A BIOS/UEFI password is firmware-level security, not a Windows 10 password. Remove or change it only if you know the current password or can prove ownership to the PC/motherboard manufacturer.
Steps
- If you know the current firmware password, enter BIOS/UEFI setup using the manufacturer’s documented startup method.
- Open the Security/password section and choose the option to change/remove the administrator/setup password.
- Enter the current password, then leave the new-password fields blank only if the firmware explicitly documents that as removal.
- Save changes, restart, and verify setup no longer requests the password.
- If you do not know it, contact the manufacturer or authorized service provider with proof of ownership and the exact model/serial information they request.
How it works
Firmware password recovery differs widely by laptop/desktop/motherboard. Modern business laptops may store credentials in nonvolatile security hardware, so removing a CMOS battery often does not clear them.
Important considerations
Do not use master-password generators, EEPROM flashing tricks, shorting pins, or disassembly bypasses to defeat an unknown firmware password. Those can damage hardware and bypass anti-theft controls.
Practical guidance
If the firmware password belongs to an employer, school, previous owner, or managed fleet, the appropriate route is that organization’s administrator or the manufacturer—not a Windows utility. Reinstalling Windows does not remove a BIOS/UEFI password because it is stored outside the Windows filesystem.
Additional details
Some manufacturers provide an official challenge-response or service procedure after ownership verification, while others require board replacement/service. Policies vary intentionally because firmware passwords are anti-theft controls. Record any password you set in a secure password manager so legitimate future service does not become a recovery problem.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.