The basic process: read, prepare, and flash

MSI BIOS updates happen in three stages: read the correct file from MSI's website, move it to a USB drive, and run the flash utility from your motherboard's BIOS menu. The whole process takes 10 to 20 minutes, though you should not interrupt it once it starts. Your computer will restart several times on its own — this is normal and expected.

Before you start, shut down your computer completely and unplug the power cable from the back of the power supply. This protects your hardware if something goes wrong during the flash. Leave it unplugged for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This clears any residual power from the system.

You will need a USB drive with at least 1 GB of free space and a second computer to read the file, since your main computer will be in BIOS during the update. The USB drive should be formatted as FAT32, which is the standard format most motherboards expect.

Key Takeaways

  • read the BIOS file from MSI's support website using your motherboard model number, which you can find in Windows Device Manager or by opening your case.
  • Format a USB drive as FAT32 and copy the BIOS file to the root directory — not inside a folder.
  • Restart your computer and enter BIOS by pressing Delete or F2 during startup, then locate the BIOS flash utility (usually called M-Flash or straightforward Flash depending on your motherboard).
  • Insert the USB drive, select the BIOS file, and start the flash — do not turn off your computer or unplug anything until the process completes and your system restarts automatically.
  • After the update finishes, restart into Windows and check that the new BIOS version appears in your system information.

Finding your motherboard model and downloading the right file

Your motherboard model is printed on the board itself, usually near the CPU socket or along an edge. If you cannot open your case, you can find it in Windows by opening Device Manager, expanding "System devices," and looking for your motherboard name. Alternatively, right-click the Start menu, select "System," scroll down, and look for "System info" — your motherboard model often appears there.

Go to the MSI support website (support.msi.com) and search for your exact motherboard model. Click on your model, then navigate to the "Support" or "read" tab. Look for the BIOS section — it will list several versions with dates. read the latest version, which is usually at the top of the list. The file will have a name like "E22D51AMS.160" or similar, ending in a number rather than .exe or .zip.

Do not read multiple BIOS versions or older versions unless MSI's release notes specifically tell you to. Newer is almost always correct. If the file downloads as a .zip archive, extract it first — you need the raw BIOS file, not the compressed version.

Preparing your USB drive and copying the BIOS file

Insert your USB drive into a computer that already has Windows or another operating system running. Right-click the USB drive in File Explorer, select "Format," and choose FAT32 as the file system. Name it something straightforward like "BIOS" and click Start. This erases everything on the drive, so make sure it is empty first.

Once formatted, copy the BIOS file you downloaded to the root directory of the USB drive — meaning directly on the drive itself, not inside any folder. Do not rename the file or change its extension. If Windows warns you that the file type is not recognized, ignore the warning and proceed. Close File Explorer and safely eject the USB drive.

Keep the USB drive in your hand. You will insert it into your computer in the next step, and you want it ready to go.

Entering BIOS and locating the flash utility

Plug the USB drive into a USB port on the back of your computer (not a front panel port, as those are sometimes less reliable). Restart your computer. As soon as you see the motherboard logo or the first boot screen, press Delete or F2 repeatedly — do not wait for Windows to load. You should enter the BIOS setup screen within a few seconds.

Once in BIOS, look for a menu option called "M-Flash," "straightforward Flash," "BIOS Flash Utility," or "Update BIOS." The exact name depends on your motherboard generation, but it will have "Flash" in the name. Use the arrow keys to navigate and Enter to select. If you cannot find it in the main menu, look in an "Advanced" or "Tools" section.

Some older MSI boards use a different method: press Ctrl+Alt+S in the BIOS menu to launch the flash utility directly. Check your motherboard's manual if you are unsure, though most modern boards have the flash option visible in the main menu.

Running the BIOS flash and what to expect

Select the flash utility and it will ask you to choose a storage device. Select your USB drive from the list. The utility will then show you the BIOS files it found on the drive. Select the file you copied earlier — it should be the only one visible. The utility will display the current BIOS version and the new version you are about to install. Review these numbers to confirm you have the right file.

Select "Start" or "Flash" to begin. The screen will show a progress bar. This is the critical moment: do not touch your keyboard, do not move your mouse, do not unplug anything, and do not turn off the computer. The flash typically takes 2 to 5 minutes. You may see the screen go black or flicker — this is normal.

When the flash completes, the utility will display a message saying "Flash completed successfully" or similar. Your computer will restart automatically. Let it restart fully into Windows without interrupting it. You may see the boot screen twice or the system may take longer than usual to start — this is expected as the motherboard reconfigures itself after the update.

Verifying the update and troubleshooting if something goes wrong

Once Windows loads, check that the BIOS update took effect. Right-click the Start menu, select "System," scroll down, and look for "BIOS version" or "System info." The version number should match the new version you just installed. If it matches, the update is complete and successful.

If your computer does not start after the flash, or if the BIOS version did not change, the flash may have failed. Restart the computer and enter BIOS again. If the flash utility is still available, you can attempt the flash again using the same USB drive and file. MSI motherboards have built-in protections that prevent a completely failed flash, so a second attempt usually succeeds.

If the computer will not enter BIOS at all, or if you see error messages, try removing the CMOS battery from the motherboard for 30 seconds while the power supply is unplugged. This resets the BIOS to factory defaults and sometimes recovers from a failed flash. Consult your motherboard manual for the exact location of the CMOS battery.

After the update: resetting settings and checking stability

After a successful BIOS update, your motherboard may reset some settings to defaults. If you had customized your BIOS settings — such as overclocking, fan curves, or boot order — you will need to reconfigure them. Enter BIOS again (Delete or F2 at startup) and adjust these settings to match your previous configuration.

Run your computer normally for a few hours and watch for any unusual behavior: unexpected restarts, error messages, or hardware not being recognized. Most BIOS updates improve stability, but occasionally a new version introduces issues with specific hardware combinations. If you experience problems, you can flash back to the previous BIOS version using the same process — MSI keeps older versions available on their support page.

If everything runs smoothly, you are done. Your motherboard now has the latest BIOS, which may include security patches, hardware compatibility improvements, or performance optimizations depending on what the update addressed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I cannot find my motherboard model on the MSI website?

Double-check the exact model number — it must match exactly, including any letters or numbers after the main model name. If you still cannot find it, your motherboard may be from a different manufacturer (ASUS, Gigabyte, ASRock, etc.), in which case you need that manufacturer's support site instead. Check the motherboard itself or your computer's documentation to confirm who made it.

Can I use a USB 3.0 port instead of USB 2.0?

Yes, USB 3.0 ports work fine for BIOS flashing. Use whichever port is available. Rear ports are generally more reliable than front panel ports, so prefer those if you have a choice.

What happens if the power goes out during the BIOS flash?

This is the main risk of flashing BIOS. Most modern MSI motherboards have dual BIOS chips or recovery mechanisms that prevent total failure, but a power loss during flash can leave your motherboard in an unusable state. If this happens, you may need to contact MSI support or use specialized recovery tools. This is why an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is recommended if you live in an area with unstable power.

Do I need to uninstall anything from Windows before flashing?

No. The BIOS flash happens before Windows even loads, so nothing running in Windows affects the process. You do not need to uninstall drivers, software, or anything else.

How often should I update my BIOS?

Only update when MSI releases a new version that addresses something relevant to you — a security patch, a fix for a hardware compatibility issue, or a performance improvement for your specific CPU or RAM. You do not need to update every time a new version is released. Updating too frequently increases the small risk of something going wrong without adding benefit.