How to update the BIOS manually on ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte and ASRock motherboards

A BIOS (UEFI) update adds support for new processors and memory, fixes bugs and improves stability. If your PC works fine, you do not have to update it. But if you are installing a new CPU, see memory or USB problems, or the manufacturer’s release notes describe a fix you need, this guide shows how to do it safely by hand on ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte and ASRock motherboards.

Important: never turn the PC off or press Reset while the BIOS is being written. Use stable power (ideally a UPS) and do not update during a thunderstorm or when the mains is unreliable.

1. Before you start

Find your exact motherboard model

1. Look at the board itself (the model is printed near the CPU socket or the PCIe slots) or on the box and the invoice.
2. Or in Windows press Win + R, type msinfo32 and read the lines “BaseBoard Manufacturer”, “BaseBoard Product” and “BIOS Version/Date”. You can also run Get-CimInstance Win32_BaseBoard in PowerShell.
3. Write down the current BIOS version and, for Gigabyte, the hardware revision (Rev. 1.0, 1.1, 2.0 and so on). It is printed on the board and the files for different revisions are not interchangeable.

Prepare

1. Take a USB flash drive of 4–32 GB, format it as FAT32 and keep it empty.
2. Download the BIOS only from the official support page of the manufacturer, for your exact model (and revision). Never use third-party sites.
3. Read the release notes. Sometimes you must install an intermediate version first (for example before a big AMD AGESA or Intel microcode change). If the notes say so, follow them.
4. Take photos of your current BIOS settings: XMP/EXPO memory profile, fan curves, boot mode, SATA mode. The update resets them.
5. If the system drive is encrypted with BitLocker (or device encryption), suspend it and save the recovery key before the update.

2. Where to find the right BIOS

ASUS

asus.com → Support → type the model (for example “TUF GAMING B550-PLUS”) → Driver & Tools → BIOS & FIRMWARE. Download the newest version you need. The archive contains a file with the .CAP extension (and the BIOSRenamer tool for USB BIOS Flashback).

MSI

msi.com → Support → search the model → Support → BIOS tab. The archive contains a BIOS file with a long name of letters and digits (for example E7C02AMS.1A0). For the Flash BIOS Button method you will rename it to MSI.ROM.

Gigabyte

gigabyte.com → Support → search the model → select the correct revision → BIOS. The archive contains a file such as B550AORUSPRO.F15. For Q-Flash Plus you will rename it to GIGABYTE.bin.

ASRock

asrock.com → search the model → Support → BIOS tab. The archive contains one file with a version number in its name. Use the latest stable (not “beta”) version unless you need the beta for a specific CPU.

3. The usual way: update from the UEFI menu

Unpack the downloaded archive and copy the BIOS file to the root of the USB drive (not into a folder). Plug the drive into a USB port at the back of the PC, restart and press Del (or F2) to enter UEFI. Then:

• ASUS – EZ Flash 3: press F7 for Advanced Mode → Tool → ASUS EZ Flash 3 Utility → choose the drive and the .CAP file → confirm.
• MSI – M-FLASH: in the UEFI choose M-FLASH (the PC will restart into the flash mode) → select the USB drive and the BIOS file → confirm.
• Gigabyte – Q-Flash: in the UEFI press F8 (or choose Q-Flash at the bottom) → Update BIOS → select the USB drive and the file → confirm. Leave the option to keep DMI data enabled if it is offered.
• ASRock – Instant Flash: in the UEFI open Tools → Instant Flash → select the file → confirm.

The utility checks the file, writes it and restarts the PC. This takes a few minutes and the screen may stay black or the PC may restart several times. Do not touch anything until the PC reaches the desktop or the UEFI.

4. If the PC does not start: BIOS Flashback

Many modern boards can be updated without a CPU, memory or video card. The PC must be off, with the power supply connected and switched on.

1. Copy the BIOS file to the root of a FAT32 USB drive and rename it: ASUS – use the BIOSRenamer tool from the archive (the file gets a name like B550P.CAP); MSI – MSI.ROM; Gigabyte – GIGABYTE.bin. Some ASRock boards have a similar function, see the manual for the file name.
2. Plug the drive into the special port marked in the manual (ASUS: “BIOS” port; MSI: the “Flash BIOS” port; Gigabyte: the “Q-Flash Plus” port), usually on the rear panel.
3. Press and hold the button (ASUS: BIOS FLBK, about 3 seconds; MSI: Flash BIOS Button; Gigabyte: Q-Flash Plus). A small LED starts to blink.
4. Wait until the LED stops blinking (usually 3–8 minutes). Only then start the PC.

5. After the update

1. Enter the UEFI and check that the new version is shown.
2. Choose Load Optimized Defaults, save and restart.
3. Turn on your XMP/EXPO memory profile again, set the boot drive, time and fan profile.
4. Resume BitLocker if you suspended it.

Common mistakes

• Downloading the BIOS for a similar model or the wrong revision.
• Putting the file in a folder or on a drive that is not FAT32.
• Updating from Windows with utilities such as @BIOS, Live Update or AI Suite. Updating from the UEFI menu is safer.
• Installing a beta BIOS when there is no need for it.
• Turning the PC off “because it seems to be stuck”. A flash can take up to 10 minutes.

If the PC does not start after an update, try clearing the CMOS (jumper, button or taking out the CR2032 battery for a few minutes). Boards with DualBIOS or a backup chip can often restore themselves; if not, use BIOS Flashback from section 4 or contact the manufacturer’s support.