How to Check Your Motherboard BIOS Version (Every Method Explained)

Knowing your BIOS version is more useful than most people realize. It tells you whether your motherboard firmware is up to date, whether it supports newer hardware like a recent CPU or RAM standard, and whether a known bug affecting your system has already been patched. The process takes under two minutes once you know where to look — and there are several ways to do it depending on your situation.

What Is a BIOS Version, and Why Does It Matter?

BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. It's the firmware embedded on your motherboard that initializes your hardware before your operating system even loads. On modern systems, this is often referred to as UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) — a more advanced successor to legacy BIOS — though the term "BIOS" is still widely used for both.

Every motherboard manufacturer releases BIOS updates over time. These updates can:

• Add support for new CPU generations
• Fix stability or compatibility bugs
• Improve memory overclocking support
• Address security vulnerabilities (like Spectre/Meltdown patches)

Before you update your BIOS — or troubleshoot a hardware compatibility problem — you need to know which version you're currently running.

Method 1: Check BIOS Version Inside Windows (System Information)

This is the fastest method and requires no restarts.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog
2. Type msinfo32 and press Enter
3. In the System Information window, look for BIOS Version/Date in the right-hand pane

This displays your current BIOS version string along with the release date. The format varies by manufacturer — you might see something like American Megatrends Inc. F20, 3/15/2023 or Dell Inc. 1.18.0.

Method 2: Use Command Prompt or PowerShell 🖥️

If you prefer working in a terminal, two commands give you the same information instantly.

Command Prompt:

wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion 

PowerShell:

Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_BIOS | Select-Object SMBIOSBIOSVersion, Manufacturer, ReleaseDate 

PowerShell returns a slightly more detailed output including the manufacturer name and release date encoded in a timestamp format.

Method 3: Check During System Boot (BIOS/UEFI Screen)

When you first power on your computer, there's a brief window where you can enter the BIOS setup screen by pressing a key — commonly Delete, F2, F10, or Esc, depending on your motherboard brand.

Once inside the BIOS interface, the version number is usually displayed in the main screen or header — often labeled "BIOS Version," "Firmware Version," or shown as part of the motherboard model info. This method is especially useful if Windows won't boot or you're troubleshooting at the hardware level.

Method 4: Use CPU-Z (Third-Party Tool)

CPU-Z is a free, widely trusted system information utility. After downloading and running it:

1. Open the Mainboard tab
2. Look for the BIOS section at the bottom

It shows the brand, version string, and date in a clean, readable format. CPU-Z is particularly helpful if you want to cross-reference other system specs — memory speed, CPU model, chipset — alongside your BIOS version in one place.

Method 5: Check via Linux or Recovery Environment

If you're running Linux or need to check BIOS version outside of Windows:

sudo dmidecode -s bios-version 

Or for more complete firmware details:

sudo dmidecode -t bios 

This uses the DMI (Desktop Management Interface) table — the same underlying system data that Windows reads — and works on most x86 systems regardless of distribution.

How to Interpret What You Find 🔍

Once you have your BIOS version, the next step is comparing it to what's available on your motherboard manufacturer's support page. You'll need:

• Your exact motherboard model (also visible in msinfo32 under "BaseBoard Product," or on the board itself)
• The current version you just found
• The latest available version listed on the manufacturer's website

The version naming conventions vary significantly. ASUS often uses letter-number combos like F20. MSI uses version numbers like 7D25vA8. Dell and HP typically use decimal versioning. There's no universal format — you're always comparing your string to what the manufacturer lists as current.

Variables That Affect Your Situation

Checking the version is straightforward. What you do with that information depends on several factors that differ from system to system:

• Desktop vs. laptop vs. prebuilt — Enthusiast motherboards from ASUS or MSI get frequent BIOS updates; OEM systems from Dell or HP follow their own slower release cycles
• Age of your system — Older boards may have reached end-of-life for updates; very new boards may have beta BIOS releases that trade stability for feature support
• Planned hardware changes — Adding a new-generation CPU often requires a specific minimum BIOS version before the processor is even recognized
• Stability vs. features — Updating BIOS carries a small but real risk; if your system is working perfectly, the calculus is different than if you're troubleshooting a crash
• Technical comfort level — BIOS flashing procedures vary in complexity, from simple Windows-based tools to USB-based recovery flashing that requires careful preparation

The version number you find is just the starting point. Whether it matters — and what to do about it — depends entirely on what you're trying to accomplish with your specific hardware and setup.