[NUC] BIOS Update and Recovery Instructions for NUCs with the Aptio® V UEFI Firmware Core

NoteThe NUCs that shipped in 2018 and earlier use the Visual BIOS core, which uses a different method of updating BIOS. For those models, see BIOS Update Instructions for NUC with Visual BIOS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note
  • The latest BIOS update files for NUC products are available on Download Center
    • Filter the results by Product in the left hand panel (Example: Type NUC8i3PNH)
  • Update instructions are also available in PDF format.

BIOS Update Instructions for NUC with Aptio® V UEFI Firmware Core 
Size: 215 KB 
Date: August 2020

  • Once the update process has started, do not power down your system until the update is complete. The update process will take up to 3 minutes. If a BIOS update process is interrupted, your computer may not function properly. We recommend the process be done in an environment with a steady power supply (preferably with UPS).
  • Downgrading the BIOS to an earlier version isn’t recommended and might not be supported. An earlier BIOS version might not offer support for the latest processors, bug fixes, critical security updates, or support the latest board revisions currently being manufactured. If you're trying to downgrade to a previous BIOS version and its ME Firmware version is older than that currently on the motherboard, then the downgrade is not supported.
  • Before you start, record all BIOS settings that have been changed from default, so they can be restored after completing the BIOS update.
  • If upgrading from a BIOS version more than one generation older than current, you may have to run the update two times to fully upgrade they BIOS. See the BIOS's release notes for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click or the topic for details:

Express BIOS Update (Windows-based)
  1. Download and save the Express BIOS Update (.EBU.exe) file to a temporary folder. Example:

Express BIOS Update

  1. Double-click the .EBU.exe to run the Express BIOS update.

Double click the EBU.exe

  1. A command dialog appears. Press Y to restart the computer and start the update.

Press Y to restart the computer

  1. Wait 2-5 minutes for the update to complete.

Wait 2-5 minutes

  1. When the BIOS update is complete, the computer will boot back into Windows.

 

F7 Update

The F7 BIOS update option allows you to update the system BIOS during the boot process and before the operating system loads.

  1. Download and save the Recovery BIOS (.CAP) file to a USB device. Example:

Download and save the Recovery BIOS

  1. Plug the USB device into a USB port of the target computer.
  2. Start the NUC. During boot, when the F7 prompt is displayed, press F7 to enter the BIOS Flash Update tool.
  3. Select the USB device and press Enter.

Select the USB device and press Enter

  1. Select the .CAP file and press Enter.

Select the CAP file and press Enter

  1. Confirm you want to update the BIOS by pressing Enter.
  2. Wait 2-5 minutes for the update to complete.

Wait 2 to 5 minutes

  1. When the BIOS update is complete, the computer will boot back into Windows.
Power Button Menu Update

The Power Button Menu Update allows you to update the system BIOS during the boot process and before the operating system loads.

  1. Download and save the Recovery BIOS (.CAP) file to a USB device. Example:

Download and save the Recovery BIOS

  1. Plug the USB device into a USB port of the NUC when it’s turned off (not in Hibernate or Sleep mode).
  2. Press and hold down the power button for three seconds, then release it before the 4 second shutdown override. The Power Button Menu displays. (Options on the menu can vary, depending on the NUC model.)

The Power Button Menu displays

  1. Press F7 to start the BIOS update.
  2. Wait 2-5 minutes for the update to complete.

Wait 2 to 5 minutes

  1. When the BIOS update is complete, the computer will boot back into Windows.
UEFI Shell Update

The UEFI Flash BIOS update utility allows you to update the BIOS from the EFI Shell, see How to Update the NUC BIOS Using Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)

BIOS Recovery by Power Button Menu
  1. Plug an USB device into an USB port of the NUC when it’s turned off (not in Hibernate or Sleep mode), then power up the NUC.
  2. Download and save the zip Recovery BIOS file for your NUC unit to that USB device. Example: 
    Download and save the Recovery BIOS file
  3. Double-click the RECOVERY.zip to extract its files.
  4. Power off your NUC, keep the USB device in USB port.
  5. Press and hold down the power button for three seconds, then release it before the 4-second shutdown override. The Power Button Menu appears.

The Power Button Menu appears

  1. Press F4 to start a BIOS Recovery.
  2. Wait 2-5 minutes for the update to complete.
  3. The computer will either turn off when the recovery process is completed or it will prompt you to turn off the computer.
  4. Remove the USB flash drive.
  5. Restart the computer.
BIOS Recovery by Security Jumper for NUC8ixINH
Note000000
  • BIOS recovery using the BIOS security jumper will clear Trusted Platform Module (TPM) keys, Platform Trust Technology (PTT) keys, and High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) keys.
  • These keys will not be restored after the BIOS recovery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Download and save the Recovery BIOS file to a USB device. Example:

Download and save the Recovery BIOS file

  1. Double-click the *.RECOVERY.zip to extract its files.

Double click the RECOVERY zip

Note
  1. It is important to extract the files with the file folder structure as shown.
  2. The USB device must contain a folder \EFI with the sub-folder \Intel, which contains the INWHL357.CAP file. Otherwise the recovery will fail.

Example: D:\INWHL357.0033.RECOVERY\EFI\INTEL\INWHL357.CAP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shut down the computer and unplug the AC power adapter.

  1. Open the chassis and remove the BIOS security jumper. (See the Technical Product Specification for details including the location of this jumper.)

Remove the BIOS security jumper

  1. Plug the USB device into a USB port of the target computer and turn it on.
  2. Wait 2-5 minutes for the recovery process to complete.
  3. The computer will either turn off when the recovery process is complete, or it will prompt you to turn it off.
  4. Remove the USB device.
  5. Replace the BIOS security jumper.
  6. Close the chassis.
  7. Restart the computer.
BIOS Recovery by Security Jumper for all other Aptio® V-based NUCs
Note
  • BIOS recovery using the BIOS security jumper will clear Trusted Platform Module (TPM) keys, Platform Trust Technology (PTT) keys, and High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) keys.
  • These keys will not be restored after the BIOS recovery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Download and save the Recovery BIOS file to a USB device. Example:

Download and save the Recovery BIOS file to a USB device

  1. Double-click the *.RECOVERY.zip to extract its files.

Double click the Recover zip and extract the files

Note
  • The recovery file must be placed at the rood level of the USB device. Otherwise the recovery will fail.
  • Example: F:\FNCML357.CAP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shut down the computer and unplug the AC power adapter.

Open the chassis and remove the BIOS security jumper. (See the Technical Product Specification for details including the location of this jumper.)

Remove the BIOS security jumper

  1. Plug the USB device into a USB port of the target computer and turn it on.
  2. Wait 2-5 minutes for the recovery process to complete.
  3. The computer will either turn off when the recovery process is complete, or it will prompt you to turn it off.
  4. Remove the USB device.
  5. Replace the BIOS security jumper.
  6. Close the chassis.
  7. Restart the computer.