How to Reset BIOS on Motherboard – Full CMOS Clear Guide
Whether you're building a PC or troubleshooting a boot failure, knowing "how to reset BIOS on motherboard" is an essential skill. BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is a firmware that controls hardware-level settings before your operating system loads. Sometimes, wrong configurations or failed updates can cause your PC to misbehave or not boot at all. In such cases, resetting the BIOS — or clearing the CMOS — can fix the issue quickly.
🔧 What Does Resetting the BIOS Do?
When you "reset BIOS on motherboard", you’re restoring all BIOS settings to their default factory values. This includes:
- Boot order
- CPU or memory overclock settings
- Integrated hardware configurations (e.g., onboard graphics)
- BIOS password (if any)
It does NOT erase any data on your hard drive or SSD.
🧠 Why Would You Want to Reset BIOS?
There are many reasons to "clear CMOS jumper" or reset the BIOS:
- Your PC isn’t booting after a BIOS change.
- You're experiencing system instability.
- You forgot the BIOS password.
- Overclocking went wrong.
- You installed new hardware and BIOS isn't detecting it properly.
⚠️ Precautions Before You Begin
- Turn off the PC and unplug the power cable.
- Wear an anti-static band or touch metal to discharge static electricity.
- Take a picture of your BIOS settings if you need to restore them later.
🛠️ Method 1: Reset BIOS by Removing the CMOS Battery
This is the most common method used when people search for "how to reset BIOS on motherboard".
- Turn off your PC and unplug the power cord.
- Open the computer case using a screwdriver.
- Locate the CMOS battery – it’s a small silver coin-cell battery (CR2032).
- Gently remove the battery from its socket.
- Wait for 5–10 minutes.
- Reinsert the battery the same way it was before.
- Close the case and power on the system.
Your BIOS should now be reset.
🛠️ Method 2: Use the Clear CMOS Jumper
Another safe method to "clear CMOS jumper" is to use the dedicated jumper pins on the motherboard.
- Refer to your motherboard manual to find the CMOS reset jumper (often labeled CLRTC, CLR_CMOS, or JBAT1).
- With the power off and system unplugged, move the jumper from the default position (1-2) to 2-3 for a few seconds, then return it back.
- Power on the PC.
🛠️ Method 3: Reset BIOS Without Display
If your PC has no display and you can’t enter the BIOS menu, you can still "reset BIOS without display" using the above methods. Alternatively, many modern motherboards offer a BIOS reset button on the I/O panel or PCB.
🛠️ Method 4: Reset BIOS Using a Dedicated Motherboard Button
Some gaming or premium motherboards include a dedicated BIOS reset button.
- Turn off your PC.
- Press and hold the BIOS reset button (check your manual for the exact location).
- Hold for 5–10 seconds and then release.
- Power on the system.
💡 Bonus Tip: Reset BIOS from Within BIOS Menu
If your PC is working but misconfigured, go to the BIOS settings and select the “Load Setup Defaults” or “Restore Defaults” option. This is a software-based way to "reset BIOS on motherboard" without touching hardware.
🧑💻 My Experience
About two months ago, I upgraded my GPU and tried to tweak some BIOS settings to improve performance. That ended badly — my screen stayed black every time I booted the PC. I panicked at first, thinking I'd damaged my motherboard. Then I remembered reading about "how to reset BIOS on motherboard".
I shut down the PC, opened the case, and carefully removed the CMOS battery. After waiting for about 7 minutes, I popped it back in and booted up. Boom — it worked! The PC started normally, and I was able to enter BIOS and reconfigure everything from scratch. Since then, I always take pictures of my BIOS before changing anything, just in case.
📌 Common FAQs
Q: Will resetting BIOS delete my Windows or Linux OS?
No. Resetting the BIOS only affects hardware-level settings and not the OS or files on your hard drive.
Q: Can I reset BIOS if my PC won’t boot?
Yes, use the jumper or battery method mentioned above. That’s how many people fix boot issues caused by BIOS misconfiguration.
Q: Is there a software tool to reset BIOS?
No reliable software exists for resetting BIOS from the OS. It's a firmware-level operation and must be done via hardware or BIOS menu.
🧾 Final Thoughts
Knowing "how to reset BIOS on motherboard" is a must-have skill for anyone who builds or maintains PCs. It can save you time, stress, and money. Whether your PC isn’t booting or you’ve simply forgotten your BIOS password, resetting the BIOS can be a life-saver. Just remember to always take precautions and refer to your motherboard manual before performing any steps.
Have you ever reset your BIOS? If so, what method did you use — battery, jumper, or the reset button? Let us know in the comments!