You do not need to restart your PC or enter the firmware screen just to find its BIOS version. Windows 11 can report the installed firmware from inside the operating system, and for most people the quickest place to look is System Information.
The version itself is only part of what you may need. If you are checking before a BIOS update, also note the PC or motherboard model and the BIOS date. A version such as 1.18.0, F24, or N3MET16W is useful only when it is compared with firmware released for the exact hardware you own.
The quickest method: System Information
Press Windows + R, type:
“` text msinfo32
and press **Enter**.
System Information opens on **System Summary**. Find:
**BIOS Version/Date**
The entry normally contains the firmware manufacturer, version, and
release date.
You may see something similar to:
text Dell Inc. 1.24.0, 03/18/2026
or:
text American Megatrends International, LLC. F24, 01/15/2026
Your actual value will depend on the computer or motherboard.
Microsoft describes `msinfo32` as the built-in System Information
utility for viewing hardware, system components, and
software-environment details. You can open it without changing any
firmware settings.
For a simple "What BIOS version do I have?" check, I would stop here.
## Need a copyable version number? Use PowerShell
System Information is convenient to read, but PowerShell is better when
you want to copy the value into a support ticket or compare it with a
manufacturer's download page.
Right-click **Start** and open **Terminal**. If the tab is running
PowerShell, enter:
powershell Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_BIOS | Select-Object SMBIOSBIOSVersion, Manufacturer, ReleaseDate
The output separates the useful fields instead of making you search
through a large hardware summary.
`SMBIOSBIOSVersion` is the BIOS version reported through SMBIOS.
Microsoft documents this property as the BIOS version supplied by the
system's BIOS information structure.
If you only want the version number, use:
powershell (Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_BIOS).SMBIOSBIOSVersion “`
This is the command I would use instead of relying on old wmic examples. PowerShell’s CIM cmdlets provide a current Windows method for querying the Win32_BIOS class.
Check from the BIOS or UEFI screen when Windows will not start
The previous methods assume you can sign in to Windows. If the PC will not boot far enough to run them, read the firmware version directly from BIOS/UEFI setup.
Restart the computer and use the manufacturer’s firmware key during startup. Common keys include F2, Delete, Esc, and F10, but there is no universal key for every computer.
Once inside the firmware interface, look for a page named something like:
- Main
- Information
- System Information
- BIOS Information
- UEFI Firmware Information
The BIOS version is often shown on the first information screen.
Do not change settings merely to check the version. Read the value, take a photo if necessary, and exit without saving changes.
My guide to opening BIOS in Windows 11 covers the different ways to reach the firmware interface when the startup key is not convenient.
Checking the version is not the same as checking for an update
This distinction matters.
Windows tells you what firmware is installed. It does not, by itself, prove whether that firmware is the newest release for your machine.
Before comparing versions, identify the exact computer or motherboard.
For a prebuilt laptop or desktop, open:
Settings > System > About
and note the model information. You can also find useful model details in System Information.
For a custom-built desktop, the motherboard model is usually more important than the case or PC name because the motherboard manufacturer supplies its BIOS.
Then visit the official support page for that exact model and compare the installed BIOS version with the versions listed there.
Do not compare only the release dates. Manufacturers use different version schemes, and a larger-looking number is not always meaningful across different hardware models.
What if System Information and the manufacturer use different-looking names?
This can be normal.
System Information might show the BIOS vendor together with a short firmware revision, while a support utility or download page may use a package name, release identifier, or vendor-specific label.
For example, manufacturers can use formats such as:
1.24.0F24A12- a longer alphanumeric firmware code
The important comparison is between the firmware reported by your exact machine and the BIOS releases listed for that exact model or motherboard.
Do not download a BIOS merely because its version resembles yours.
BIOS version, SMBIOS version, and UEFI are not the same thing
System Information can show several firmware-related entries, and they are easy to confuse.
BIOS Version/Date identifies the firmware release installed by the computer or motherboard manufacturer.
SMBIOS Version refers to the version of the System Management BIOS specification supported by the machine. It is not the firmware update number you normally compare with a manufacturer’s BIOS download.
BIOS Mode may show UEFI on a modern Windows 11 PC. UEFI is the modern firmware environment used by current systems. Seeing “UEFI” there does not tell you the installed firmware release.
So if a support technician asks for your BIOS version, the value beside BIOS Version/Date is normally the useful one.
Do you need to update after finding an older BIOS?
Not automatically.
A BIOS update is firmware maintenance, not the same kind of routine task as updating an ordinary application.
Read the release notes for the newer firmware first. An update may be relevant when it addresses a security issue, hardware compatibility problem, processor support requirement, stability fault, or another issue that applies to your PC.
If you do decide to update, use the instructions for your computer or motherboard manufacturer. Laptop vendors and motherboard manufacturers do not all use the same flashing procedure.
Make sure you have identified the exact model before downloading anything. Installing firmware intended for different hardware can leave the computer unable to start.
The BIOS version check itself is safe because you are only reading information. The risk begins when firmware is being changed.
One BIOS check is usually enough
For most Windows 11 users, there is little benefit in checking the same value through six different utilities.
Use System Information when Windows starts normally. Use PowerShell when you want a clean, copyable result. Enter BIOS/UEFI setup when Windows cannot boot or when you want to verify the value directly in firmware.
Those three routes cover the situations that actually matter without turning a simple BIOS lookup into a long troubleshooting exercise.
