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On Windows, open System Information by pressing Windows key + R, typing msinfo32, and checking BIOS Version/Date. For a direct Windows result, query Win32_BIOS.Manufacturer in PowerShell; on Linux, run sudo dmidecode -s bios-vendor. The BIOS vendor is not necessarily the company that made your computer or the one that provides its firmware updates.
What does “BIOS manufacturer” mean?
Most modern computers use UEFI firmware, although Windows and everyday usage still commonly call it the BIOS. The phrase “BIOS manufacturer” can refer to different companies. SMBIOS, the system firmware’s hardware-information format, keeps the BIOS vendor, system manufacturer, and baseboard manufacturer in separate fields.
| Field | What it identifies | Example |
|---|---|---|
| BIOS vendor | The firmware vendor or branding reported by the BIOS/UEFI. | American Megatrends, Insyde, or Phoenix |
| System manufacturer | The company that sold or assembled the complete computer. | Dell, HP, Lenovo, or ASUS |
| Baseboard manufacturer | The motherboard maker reported by the firmware. | ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, or ASRock |
| Firmware update provider | The company that publishes the update for the exact computer or motherboard model. | Often the system or motherboard manufacturer |
These identities can differ. A computer could report Dell as its system manufacturer and American Megatrends as its BIOS vendor. A custom desktop might report ASUS as its baseboard manufacturer while the BIOS vendor field identifies AMI. The SMBIOS documentation describes these as distinct fields.
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Use System Information
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type
msinfo32and press Enter. - In System Summary, inspect BIOS Version/Date. The BIOS vendor name may appear there, but some systems show OEM branding or an internal version string instead.
- To identify the computer or board separately, check System Manufacturer, System Model, BaseBoard Manufacturer, and BaseBoard Product.
Microsoft documents System Information for Windows 10 and Windows 11. The utility also has a BIOS Mode field, which can indicate whether Windows started in UEFI or legacy BIOS mode; that field does not identify the vendor. See Microsoft’s System Information documentation.
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Query the BIOS field in PowerShell
Open PowerShell and run:
Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS |
Select-Object Manufacturer, Name, Version, ReleaseDateManufacturer is the direct BIOS manufacturer property; Name, Version, and ReleaseDate provide additional firmware-reported details. Microsoft’s Win32_BIOS reference documents these BIOS properties.
To compare the firmware identity with the computer and motherboard fields, run:
Get-CimInstance Win32_ComputerSystem |
Select-Object Manufacturer, Model
Get-CimInstance Win32_BaseBoard |
Select-Object Manufacturer, Product, VersionThese are values supplied through the computer’s firmware information; they are useful identifiers, not an independent physical inspection of the hardware.
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Command Prompt alternative
On Windows installations where WMIC remains available, this legacy command can show the manufacturer and version:
wmic bios get manufacturer,versionPrefer PowerShell for a new check: WMIC has been retired and may be absent from newer Windows installations.
Find the BIOS manufacturer in Linux
Use dmidecode to read the BIOS information reported through SMBIOS/DMI:
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sudo dmidecode -t biosFor only the BIOS vendor, run:
sudo dmidecode -s bios-vendorThe output may also include BIOS version and release date. To compare it with the motherboard identity:
sudo dmidecode -t baseboard
sudo dmidecode -s baseboard-manufacturer
sudo dmidecode -s baseboard-product-nameOn many Linux systems, the same firmware-reported values are exposed through sysfs without invoking dmidecode:
cat /sys/devices/virtual/dmi/id/bios_vendor
cat /sys/devices/virtual/dmi/id/bios_version
cat /sys/devices/virtual/dmi/id/board_vendor
cat /sys/devices/virtual/dmi/id/board_namedmidecode may require root privileges. Its documentation warns that it reports information provided by the BIOS rather than scanning the hardware, so missing or incorrect firmware data can produce incomplete or inaccurate results. The Ubuntu dmidecode manual lists the supported field names.
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Can I check the firmware setup screen?
Often, yes. Restart the computer and press its setup key during startup. Common keys include F2, Delete, Esc, and F10, but the right key varies by manufacturer and model. Look under menus such as Main, Information, System Information, or BIOS Information. The screen may show a vendor, version, build date, or board model; it may not show all of them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to interpret the name you find
American Megatrends, AMI, Insyde, or Phoenix
A name such as American Megatrends, AMI, Insyde, or Phoenix usually identifies a BIOS/firmware vendor or branding, not necessarily the manufacturer of the whole computer. For support, check the system manufacturer and model for a branded PC, or the baseboard manufacturer and product for a custom desktop.
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The BIOS Version/Date value can be a free-form version or identification string. It may include an OEM name, release number, build identifier, or several of these together rather than a clear vendor name. Microsoft’s Win32_BIOS documentation describes BIOS information as strings, while SMBIOS defines the BIOS vendor and version as separate fields. If the version line is unclear, use the dedicated manufacturer field in PowerShell or dmidecode and compare it with the system and baseboard fields.
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“To Be Filled By O.E.M.,” “Default string,” or “Unknown”
These values usually mean the firmware information is generic or was not populated usefully; they do not identify a hidden manufacturer. Compare msinfo32, PowerShell, or dmidecode results, then check the physical board label, computer serial number or service tag, and the manufacturer’s support-detection tool. If the same generic value appears across tools, the underlying firmware data may simply be absent.
Which company should provide a BIOS update?
Use the company responsible for support of the exact computer or motherboard model, not a vendor name merely because it appears in the BIOS field. Intel’s BIOS identification guidance likewise points users toward the system manufacturer and model information.
- Laptop or prebuilt desktop: use the support page for the computer’s manufacturer and exact model.
- Custom-built desktop: use the motherboard manufacturer and exact board model, including board revision when applicable.
- Organization-managed computer: follow the IT department’s update process.
- Unknown, refurbished, or upgraded computer: identify the system model and motherboard before choosing a download; the case branding may not match the installed board.
Before applying firmware, match the manufacturer, exact model, board revision where relevant, and current firmware version, and follow the update method and operating-system requirements stated by the provider. Do not flash an image just because its BIOS vendor matches: firmware is model-specific, and an incorrect image can leave a system unable to start.
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Special cases and quick reference
Virtual machines
Commands run inside a virtual machine identify the virtual firmware and virtual hardware exposed to the guest, not necessarily the physical host’s BIOS. To identify the host firmware, check the host operating system or inspect the physical computer directly.
Apple Mac
“BIOS manufacturer” is generally not the right identification for a Mac. Macs use Apple-managed startup firmware rather than the conventional PC BIOS-vendor field; use Apple support information for the exact Mac model.
Quick Recap
Commands at a glance
| Platform or detail | Command or path |
|---|---|
| Windows graphical view | msinfo32 → System Summary → BIOS Version/Date |
| Windows BIOS manufacturer | Get-CimInstance Win32_BIOS | Select-Object Manufacturer, Name, Version, ReleaseDate |
| Linux BIOS vendor | sudo dmidecode -s bios-vendor |
| Linux motherboard manufacturer | sudo dmidecode -s baseboard-manufacturer |
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