How To Clear Your Computer's CMOS To Reset BIOS Settings

Summary

To clear your CMOS, first boot into the BIOS or UEFI. Select the "Reset to Default," "Load Setup Defaults," or something similar. If you can't access the BIOS, press the CMOS clear button instead. The CMOS clear button may be located on the back of a computer's case near its ports or on the PC's motherboard itself.

Your computer stores low-level settings like the system time and hardware settings in its CMOS. These settings are configured in the BIOS or UEFI setup menu. If you're experiencing a hardware compatibility issue or another problem, you may want to try clearing the CMOS.

Clearing the CMOS resets your BIOS or UEFI settings back to their factory default state. In most cases, you can clear the CMOS from within the BIOS menu or by pressing the CMOS button on the back. In some cases, you may have to open your computer's case.

Use the BIOS or UEFI Menu

The easiest way to clear the CMOS is from your computer's BIOS or UEFI setup menu. To access the setup menu, restart your computer and press the key that appears on your screen --- often Delete or F2 --- to access the setup menu.

Related: What Is UEFI, and How Is It Different from BIOS?

If you don't see a key displayed on your screen, consult your computer's manual. Different computers use different keys. (If you built your own computer, consult your motherboard's manual instead.)

If you're running Windows 8, Windows 10, or Windows 11, you can probably access the BIOS or UEFI from within Windows itself.

Within the BIOS, look for the Reset option. It may be named "Reset to default," "Load factory defaults," "Clear BIOS settings," "Load setup defaults," or something similar.

Select it with your arrow keys, press Enter, and confirm the operation. If you're using a computer with a UEFI instead of a BIOS, you'll probably be able to use your mouse.

Your BIOS or UEFI will now use its default settings --- if you've changed any settings in the past, you'll have to change them again.

Push the Clear CMOS Button

Newer motherboards, especially more expensive ones designed for enthusiasts, will often have a special button that will clear the CMOS.

The button can be located on the back of the motherboard, near all of the ports, or it can be on the motherboard itself, inside the case. The manual that came with your computer or motherboard will tell you specifically where to find it.

Do not confuse the CMOS clear button with a BIOS button. BIOS buttons allow you to flash the BIOS without a CPU installed on the motherboard, revert to a previous version of the BIOS if a BIOS update went amiss, or both.

Once you locate the CMOS clear button, push it down for about 10 seconds. You might need a paperclip for this --- CMOS clear buttons near the ports on the back are usually recessed so they don't get accidentally pushed.

CMOS buttons located on the motherboard are usually pretty clearly marked, and they aren't usually recessed. You'll still need to hold it down for a few seconds to trigger a reset.

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Use the CLEAR CMOS Motherboard Jumper

Many motherboards contain a jumper that can be used to clear CMOS settings if your BIOS is not accessible. This is particularly useful if the BIOS is password-protected and you don't know the password, or if you've made changes that prevent you from accessing the BIOS normally.

The exact location of the jumper can be found in the motherboard's (or computer's) manual. You should consult the manual for more detailed instructions if you want to use the motherboard jumper.

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However, the basic process is fairly similar on all computers. Flip the computer's power switch to the off position to ensure it's not receiving any power. Open the computer's case and locate the jumper named something like CLEAR CMOS, CLEAR, CLR CMOS, PASSWORD, or CLR PWD --- it will often be near the CMOS battery mentioned below.

The CMOS clear jumper almost always has three pins.

Ensure you're grounded so you don't damage your motherboard with static electricity before touching it. Set the jumper to the "clear" position, power on your computer, turn it off again, set the jumper to the original position --- and you're done.

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Reseat the CMOS Battery

If your motherboard does not have a CLEAR CMOS jumper or button, you can often clear its CMOS settings by removing the CMOS battery and replacing it. The CMOS battery provides power used to save the BIOS settings -- this is how your computer knows how much time has passed even when it's been powered off for a while --- so removing the battery will remove the source of power and clear the settings.

Not all motherboards have removable CMOS batteries. If the battery won't come loose, don't force it.

First, ensure the computer is powered off and you're grounded so you won't damage the motherboard with static electricity. Locate the round, flat, silver battery on the motherboard and carefully remove it. Wait five minutes before reseating the battery.

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Clearing the CMOS should always be performed for a reason --- such as troubleshooting a computer problem or clearing a forgotten BIOS password. There's no reason to clear your CMOS if everything is working properly.