I'm currently using a Dell laptop with Windows 11, but I want to switch completely to Linux, likely Linux Mint, without dual booting. One thing I'm concerned about is firmware updates. My laptop regularly gets firmware updates through Windows Update. I'm wondering if I'll have to enter the UEFI menu to check for updates after I switch to Linux. Can anyone share their experiences or advice on how to handle UEFI updates on Dell laptops when using Linux?
2 Answers
You’re in luck! Dell supports firmware updates through the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS). Once you're on Linux, you can install `fwupd`, which will let you know whenever there's a firmware update available without needing Windows. It’s a smooth process for updates!
I confirm that using `fwupdmgr` on my Dell Latitude 5400 for BIOS updates has been seamless. It works well for many devices' firmware, not just BIOS!
If you’re using an OEM like Dell, you might want to keep Windows around just for UEFI updates, or at least think about reinstalling it when updates are necessary. Some UEFI firmware from OEMs doesn’t provide great update support for Linux. You could also consider resizing the Windows partition and leaving it as is if you really want to retain the space after switching to Linux.
Interesting point! Have you ever heard of fwupd.org? Seems like a good option for managing updates.
AWESOME! Thanks for sharing this with me. I had no idea Dell was well supported for this and that I could find the updates from there. Really helpful info!