How to check BIOS version on Windows 10

To check the BIOS version on Windows 10, open “System Information” (msinfo32), and on “System Summary,” check the “BIOS Version/Date” information.
You can also use the “wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion” command to check the version through Command Prompt.
Alternatively, you can use the “DirectX Diagnostic Tool” to check the BIOS version from the “System” tab.

UPDATED 10/30/2023: On Windows 10, you can check the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) version to ensure you have the latest version or confirm if an update is needed, and in this tutorial, I’ll show you the different ways to complete the task.

The Basic Input Output System is an essential component of your computer that makes it possible for the software to interact with the hardware. In a nutshell, the BIOS instructs the system on the steps to perform various basic functions like starting up, and it also finds and configures the hardware, such as processor, memory, hard drive, and others.

Usually, the BIOS doesn’t receive updates regularly. However, sometimes manufacturers (for example, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, and others) may need to roll out a patch to fix a bug or security vulnerability, improve the system stability, or enable a new feature on your Windows 10 device.

In this tutorial, I will show you the steps to check the BIOS version installed on your computer running Windows 10 and what you need to do to install a newer update.

Check BIOS version on Windows 10
Update BIOS version on Windows 10

Check BIOS version on Windows 10 (3 ways)

On Windows 10, you can check the version of the Basic Input Output System through System Information, Command Prompt, and DirectX Diagnostic Tool without having to restart the computer and open the motherboard’s firmware. Here’s how.

1. Using System Information

To check the BIOS version on Windows 10, use these steps:

Open Start on Windows 10.
Search for System Information, and click the top result to open the app.

Quick tip: Alternatively, you can use the “Windows key + R” keyboard shortcut to open the Run command, type msinfo32, and click OK to open System Information.
Under the “System Summary” section, look for BIOS Version/Date, which tells you the version number, manufacturer, and installed date.

2. Using Command Prompt

To check the BIOS version through Command Prompt, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt and click the top result to open the app.
Type the following command to confirm the BIOS version and press Enter:
```
wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion
```

3. Using DirectX Diagnostic Tool

To check the BIOS version through DirectX Diagnostic Tool, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for dxdiag and click the top result to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
Check the BIOS version in the “System” tab under the “System Information” section.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 will provide the version number of the BIOS without having to access the motherboard’s firmware. Also, you can now use this information to check your manufacturer support website to confirm if there’s a newer BIOS update available.

Update BIOS version on Windows 10

The BIOS is one of those components which never included an easy update mechanism. You can determine if an update is available for your computer by checking the “System Manufacturer” and “System Model” information on your manufacturer’s support website.

Usually, on the manufacturer support website, you need to locate the page of your motherboard (or device model for branded devices like Dell or HP) and then check for a section with information about the BIOS update. In my example, there are BIOS updates available for an X570 motherboard from ASRock.

On the page, you’ll see links to download the update and a link to the specific instructions to update the BIOS for this particular board.

If there is a new update, check the latest version against the version installed on your computer. You can download the update if the version is greater than the one you have.

Installing a new BIOS update doesn’t have one set of steps you can use on every computer. The instructions will always vary per manufacturer and even device model. As a result, follow the steps from your device manufacturer’s support website precisely.

Usually, you only need to double-click an executable (.exe) file and follow the on-screen directions. However, before updating to a new version, close all running applications, and if you’re working on a laptop, keep it plugged into a power source. Although it is often safe to update your system’s BIOS, if the device loses power or you interfere with the process, it could cause a system failure.

Sometimes, you need to download the ROM file and save it onto a USB flash drive. Then, you’ll need to start the computer in the BIOS, and from this environment, you can start the BIOS update process using the available tool.

It’s also possible to roll back to a previous version of the BIOS through a dedicated button available in some motherboards and through the USB method. However, you may need to check your manufacturer for the specific instructions.

It’s important to note that “BIOS” isn’t the same as “UEFI” (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). They perform the same function, but they’re not the same. UEFI is the system available on newer devices that replaces the BIOS to overcome many limitations with the older technology. It’s also something that manufacturers can update more efficiently, even automatically, using Windows Update.

Update October 30, 2023: This tutorial has been updated for accuracy and adds new instructions.