How to Update BIOS On Lenovo

The BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is a group of scripts that are present on your computer’s motherboard. A BIOS update is generally released by the motherboard manufacturer when some bugs are found in the motherboard to fix the addressed issues and also add new features. 

This is responsible for your system to recognize and make communications between the computer’s hardware components and the Operating System (OS), while the system is being booted.

Like every other laptop or computer, you will find the BIOS feature, through which users can modify the Boot-up settings and limited hardware configurations, on Lenovo Laptops. This article is important to Lenovo users because this brand offers two exclusive ways to update their BIOS versions.

BIOS Update Utility 

Checking the BIOS Version

It is important to check what version of the BIOS you are on. If you already have the latest version of the BIOS, you have no need to update it. 

You can always check with the website of your motherboard manufacturer, whether you have a new BIOS update pending if you have a laptop. 

If you use a laptop, you can visit the laptop manufacturer’s site. Since this article is especially for people with Lenovo computers, you can find the update BIOS details on the Lenovo site. 

Before you actually download a new update, here’s how you can scan for the version of BIOS on your Windows laptop.

1. Press the Windows key + R key together to launch the Run command. 
2. In the Open field, type in msinfo32 and hit the Enter key or click on the Ok button. 

This is the opening command for the System Information page.

3. On the left pane, click on the System Summary option. This is usually selected by default. 
4. On the right side of the window, you will be able to see the BIOS version/Date option. The value at the side of this heading is your BIOS version.
5. Before you download the update, it is important for you to know your Operating System value, System type, and System Model. 

• The Operating System value can be found by the OS option
• The number by the System type is the number of bits your Operating System is. If you see x86, your computer runs on a 32-bit Windows OS. If the value is x64, it means that you have a 64-bit Windows running on your system.
• The System model refers to the model of the laptop that you own. This is important because every mode can have different BIOS updates.

Updating the BIOS on Lenovo Systems

There are four ways to update the BIOS version on a Lenovo computer. These are the ways one can update System BIOS on Lenovo computers:

1. Run BIOS update through a Bootable CD/Bootable USB
2. Use the Windows OS method as a BIOS update utility
3. The Lenovo System update
4. Lenovo Vantage

1. Windows executable file 

This step is recommended for the ThinkPad computer series. This process is a method of flash-updating the BIOS. 

Though this method is directed towards Lenovo laptops, the methods to download and apply a UEFI/BIOS update on everý laptop are very similar.

Note: Flashing the BIOS refers to the process of updating it with the help of another program. This is an equally dangerous attempt to download a new BIOS update.

These are the steps to update BIOS with the help of a Windows executable file.

1. Go to the Lenovo Support site through a browser.
2. In the search box on top of the webpage, enter the model name, serial number, and OS type. The search results will show you the laptop model that you want to update and a few other similar models. 
3. Select the correct model and then click on the Drivers and Software tab to see a number of updates that are meant for your device.
4. Click on the Operating System menu and choose your OS.
5. Next, open the Components drop-down menu and choose UEFI/BIOS from the drop-down menu. You’ll see the latest BIOS versions that are available for your laptop.
6. Download the most recent release from this page, by click on the Download button for the update that you want.
7. Once the download finishes, go to its location, right-click on it and click on the Run as Administrator option. 
8. In the self-extraction dialog box that is displayed, click on the Install button. 
9. Connect to a proper electrical socket. Then, press the Flash BIOS button with your pointer, and finally, click Ok. The BIOS flash will run automatically.

The computer will restart automatically once the BIOS flashing update process finishes running.

Though this is one of the easiest ways to update BIOS, this may not work at times. You can use the following methods if this does not work for you. 

2.BIOS Update Bootable CD/Bootable USB

Initial to installing the update onto your motherboard, you will need to place it in a small storage unit, like a CD/DVD or a USB drive. 

This is quite a long process.

These are the steps to make your storage drive bootable and updating the BIOS on your laptop by extracting an ISO image of the update file:

1. Scan for new updates. If you see BIOS Update Bootable CD iso, it means that there are newer updates. In case there are none, proceed to install the BIOS update utility for Windows.
2. Insert your CD/DVD or USB drive which you will be using as a bootable.
3. Download the latest version of Rufus software and open it.
4. Select the device you want to be made bootable.
5. If you have a new update and saw the BIOS Update Bootable CD option, choose FAT32 in the File System drop-down menu.
6. Click on the ISO image next to the “Create a bootable disk using” option.
7. Then, press the CD icon, locate the file you downloaded and open it.
8. Click Start and agree with all the prompts that you will see. Press Close, when it’s done.
9. Once this is complete, plug in the USB or insert the CD/DVD drive. It is recommended that you use a USB.
10. If you have a BIOS update utility for Windows, select FreeDOS near the Create a bootable disk using option.
11. Click Start, wait for the scan operation to end, and then press Close.
12. Run the BIOS Update Utility for Windows program and follow the instructions the interface provides.
13. The file directory should be C:\Drivers\Flash\j9uj22ww or close.
14. After your extraction is done, remove the check from Install BIOS utility now.
15. Open the File Explorer and paste the address you copied into the address bar.
16. Move the contents of this folder into the drive that you converted into a bootable.
17. Restart your PC and press F12 to access the Boot menu.
18. Open the boot menu in the BIOS settings and choose your USB drive. 
19. In the Command Prompt page that appears, type in C: and hit the Enter key.
20. Then, type dir and press Enter again.
21. Enter this command and hit Enter one last time:

WINUPIP -s

3. Lenovo System Update

Before you update your BIOS, it is essential for you to check for pending Windows updates and install them on your Thinkpad computer or other models. 

These are the instructions to update your UEFI/BIOS through the system’s BIOS updates utility:

1. Open the Lenovo Support website on a browser.
2. Enter the name and the serial number of your laptop model in the search bar and choose your model from the search results.
3. In the left pane, select the Drivers and Software tab. You will be able to see all the available updates.
4. Find and Select System Update and click on the small downward-facing icon to download it. 
5. Open the System Update installer and do as the instructions say in the installation window, till you finish the updating process. 
6. Delete this file, when the installation is complete.

4. Lenovo Vantage 

Lenovo Vantage is a system management app, designed exclusively for recent Lenovo computers. 

This application can be used to get system and software updates on your workstation. 

Not only can you install updates for your laptop, but you can also use this as a BIOS update utility, battery optimization support tool, and monitor system health.

This is how you can update the BIOS version on your PC:

1. Open the Lenovo Vantage application. If it isn’t installed already, you can get it from the Lenovo website.
2. Click on the Device option and choose System Update.
3. Press the Check for Update button to scan if you have any updates that you haven’t downloaded.

4. You will be able to access the BIOS updates at the bottom of the window. Then, click on Install Selected Updates. Select Ok to restart the laptop. The updates will automatically be downloaded.
5. Choose the updating option in the Flash BIOS update utility. After the update is complete, reboot your workstation and do as instructed.

Frequently Asked Questions

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