Updating your motherboard BIOS isn’t something most people think about–and given the risks of a failed update, it’s easy to see why many people avoid it. If it fails, the motherboard gets “bricked,” where your BIOS is corrupted and the PC won’t boot into Windows. Firstly, recovering from a failed BIOS update is relatively easy for most modern motherboards.

Secondly, BIOS updates are much more handy than most users think. Like updating your Windows or Android phone, you get crucial security updates, bug fixes, and more.

When there’s a security patch

Because security is important

The BIOS firmware initializes your hardware before the operating system loads up. Unlike at the OS level, there’s no security measure in place to immediately prevent BIOS exploits. And if potential hackers find vulnerabilities in the firmware, they can exploit them and execute code before the operating system loads. This code could render your motherboard useless or expose your personal information to hackers.

When such vulnerabilities come to light, motherboard manufacturers release patches to address and close the “exploit paths”. You should stay on the lookout for any security-related BIOS updates for your motherboard; they may read something like “Enhanced BIOS security” or “Security Patch.” If you have an older motherboard with no new BIOS updates coming in, you can look at the already released updates to make sure there are no security updates that your board has missed.

Remember, just because your system hasn’t been exposed yet, it does not mean there’s no point in updating. That would be like sticking with a broken, outdated antivirus just because your PC hasn’t been infected by any new viruses for a while.

When you want to upgrade to a next-gen CPU

No need for a new board

If you’re on a socket that Intel or AMD will continue to support in the future, you can upgrade once the next generation of CPUs is out. All you have to do is install the specific BIOS update that adds support for the new chips.

For example, if you’re rocking an AMD B650 motherboard with a Ryzen 5 7600, you can upgrade to the Ryzen 5 9600 through the BIOS update. These new updates also come bundled with improved memory support.

When you’re facing stability issues or bugs

Fix those compatibility issues

BIOS updates also help address stability issues with your hardware, especially in the early days after a new motherboard is released. Bugs or issues caused by a faulty BIOS firmware could include:

BIOS updates fix such problems, so you may encounter updates that offer improved hardware compatibility and stability. An example of this was the Gigabyte Z690 Gaming X DDR4 motherboard, which showed a blank display while booting with RTX 3060 cards. Another glaring example is the instability issues that plagued Intel’s upper segment 13th and 14th-generation CPUs. These were eventually fixed through a series of microcode updates.

If you’ve just gotten your hands on a recently released motherboard, it’s a good idea to look out for any early BIOS updates fixing major compatibility issues. If you’re facing issues similar to those I just mentioned, you should definitely look for any available BIOS updates that may resolve them.

When there are potential performance improvements

Though this is rare

Sometimes, motherboard manufacturers introduce specific tweaks that can improve performance. For example, an updated memory reference code (which initializes the RAM at startup) could enable tighter memory timings, allowing for better overclocking. Similarly, an updated BIOS could provide enhanced tuning of dynamic CPU boost behavior or improved fabric speeds for faster communication among CPU cores and of the CPU with memory, etc.

AMD’s AGESA PI 1.2.0.2 patch is a good example. This BIOS update reduced core-to-core latency for the Ryzen 9000 CPUs and introduced a higher TDP option, both of which improved CPU performance.

Sometimes it’s important to update your motherboard BIOS, but be careful

Updating your BIOS can be very helpful in many scenarios, but the risks deter most people from doing so. However, not only can a BIOS update be helpful in some cases, but it’s also not as risky to do it as it was in the past. Most motherboards nowadays have a BIOS flashback option, which allows you to restore your BIOS using a flash drive. The handy dual BIOS found in many motherboards allows them to switch over to a backup ROM containing the BIOS firmware if the main one is corrupted.

Generally, a BIOS update won't fail unless there’s a power outage or you select an update that is not compatible with your particular motherboard. If power outage is something you’re afraid of, consider hooking up a UPS and a battery to your PC.