Forced BIOS firmware update: Difference between revisions

==How it works==

Traditionally, BIOS updates are done via a USB stick, which contains a FAT32 partition with bootloader and BIOS content. Recently the BIOS firmware is listed under Windows driver updates. Nowadays these updates are no longer under the "optional" category<ref>{{Cite web |last=@fec32a4de |date=2025-11-19 |title=How do I prevent Windows update from updating BIOS |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/HPOmen/comments/13lh22k/new_omen_wont_turn_off_lights_and_fan_in_sleep/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251218145243/https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/how-do-i-prevent-windows-update-from-updating-bios.343076/ |archive-date=2025-12-18 |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=TechPowerUp}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=@redxps630 |date=2022-07-16 |title=how to prevent Windows Update from updating your bios |url=https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/xps-desktops/how-to-prevent-windows-update-from-updating-your-bios/647f9de8f4ccf8a8de267068 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021113238/https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/xps-desktops/how-to-prevent-windows-update-from-updating-your-bios/647f9de8f4ccf8a8de267068 |archive-date=2023-10-21 |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=Dell Community}}</ref>.

In some computer models and BIOS versions, downgrade is blocked or "unsupported"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@ronyh |first= |date=2022-11-23 |title=BIOS Update blocked due to unsupported downgrade |url=https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/optiplex-desktops/bios-update-blocked-due-to-unsupported-downgrade/647fa0dff4ccf8a8de5fbbd1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225053720/https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/optiplex-desktops/bios-update-blocked-due-to-unsupported-downgrade/647fa0dff4ccf8a8de5fbbd1 |archive-date=2024-02-25 |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=Dell Community}}</ref>, preventing the user from regaining lost functionalities.

==Why it is a problem==

Here's a non-exclusive list of removed functionalities:

[[File:Asus bat chg v low.png|thumb|216x216px|Asus lowered the battery charging voltage to less than 16.6V, despite its 17.6V limited charging voltage.]]

Users reporting increased coil whine after a certain BIOS update<ref>{{Cite web |last=@ tom.m.culle150a02ca |date=2024-01-12 |title=Coil whine after bios update |url=https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/coil-whine-after-bios-update.392641/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251218183546/https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?threads/coil-whine-after-bios-update.392641/ |archive-date=2025-12-18 |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=MSI Global English Forum}}</ref>, possibly reducing reliability and increasing the failure rate.

On some laptops, the battery capacity is restricted by reducing the charging voltage after a BIOS update, causing premature battery endurance decline. This practice is similar to [[Google Pixel 6a Battery Performance Program]] but without official announcement.

Manufacturers who force BIOS update often claim that blocking downgrade as "security features" to stop "bad player" from accessing the BIOS<ref name=":1" />. This is a classic example of "secure against the user"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-14 |title=Proprietary Back Doors |url=https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html#universal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251218062339/https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/proprietary-back-doors.html |archive-date=2025-12-18 |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=GNU Operating System}}</ref>.

These examples are non-exhaustive, some known instances are currently not listed due to insufficient source(s). All the examples below have BIOS update as non-optional Windows Update.

Blocked downgrade<ref name=":1" />, removed undervolting<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=@WorldDj |date=2020-09-20 |title=Another victim of the BIOS update unfortunately |url=https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/another-victim-of-the-bios-update-unfortunately.272361/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251218173346/https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/another-victim-of-the-bios-update-unfortunately.272361/ |archive-date=2025-12-18 |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=TechPowerUp}}</ref>, removed previous BIOS download links<ref>{{Cite web |title=Driver unavailable |url=https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=c5jy9 |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=Dell Product Support}}</ref>.  

[[File:Ec update bricked bms 1.png|thumb|224x224px|A forced EC firmware update bricked an ASUS user's battery. Customer support was unhelpful]]

Reduced TDP<ref name=":4" />, blocked downgrade, bricked battery.

Disabled ACPI S3 sleep state<ref name=":2" />, blocked downgrade.

Disabled ACPI S3 sleep state<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Matusaprod |date=2023-07-15 |title=Linux sleep mode on newer thinkpad missing? |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/1505if1/linux_sleep_mode_on_newer_thinkpad_missing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251218181844/https://old.reddit.com/r/thinkpad/comments/1505if1/linux_sleep_mode_on_newer_thinkpad_missing/ |archive-date=2025-12-18 |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>.

On some computer models, UEFI Encapsulation can be disabled in BIOS settings<ref name=":0" />, disallowing the exchange of configuration data between the operating system and the UEFI firmware.

Free operating systems such as GNU/Linux respect user freedom. BIOS updates can be manually initiated using LVFS/fwupd

Flashing BIOS firmware on a bricked laptop can be done by using a custom programmer<ref name=":5" />.

==References==