BIOS: check battery level - so it'll work
If you want to check the status of your BIOS battery, you may be able to use the old battery for a little longer. We show you how this works.
BIOS: Check battery level
To check the battery level from the BIOS, you must remove the battery. The BIOS loses its basic settings, but these are usually automatically set correctly again. You need a voltmeter to measure.
- Turn off the computer, remove the power cable, and open the case.
- The BIOS battery is usually located on the edge of the mainboard. It is a round button battery with a diameter of one to two centimeters.
- If hardware is still installed in front of the mainboard, you must remove it beforehand.
- Take a wooden or plastic toothpick and push the battery holder outwards. Then the battery pops out by itself.
- You now need the voltmeter to measure. Hold the positive sensor on the plus side of the battery and the negative sensor on the minus side. In short: plus to plus and minus to minus.
- Set the voltmeter to 3 volts or the next lowest voltage. Then switch on the device.
- If the voltage is below 2, we advise you to replace the BIOS battery. Up to a value of 2.5 volts, the battery can still be classified as long-lasting.
- Then plug the old or new battery back onto the mainboard and screw your PC back on.
- Note: If you do not have a voltmeter, simply buy a new BIOS battery for one to two euros if in doubt.
