How To Check Current BIOS Version On Windows And Linux Systems
Knowing how to check your current BIOS version is essential before performing firmware updates, diagnosing hardware incompatibilities, or troubleshooting system instability. This comprehensive guide details multiple methods across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Linux environments to quickly retrieve your motherboard firmware details without third-party software.
Pre-Operation & Firmware Verification Checklist
- Brief practical context on foundational setup, required equipment/gear, and scope.
- Essential gear, tools, and materials: A functioning computer running a modern operating system, administrative user privileges, and a stable power source.
- Mandatory prerequisite knowledge and standards: Familiarity with basic command-line interfaces (Command Prompt, PowerShell, Terminal) and Windows administrative tools.
- Estimated budget and duration benchmarks: Zero financial cost and an estimated execution time of under two minutes per method.
Step-by-Step System Firmware Inspection
Step 1: Using the Windows System Information Utility
- Launch the Windows Start menu search bar and type msinfo32, then press Enter to open the System Information application.
- Navigate to the System Summary category in the left-hand navigation pane and locate the BIOS Version/Date entry in the right-hand details table.
- Record the exact manufacturer string, alphanumeric version code, and release date displayed next to this entry for future validation against manufacturer support pages.
Pro-Tip: You can export this entire system profile into a plain text file for documentation by clicking File, selecting Export, and saving the report to your desktop.
Step 2: Querying Firmware via PowerShell or Command Prompt
- Open the Windows Start menu, type cmd or powershell, right-click the preferred utility, and select Run as Administrator to ensure elevated query permissions.
- Execute the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line utility by typing wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion, releasedate into the console window and pressing Enter.
- Read the returned alphanumeric string and date stamp directly below the command output line to verify your exact motherboard firmware iteration.
Warning: Running the WMIC utility is deprecated in newer builds of Windows 11; if this command returns an error, use the modern PowerShell equivalent: Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS.
Step 3: Inspecting Firmware Directly Inside the UEFI/BIOS Interface
- Restart your computer completely and repeatedly tap the designated manufacturer access key—typically Delete, F2, F12, or F1-during the initial POST boot screen.
- Once the graphical or text-based UEFI interface loads, navigate to the Main, System Summary, or Advanced hardware information tab using your keyboard or mouse.
- Locate the fields labeled BIOS Version, Firmware Version, or Build Date, and take note of the data before exiting the interface without saving unintended changes.
Step 4: Extracting BIOS Data on Linux Distributions
- Open your preferred desktop terminal emulation window or access the system via a secure shell connection with sudo privileges.
- Execute the standard administrative hardware inspection command by typing sudo dmidecode -s bios-version and entering your superuser password when prompted.
- Alternatively, query the system kernel ring buffer or sysfs pseudo-filesystem by inspecting the output of sudo cat /sys/class/dmi/id/bios_version to verify the active firmware release.
How to update BIOS on a Windows laptop
Method Comparison for Firmware Inspection
| Inspection Method | Operating System | Access Level Required | Speed & Convenience | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| System Information (msinfo32) | Windows 10 / 11 | Standard User | Moderate | Quick GUI verification for desktop users |
| PowerShell / Command Prompt | Windows 10 / 11 | Administrator | Very Fast | Scripting, automation, and remote auditing |
| UEFI / BIOS Setup Screen | Hardware Independent | Direct Access (Pre-Boot) | Slow | Pre-OS troubleshooting and recovery states |
| DMI Decode Utility | Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.) | Superuser (sudo) | Very Fast | Server management and Linux administration |
Common Inspection Failures & Field Fixes
- Root Cause: The WMIC command returns an error stating the command is not recognized or is deprecated in modern Windows 11 builds.
- Actionable Fix: Switch to the modern PowerShell cmdlet by typing Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS | Select-Object SMBIOSBIOSVersion, which bypasses the deprecated WMI infrastructure entirely.
- Root Cause: The system boots too fast into the operating system, preventing access to the physical UEFI setup utility during startup.
- Actionable Fix: Navigate to Windows Settings, select Update & Security or System, choose Recovery, and click Restart Now under Advanced startup to boot directly into UEFI firmware settings.
- Root Cause: Linux terminal commands return permission denied errors when attempting to query system DMI tables.
- Actionable Fix: Prefix your diagnostic command with sudo to ensure you possess the necessary root privileges to read low-level hardware registers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is checking my BIOS version important?
Knowing your current BIOS version is critical when determining if your motherboard requires a firmware update to support newly released central processing units, improve system stability, or patch critical security vulnerabilities. Without this baseline data, you risk installing incorrect firmware packages that can brick your motherboard.
Will checking my BIOS version erase my custom settings?
No. Simply viewing your BIOS version through operating system utilities or entering the UEFI interface to read the version number does not alter, reset, or clear any of your customized hardware configurations, fan profiles, or overclocking parameters.
How do I update my BIOS after finding the current version?
To update your BIOS, visit your motherboard manufacturer's official support website, locate the exact model of your board, download the latest stable firmware update, and follow the manufacturer's specific flashing instructions using a formatted USB flash drive.
Can I check my BIOS version without turning on the computer?
If the computer is powered completely off, you cannot check the software BIOS version through the operating system. However, the physical version is often printed directly onto a small white barcode sticker affixed to the surface of the motherboard PCB.
Master Your System Hardware Today
Take control of your computer hardware performance by documenting your current firmware specifications and keeping your system diagnostics up to date. Explore our comprehensive resource library for advanced motherboard optimization and troubleshooting guides.
