ASUS BIOS Update Instructions
Use this guide for general BIOS update guidance and to address Intel 13th and 14th Gen Processor issues.
Before updating your BIOS, it's important to consider the risks involved. If something goes wrong—like a power failure during the update—it could render your computer inoperable. Additionally, BIOS updates are typically less frequent and only necessary when they address specific issues or add new features. Unlike Windows updates, which can often improve security and performance, unnecessary BIOS updates can introduce instability. Always ensure you really need the update before proceeding and follow manufacturer instructions carefully.
If you're unsure if you might already be on the latest BIOS, you can check your system's current BIOS version by referring to Step 5 below.
You will need:
- USB flash drive (at least 1GB or 2GB)
Before starting, confirm the model of your processor.
- Click the Start button or press Windows Key on your keyboard.
- Type System Information in the search bar.
- Click on System Information from the search results.
- It should open up to the System Summary. Check to see what is listed under Processor.
Step 1: Identify your motherboard model (before downloading the BIOS)
Before we can start the process of flashing a new BIOS, we will first need to identify the exact model of your motherboard. Choose one of the following methods and move to step 2.
Disclaimer: The motherboard model mentioned in the instructions below is provided solely as an example. Please ensure that you follow the specified steps to correctly identify your own motherboard model.
Method 1: Windows (System Information)
- Click the Start button or press Windows Key on your keyboard.
- Type System Information in the search bar.
- Click on System Information from the search results.
- It should open up to the System Summary. The BaseBoard Product will show the motherboard model.
Method 2: BIOS
- While the system is powering on or after restarting it, repeatedly press the DELETE key until you enter the BIOS. For alternative ways to enter the BIOS, refer to this article.
While in the BIOS, in EZ Mode (press F7 if it says Advanced Mode), you'll see the motherboard model located in the upper left-hand corner under Information.
Step 2: Downloading a BIOS
Here are a few popular ASUS motherboards that MAINGEAR has offered:
- Open your web browser and go to the ASUS official website.
- On the ASUS homepage, use the 🔍 icon in the top right of the page to open the search bar.
- Type in your motherboard model (e.g., "ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO").
Select your exact motherboard (see image below for example of ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO) from the search results to go to the product page.
- On the product page, click on the Support tab, usually found under the product name or in the main navigation menu.
- Under the Support section, find and click on Driver & Utility —>Drivers & Tools—>BIOS & FIRMWARE.
- A list of available BIOS versions will be displayed.
- Find the most recent BIOS version that is compatible with your motherboard model. We typically do not recommend using beta BIOSes.
Click on the Download button next to the BIOS version you want to download.
- Save the downloaded ZIP file to your desktop.
Step 3: Formatting a USB and moving the BIOS onto it
- Connect a flash drive to one of the USB ports on your motherboard. For most BIOS updates, even a small capacity flash drive (1GB or 2GB) will be large enough.
- Open the File Explorer (press Windows Key + E).
- Find your flash drive under "This PC" or "My Computer." It will usually be labeled as "Removable Disk" or similar.
Right-click the flash drive and select Properties and then Format.
- Enter the following:
- File System: FAT32.
- Allocation Unit Size: Default
- Volume Label: (Optional) You can name the flash drive if you want.
Quick Format: Ensure the "Quick Format" option is checked.
- Click Start.
- Open the File Explorer and navigate to your Desktop to locate the ZIP file containing the new BIOS.
Right-click the ZIP folder and choose Extract All.
- Select Browse.
Select This PC on the left menu and then click on the USB drive. Click Select Folder.
- Click Extract.
- Your USB is now ready to update the BIOS.
Step 4: Updating the BIOS
- Restart your computer and repeatedly press the Delete key as it boots to enter the BIOS. For alternative ways to enter the BIOS, refer to this article.
- In the BIOS menu, check to see if it says Advanced Mode at the top. If it says EZ Mode, press F7 to switch modes.
Click the Tool tab on the top navigation bar and then select ASUS EZ Flash 3 Utility.
- Your system will now enter into the EZ Flash 3 Utility.
Under Drive, select the USB drive and then select the BIOS file under Folder (Your USB will be listed by its manufacturer, not the name you entered when formatting).
If BitLocker is enabled on your system, follow the linked guides to back up the recovery key and suspend BitLocker before updating your BIOS.
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Click Yes on the following windows that pop up to update the BIOS.
Disclaimer: During the update process, DO NOT turn off your computer, restart it, or remove the flash drive.
- The system will restart automatically after the BIOS update completes.
Step 5: Confirm the BIOS update was successful
We can verify that the BIOS was installed successfully in a few different ways. Please follow either of the sets of the instructions below to confirm this.
Method 1: Windows (System Information)
- Click the Start button or press Windows Key on your keyboard.
- Type System Information in the search bar.
- Click on System Information from the search results.
It should open up to the System Summary. The BIOS Version/Date will show the current BIOS version and date of when it was released.
Method 2: BIOS
- Restart your computer and repeatedly press the Delete key as it boots to enter the BIOS. For alternative ways to enter the BIOS, refer to this article.
- Once in the BIOS, locate the BIOS version shown under Information in the top-left corner. This should match the version of the BIOS you installed.
- If the BIOS version and Build Date match, your BIOS update was successful. If it does not match, you can follow the steps again or reach out to our support team via phone 908-620-9050 or email at support@maingear.com (click here to see hours of operation).
Step 6: After completing the BIOS update, you'll want to follow these guides to complete setup.
How to set the Intel recommended processor power settings (click here)
How to enable XMP/EXPO (click here)
To request MAINGEAR's recommended fan curves, please email our support team at support@maingear.com with your Order Number or Invoice ID.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact one of our MAINGEAR Support agents: (908-620-9050) or support@maingear.com
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