BIOS update blocked - F.55 to F.56

[NiveaAJ]

I noticed that I had a very old BIOS (F.38). Surprisingly, none of the HP Tools (support assistant) and websites were able to detect this. I went to the support page for serial number of my product and downloaded the latest BIOS version F.56.

On trying to update, encountered the "BIOS update blocked" greyed out option. Then I went to the version history and it had the F.55 (HP Pavilion - 15-au624tx Software and Driver Details). That update went fine and the current version is F.55

Even after that I'm unable to update the BIOS to F.56. I even updated the UEFI to the latest version from the HP website - 10.8.0.0 but it doesn't have the Firmaware Update option.

How do I update the BIOS to F.56?

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

HI @NiveaAJ,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding the BIOS Update Blocked Issue on the HP Pavilion 15-au624tx!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

Try these steps:

Download and Prepare Required BIOS Files:

• Ensure you have downloaded the correct BIOS update file from the HP Support page.
• HP Support - Software and Driver Downloads

Check BIOS Update File Integrity:

• Ensure the downloaded file is not corrupted. If necessary, re-download the BIOS update file.
• Verify the file name and size match what is listed on the support page.

Update BIOS in Steps if Multiple Versions:

• Since F.55 update was successful, ensure all intermediary versions are applied if needed before moving to F.56.

Perform a Clean BIOS Install from USB:

• Create a bootable USB drive with the latest BIOS update.
• Follow instructions to prepare the USB drive with BIOS files:
  • Creating a Bootable USB Drive for BIOS Update

Use BIOS Update Tool in Safe Mode:

• Boot the computer into Safe Mode to minimize interference from other applications.
• Attempt to run the BIOS update tool from Safe Mode.

Creating BIOS Recovery USB Drive:

Download the BIOS update file for F.56 from the HP Support page.

• Follow the specific instructions related to your model.

Prepare Bootable USB Drive:

• Use a clean USB drive.
• Follow these steps:
  • Format the USB drive to FAT32.
  • Extract the BIOS update file to the USB drive.

Update BIOS Using USB Drive:

• Insert the USB drive into the computer.
• Power on the computer and enter BIOS setup by pressing F10.
• Use the arrow keys to navigate to the Boot menu.
• Select the USB drive as the boot device.
• Follow on-screen instructions to complete the BIOS update.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[NiveaAJ]

---

Perform a Clean BIOS Install from USB:

• Create a bootable USB drive with the latest BIOS update.
• Follow instructions to prepare the USB drive with BIOS files:
  • Creating a Bootable USB Drive for BIOS Update

Hi there, the link that you have provided for creating a bootable USB drive, is broken. 

The message is see there is:  We're sorry

We can't seem to find the page you were looking for.

Try going back to Support Home or use our Diagnostic Solutions to resolve your product issues.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @NiveaAJ,

Thanks for the update

Here's a working solution for creating a BIOS recovery USB:

Use this page to enable BIOS recovery mode:

h30434.www3.hp.com+14support.hp.com+14h30434.www3.hp.com+14

h30434.www3.hp.com+1h30434.www3.hp.com+1

Steps to create and use the USB recovery drive:

1. Format USB

Use another Windows PC to format a USB drive (≥4 GB) to FAT32.

2. Download BIOS

Visit HP’s Drivers & Software page for your exact model. Download the latest BIOS .exe file.

3. Create Recovery USB

Run the BIOS .exe on the working PC. Choose "Create recovery USB flash drive" when prompted.

4. Trigger Recovery

On your malfunctioning laptop, insert the USB, power off, then hold Windows + B (some models use Windows + V), briefly press Power, and continue holding the keys. Follow on-screen prompts to update BIOS. 

Older links were outdated or redirected away, it’s best to use the current method outlined above, which aligns with the latest community-recommended procedure.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[NiveaAJ]

To be clear, I do not have a malfunctioning laptop that needs BIOS recovery. I want to UPDATE the BIOS to the next version.

The steps you have outlined are for BIOS recovery, should anything break with the BIOS.

I have tried this earlier, and this does not update the BIOS.

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @NiveaAJ,

Thank you for clarifying, I see exactly what you mean now.

You’re right: the steps I shared before mainly help with a BIOS recovery, not a standard version-to-version update when the update is blocked.

Let’s break this down so you don’t waste time:

If the BIOS update from F.55 to F.56 is blocked, and the standard HP BIOS Update Utility won’t run it, it usually means either:

The update has prerequisites that aren’t met (sometimes firmware/EC versions, or Windows version restrictions)

The update is not needed for your exact hardware config (the update package checks your hardware ID and will gray out if it’s not a match)

Or, occasionally, there’s a motherboard lock that prevents flashing the same or “skipped” version path.

Re-check version sequence:

Look at the BIOS version history on HP’s site.

Make sure there’s no intermediate step or separate Embedded Controller (EC) firmware that must be applied first.

Some HP BIOS updates require multiple staged updates, skipping can block the final version.

Use HP UEFI Hardware Diagnostics:

Boot to UEFI Diagnostics (ESC → F2 at boot).

Look for “Firmware Management”, some ”models allow manual updates here if the Windows utility is blocked.

If available, you can browse to a USB stick with the correct .bin BIOS file.

If none of that works:

Realistically, if the BIOS blocks the update, it’s intentional. HP does not provide an “override” for forced updates if the system’s config check fails.

If there’s no real issue with your current BIOS (F.55 is already quite recent), it may be best to stay as is, unless you really need something specific in F.56 (like a fix for a bug you’re hitting).

If you’re not experiencing an actual issue that F.56 directly addresses (e.g., a security fix, hardware enablement), staying on F.55 is totally fine and very safe, BIOS updates are low-risk when you truly need them, but forced updates when blocked can brick the board.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,