BIOS Update Error or Update Gets Stuck After Windows January 2025 Update

Affected Platforms:

• Alienware Aurora R12
• Alienware Aurora R13
• Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R14
• Alienware Aurora R15
• Alienware Aurora R15 AMD
• Alienware Aurora R16
• Alienware Area 51m R2
• Alienware m15 R3
• Alienware m15 R4
• Alienware m17 R3
• Alienware m17 R4
• Alienware x14
• Alienware x15 R1
• Alienware x15 R2
• Alienware x17 R1
• Alienware x17 R2
• XPS 8950
• XPS 8960
• Inspiron 15 3510
• Inspiron 15 3521
• Inspiron 3502

Affected Operating Systems:

• Windows 11 24H2 26100.2894 or Later
• Windows 11 22H1 and 23H2 22621.4751 and 22631.4751 or later
• Windows 10 22H2 19044.5371 and 19045.5371 or later

Computers may fail to update the BIOS, or the BIOS update may get stuck within SupportAssist. The issue occurs after installing the January update from Microsoft.

• Windows 11 24H2 KB5050009 (OS Build 26100.2894) or later
• Windows 11 23H2 KB5050021 (OS Builds 22621.4751 and 22631.4751) or later
• Windows 10 22H2 KB5049981 (OS Builds 19044.5371 and 19045.5371) or later

Below symptoms may occur while installing the latest BIOS on your computer:

• Error in SupportAssist: Something went wrong during installation, and we couldn't complete it
• Error : Driver Version Fail ! message is displayed
   
• The BIOS update remains in a loop

A security enhancement from Microsoft blocks the BIOS update.

Dell engineering is aware of this issue and working on a code change to resolve these issues within the future. There is no plan to remove the BIOS from the support page.

All impacted BIOS versions have been demoted from SupportAssist, Dell Update, or Alienware Update.

The solution is planned within the next BIOS release.

Workaround:

• Uninstall the Windows January KB: KB5050009, KB5050021, and KB5050009 update:
  1. Open Settings
  2. Select Windows Update
  3. Pause the Windows update
  4. Select Update history
  5. Select Uninstall updates
  6. Find the impacted update according to the operating system version used, labeled KB5050009, KB5050021, and KB5049981
  7. Select Uninstall
  8. Restart your computer
  9. Install the BIOS from dell.com/support using the executable file
  10. After a successful BIOS update go back to step c, to enable the Windows update
• Update the BIOS from a USB stick using the computer pre-boot option
  1. Copy the executable file to external storage (USB flash drive)
  2. Keep the USB connected and restart the computer
  3. Press F12 to enter One-Time Boot Settings (reference Flashing the BIOS from the F12 One-Time Boot Menu)

If the following workaround does not resolve the issue, report the case to Dell Technical support.