Simply put, BIOS is the firmware interface between your computer hardware devices and your operating system. So just like any software and drivers, the BIOS can be updated (even though it’s a different subject regarding whether you need to update it or not.)
To see if you need to update your BIOS to the latest version, you’ll first need to know if you’re currently using an older BIOS.
To check the BIOS version on your Windows 11 computer:
- On your keyboard, press the Windows key and the R key at the same time. Type msinfo32 and hit Enter.
- On the right side panel, find the BIOS Version/Date entry, and you should see the BIOS version and model for your Windows 11 computer.
Compare the BIOS date here with the one on the motherboard manufacturer support page to see if you’re using an older version. If so, update your BIOS when necessary.
To see how to update your BIOS, please refer to this post here: How to Update BIOS on Windows 11
If you’re interested in knowing more about BIOS:
What is BIOS or UEFI?
BIOS, or Basic Input/Output System, is the firmware interface that loads to check your computer hardware devices before your operating system loads. The loading process is required to make sure that your hardware devices are working correctly. If an error occurs during this stage, your computer might shut down before your computer logo is shown.
You can usually boot into BIOS by pressing one of the function keys repeatedly when your computer is starting. The exact function key is different depending on your computer manufacturer. For instance, for Asus, you can press the F2 key repeatedly to boot into BIOS; for HP computers, you can press the F10 key.
This is what BIOS usually looks like:
UEFI, Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, is the newer interface for BIOS. When people talk about BIOS, they usually refer to UEFI nowadays, unless the computer is rather old. UEFI is more intuitive and easier to navigate than BIOS: it usually allows you to use the mouse pointer to click and select, while BIOS usually only allows arrow keys and Enter.
This is what UEFI usually looks like:
