A Complete Guide to Checking Firmware Versions in Windows 10 and 11

Importance of Checking Firmware​

Firmware is system-level software that interacts with the hardware of your computer. Unlike regular software applications which operate on top of an operating system, firmware controls the hardware directly. Firmware updates can improve performance, fix problems, and add features, making it critical for users to stay on top of their firmware versions. In Windows, firmware for different components—like the BIOS/UEFI, Network Interface Card (NIC), storage devices, and GPUs—needs to be monitored regularly to ensure optimal performance and security. This tutorial focuses on using CMD to check these firmware versions.

Getting Started​

Before diving into commands, ensure you have administrative access to CMD or PowerShell. To access these tools, right-click on the Start button and select either Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) from the menu. This will allow you to execute the necessary commands without encountering access issues.

Checking Windows BIOS/UEFI Firmware Version​

You can find out the BIOS or UEFI firmware version of your motherboard easily using Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) or SYSTEMINFO.

Using WMIC Command​

The WMIC utility comes pre-installed on Windows and is used for system management tasks. To get your BIOS version using WMIC, execute the following command in CMD or PowerShell:

 wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion

This command will return the BIOS version currently installed on your machine.

Using SYSTEMINFO Command​

Another built-in command is systeminfo, which provides detailed information about your system hardware and the operating system. To specifically fetch the BIOS version, you can use:

 systeminfo | findstr /I /c:"bios version"

If you want to see all system information, simply type systeminfo and press Enter.

Checking Network Interface Card (NIC) Driver Version​

Network Interface Cards (NICs) are crucial for your system's ability to connect to networks. To determine the version of your NIC driver, you can use the Get-NetAdapter command in PowerShell:

• Open PowerShell as an administrator.
• Execute the following command:
  Bash:

   Get-NetAdapter | fl name, InterfaceDescription, DriverFileName, DriverDate, DriverVersionString, NdisVersion

  This will provide details, including the name, driver name, description, and version of all NICs installed on your Windows device.

Checking Storage Device Firmware Version​

You can also check the firmware version of your storage devices using PowerShell. Execute the following command:

 Get-PhysicalDisk | Select-Object -Property DeviceId, Model, FirmwareVersion

This command will display essential information regarding the physical disks, including their model and firmware versions, allowing you to ensure that your storage devices are up-to-date.

Checking GPU Driver Version using PowerShell​

Typically, firmware for GPUs isn't directly accessible via standard PowerShell or CMD commands, often requiring vendor-specific tools for complete details. However, you can check the GPU driver version using the following command in PowerShell:

 Get-WmiObject win32_videocontroller | Select-Object Name, DriverVersion, VideoProcessor

This will give you the name of the graphics controller along with its driver version.

Conclusion​

Checking firmware versions for various components of your Windows 10 or 11 machine is essential for maintaining optimal performance and ensuring compatibility with drivers. The commands covered in this guide offer straightforward methods for assessing the current state of your system’s firmware. Regular checks can mitigate potential issues and keep your device running smoothly. By knowing how to access important firmware information quickly, you empower yourself to make informed decisions about updates and system maintenance. For further reading and related topics, you may want to explore our guides on https://www.how2shout.com/how-to/how-to-change-wifi-or-ethernet-mac-address-on-windows-11-or-10/ and https://www.how2shout.com/how-to/how-to-install-7-zip-on-windows-11-or-10-with-single-command/.​