cases, you’ll use a special BIOS update tool supplied by your computer or motherboard manufacturer to do the job.
More often than not, this tool will clearly show the current BIOS version that’s installed, so even if you’re not quite ready to update the BIOS, or not sure you need to, the BIOS update tool can be used just to check the current version.
You’ll first need to locate the online support for your computer or motherboard maker and then download and run the tool. No need to actually update anything, so skip those later steps in whatever instructions are provided.
This method works when your computer isn’t starting properly only if the BIOS update tool for your motherboard is bootable. In other words, if the BIOS update program supplied only works from within Windows, you’ll have to stick to Method 1.
Method 3: Use Microsoft System Information (MSINFO32)
A much easier way to check the BIOS version running on your computer’s motherboard is via a program called Microsoft System Information.
Not only does this method not require any restarting of your computer, it’s already included in Windows, meaning there’s nothing to download and install.
Here’s how to check the BIOS version with Microsoft System Information:
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In Windows 10 and Windows 8.1, right-click or tap-and-hold the Start button and then choose Run.
In Windows 8, access Run from the Apps screen. In Windows 7 and earlier versions of Windows, select Run from the Start menu.
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In the Run or search box, enter the following exactly as shown:
msinfo32
A window titled System Information will appear on the screen.
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Select System Summary if it’s not already highlighted.
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On the right, under the item column, locate the entry titled BIOS Version/Date.
Depending on how much you don’t know about your computer or motherboard, you may also need to know who made your motherboard and what model it is. If that information is reported to Windows, you’ll find those values in the BaseBoard Manufacturer, BaseBoard Modeland Base Board Name items.
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Jot down the BIOS version as reported here. You can also export the results of this report to a TXT file via file > Export in the System Information menu.
Microsoft System Information is a great tool but it doesn’t always report a BIOS version number. If it didn’t for your computer, a similar program not made by Microsoft should be the next thing you try.
Method 4: Use a Third-Party System Information Tool
If Microsoft System Information didn’t get you the BIOS version data you need, there are several system information tools out there you can try instead, many that are much more thorough than MSINFO32.
Here’s how to do it:
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Download Speccy, a completely free system information tool for Windows.
There are several really good system info tools to choose from but Speccy is our favorite. It’s completely free, comes in a portable version, and tends to show more information about your computer than similar tools.
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Install and run Speccy if you chose the installable version, or extract and then run Speccy.exe or Speccy64.exe if you chose the portable version.
See 64-bit vs 32-bit if you’re not sure which file to run.
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Wait while Speccy scans your computer. This usually takes several seconds to a few minutes, depending on how fast your computer is.
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Choose mother board from the menu on the left.
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Note the version listed under the BIOS subcategory on the right. This is the BIOS version you’re after.
The brand listed here isn’t usually something that’s worth while to know. The BIOS update tool and data file you need will come from your computer or motherboard maker, listed as manufacturerand will be specific to your motherboard model, listed as Model.
If Speccy or another «sysinfo» tool doesn’t work out for you, or you’d rather not download and install software, you have a couple other methods for checking your computer’s BIOS version.
Method 5: Run a Command Prompt Command
A simple command can be used to print the BIOS version in Command Prompt. You might try this before the slightly more advanced method below, but only after trying the graphical programs above.
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Open Command Prompt.
There are multiple ways to open Command Prompt, but in most versions of Windows, you can type cmd in the search bar or Start menu to find it. In all versions of Windows, executing the same command in the Run dialog box (WIN+R) works, too.
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Type this command followed by Enter:
wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion
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You should see the BIOS version appear just below the command you entered.
You can also enter the system info | findstr «BIOS Version» command into Command Prompt to find the BIOS version information as its reported in the System Information tool explained above.