Laptops/Desktops


AMI BIOS Update and How to Install It


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Use the firmware and/or drivers update advice on this page at your own risk; we are not responsible for any damage or malfunction to your hardware resulting from following our recommendations.

American Megatrends Inc. (AMI) is a renowned company in the computer hardware industry, known for its BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) firmware. Keeping your computer's BIOS up to date is crucial to ensure optimal system performance and compatibility with the latest hardware and software. 

First and foremost, it's important to remember that you should always download the BIOS update made specifically by your motherboard’s manufacturer. That being said, the first step in the AMI BIOS update is checking the motherboard. 

What Motherboard Do I Have?

The easiest way to access the information about your PC’s components is through the command prompt. This method works both on Windows and Linux. 

If you’re a Windows user, open Command Prompt. The command line you should type in is: wmic baseboard get product,manufacturer,version,serialnumber. You can copy this, paste it into the command prompt and press enter. 

Now that you see the manufacturer behind your motherboard, the next step is checking if the manufacturer utilizes the AMI BIOS System. Some of the popular manufacturers that use this BIOS system include Acer, Asus, and HP. 

You can also manually check if your manufacturer supports the AMI BIOS by opening the AMI BIOS Manufacturer Codes List, pressing CTRL+F, and typing in the manufacturer’s name. 

If no results show up, you don’t actually need the AMI BIOS update. What’s more, downloading a BIOS update that’s not compatible with your motherboard can cause severe issues, so if you don’t have any pop-up warnings about your BIOS, we recommend you skip updating it altogether. In case you still wish to update your BIOS, you should visit the official website of your manufacturer and check for new updates.

If you’re using the Linux operating system, the easiest way to find the manufacturer of your motherboard is by typing sudo dmidecode -t 2 into the Terminal command line. In case your manufacturer does utilize the BIOS by AMI, the next step is checking the BIOS version you currently have. 

How Do I Check My BIOS Version?

Once again, the fastest way to access the information about your PC or laptop’s BIOS is via Command Prompt/Terminal. On Windows, you can check your BIOS version by typing wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion in the Command Prompt. For Linux users, the command line is sudo dmidecode

The latest BIOS version released by AMI is AMIBIOS 8, so if you already have this version, you may not even require an update for your BIOS. While updating the BIOS is crucial, it is only recommended in case of a PC crash or recurring malfunctions. If your PC or laptop is working perfectly fine, there is no need to mess with the BIOS.

American Megatrends Inc. Bios Update Download Step-by-Step Guide

As mentioned previously, if your motherboard supports AMI BIOS and you do need to update your BIOS, you can perform the American Megatrends BIOS update. Remember to only update your BIOS if it’s necessary in order to avoid doing more harm than good. Complete the following steps to update it: 

  • Extract the BIOS file and then upload it onto a USB drive under the folder name BIOS. 
  • Insert the USB and press Restart. 
  • During POST, press F12 to enter BIOS POST Flash.
  • Select the USB drive containing the BIOS file.
  • Choose the corresponding BIOS file for updating. 
  • Click Yes to confirm that you want to flash BIOS.
  • Click Yes to confirm that you are sure to erase the DMI date.
  • After the update is finished, restart the PC. 

Entering the BIOS can be tricky, so there’s also a way to complete the American Megatrends BIOS update without doing it manually. You can take advantage of the official AMI Firmware Update Utility (AFU Utility), which is a scriptable command-line utility for DOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, and the UEFI shell. Here is how to complete the American Megatrends BIOS update using AFU.

  • Download the AMI Firmware Utility Tool and unzip it. You can find the tool here. Select the BIOS Firmware Update Options (as shown in the screenshot). By doing so, you’ll find four separate files for download, so you should select the second file on the list titled AMIBIOS8 AMI Firmware Update Utility
  • Unzip the downloaded file and open the AFUWIN folder.
  • Choose a 32-bit or 64-bit version.
  • Run the AFUWIN.EXE.
  • Click the Open Button to search for and select the BIOS file you previously downloaded.
  • Click the Flash button. 
  • When the process is complete, exit the Flash Utility and restart your PC. 

If you have further questions about the update, you can open the AFUWIN file in PDF form. This pdf file is an AMIBIOS8 ROM Utility User Guide which contains all the information required for a successful update. 

American Megatrends Inc. BIOS Update Options

Upon entering the BIOS Firmware Update section of the official AMI website, you’ll find four options available. Depending on what type of update you need, you can choose between these options:

Most of these require advanced knowledge of handling BIOS except the second file, titled AMIBIOS8 AMI Firmware Update Utility. Downloading this file is the quickest way to complete an AMI BIOS update. However, if you’re looking to change your BIOS settings rather than simply update it, you can use any of the other three tools other than the one we just mentioned. Here is a brief explanation of each tool you can find on the AMI website: 

  • AMI Firmware Update Utility: When extracted, the zipped folder includes three separate tools for updating your BIOS. These update utilities are specifically made for Aptio 4, Aptio V, and AMI BIOS 8. There is usually no need to choose this file since all of these three utilities also have individual download options (see the next three options). In case you need a simple BIOS update, choose the AMIBIOS8 AMI Firmware Update Utility instead. 
  • AMIBIOS8 AMI Firmware Update Utility: A scriptable command line tool used to update the AMI BIOS, specifically AMI BIOS 8 (latest). The zipped folder contains the runnable application for a BIOS update (titled AFUWIN), as well as the PDF user guide with all the commands necessary. This version runs on DOS and Microsoft Windows (supported versions according to the User Guide: 98, ME, 2000, NT 4.0, XP, PE, Vista, PE 2.0, 7). As we mentioned previously, this file is highly recommended for a simple and easy BIOS update. It doesn’t require any knowledge when it comes to BIOS since it also has a step-by-step user guide. 
  • Aptio 4 AMI Firmware Update Utility: While this utility practically does the same as the AMI BIOS 8 AFU utility, Aptio 4 is also available for the EFI Shell, the make-shift operating system that stores information in a .efi file instead of on the PC firmware. Using this tool is only recommended for people with progressive knowledge of the firmware, so if you only need a BIOS update, use the previously mentioned tool called AMIBIOS8 AMI Firmware Update Utility. 
  • Aptio V Firmware Update Utility: Contains update tools for AMI BIOS on Windows, DOS, and EFI, as well as BIOS Guard Tool (BGT) files for Windows and EFI, which help protect the BIOS from malicious attacks. Skip this option if you’re looking for a quick AMI BIOS update, since it requires a lot of knowledge, skills, and work. The simplest and quickest way to upgrade your AMI BIOS is by utilizing the second tool, the AMIBIOS8 AMI Firmware Update Utility

Do I Actually Need to Update My BIOS?

Whether you need a BIOS update or not depends on several factors. It's not always necessary to update your BIOS, but there are situations where it can be beneficial or even essential. In some instances, you will need to update it. For example: 

  • Hardware Compatibility: If you've recently installed new hardware components such as a CPU, RAM, or graphics card, and you're experiencing compatibility issues or your system is not recognizing the new hardware correctly, a BIOS update may be necessary. Newer BIOS versions often include support for the latest hardware.
  • Performance Issues: If you're experiencing system stability issues, crashes, or unusual behavior, a BIOS update might help. Some updates include bug fixes and optimizations that can improve system stability and performance.
  • Operating System Upgrade: If you plan to upgrade your operating system to a newer version, check if your current BIOS version is compatible. Some older BIOS versions may not work correctly with the latest operating systems, and an update may be required for a smooth transition.
  • Manufacturer Recommendations: Check the official website of your motherboard manufacturer or computer vendor. They often provide release notes for BIOS updates, indicating the reasons for the update and whether it's recommended for your specific system.

On the other hand, if your computer is running smoothly, you haven't made any recent hardware changes, and there are no known security vulnerabilities in your current BIOS version, updating the BIOS might not be necessary. Remember, an unsuccessful update can potentially render your computer unusable, so it's essential to actually have a good reason to update. 

If you do get alerts about your AMI BIOS version, the quickest way to update your BIOS is by downloading the AMIBIOS8 AMI Firmware Update Utility and following their official step-by-step user guide. 

Additional Resources

Here are some of the additional resources regarding the AMI BIOS you may find useful:

In case you haven’t found the information you were looking for, our advice is to check the manufacturer’s website as well. Many renowned manufacturing companies update their websites regularly, so you can find the latest information regarding your PC. 



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