Long story story understanding our hardware is crucial for maintaining performance and troubleshooting issues. One vital piece of hardware information is the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) version. This guide will walk you through how to find the BIOS version on your Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems using PowerShell. Don’t worry if you're not familiar with computers or PowerShell; this guide is designed to be beginner-friendly.
What is BIOS?
Before we dive into the steps, let's briefly discuss what BIOS is. BIOS is the firmware that initializes computer hardware before the operating system loads. It helps your computer start up and ensures that all components are working correctly. The BIOS version can also impact system stability and performance. Therefore, knowing your BIOS version can be helpful when troubleshooting hardware issues or when updates are necessary.
Why Use PowerShell?
PowerShell is a powerful command-line shell and scripting language designed for system administration. It allows users to automate tasks and manage configurations. For users who may not be comfortable navigating through graphical interfaces, using PowerShell is an effective way to retrieve information efficiently and swiftly.
Prerequisites
Make sure you have:
- A computer running Windows 10 or Windows 11.
- Basic understanding of how to open applications.
- Administrative privileges may be needed for some commands, but the commands discussed here will work for standard user accounts as well.
Step-by-Step Guide to Find Your BIOS Version
Step 1: Open PowerShell
Using the Search Bar:
- Click on the Start Menu (Windows icon in the bottom left corner).
- Type “PowerShell” in the search bar.
- You will see Windows PowerShell appear in the search results.
Select Windows PowerShell:
- Click on Windows PowerShell to open it. You may want to choose “Run as administrator” for elevated permissions, though it's not strictly necessary for this task.
[See : How to open powershell in Windows 10]
Step 2: Run the Command to Find BIOS Version
In PowerShell, you can use a simple command to find your BIOS version. Copy and paste the command below, and then press Enter:
Breakdown of the Command in other words what does this command does?:
- Get-WmiObject: This command is used to get management information from local and remote computers.
- -Class Win32_BIOS: This specifies that you are querying the BIOS class of information.
- Select-Object -Property: This allows you to select which properties you'd like to display. Here, we're asking for the Manufacturer, Serial Number, Version, and Release Date.
Step 3: Understanding the Output
After running the command, you will see output similar to this which is a sample:
Manufacturer SerialNumber Version ReleaseDate ------------ ------------ ------- ------------ Apple Inc. ABC14443289 14.2.3 2026-01-01
- Manufacturer: This shows the company that made your BIOS.
- SerialNumber: This is a unique identifier for your specific BIOS.
- Version: The version of the BIOS installed on your computer.
- ReleaseDate: This indicates when this version was released.
Step 4: What to Do With This Information
Knowing your BIOS version can be essential for various reasons:
- Compatibility: Ensures that your operating system and hardware components are compatible.
- Updates: You may need this information if you're looking to update your BIOS for improved functionality or security.
- Troubleshooting: Helps in diagnosing hardware issues.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
PowerShell Does Not Open:
- Ensure that you are using a compatible version of Windows and check if your user account has administrative rights.
Command Gives an Error:
- Double-check that you’ve copied the command correctly. Ensure there are no additional spaces or missing characters.
Output Does Not Display:
- Make sure that the WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) service is running. You can run the following command to check it.