A BIOS update version 3.20 for Framework Laptop 13 with AMD Ryzen 7040 series has bricked some laptops. Framework is responding by replacing affected mainboards and will introduce Crisis Recovery Mode in future BIOS updates.
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<img alt="The Framework Laptop 13 (AMD) displaying a blue Windows desktop background." data-caption="The 2023 Framework Laptop 13 with AMD Ryzen 7040-series chips. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge" data-portal-copyright="Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/chorus/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24940154/236795_Framework_Laptop_13__AMD__AKrales_0025.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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The 2023 Framework Laptop 13 with AMD Ryzen 7040-series chips. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge </figcaption>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Some Framework Laptop 13 owners with last-gen AMD chips <a href="https://community.frame.work/t/upgrading-to-bios-3-20-on-ryzen-7040-series-may-brick-your-machine/84031">have reported</a> that <a href="https://community.frame.work/t/framework-laptop-13-ryzen-7040-bios-3-20-release-stable/83283/20">a recent BIOS update is bricking</a> their laptops on both Windows and Linux. The BIOS update causing this issue is version 3.20 for Ryzen 7040-series mainboards, released back in July and <a href="https://resources.frame.work/downloads/laptop-13/amd-ryzen-7040-series/3.20/">still available on Framework's site</a> at the time of this writing. Upon running the update, some users reported their laptops <a href="https://community.frame.work/t/bios-update-stuck/83416">getting stuck on the update screen</a>.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While some users on Framework's community forums reported that the company was sending them replacement mainboards under the one-year warranty, <a href="https://community.frame.work/t/upgrading-to-bios-3-20-on-ryzen-7040-series-may-brick-your-machine/84031">several with</a> <a href="https://community.frame.work/t/framework-laptop-13-ryzen-7040-bios-3-20-release-stable/83283/39">out-of-warranty boards</a> said they were told they'd have to buy new ones. …</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/982800/framework-laptop-13-amd-7040-bios-320-bricking-warranty">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
# Framework says it’s addressing a BIOS update that bricked some of its older laptops
Source: [https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/982800/framework-laptop-13-amd-7040-bios-320-bricking-warranty](https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/982800/framework-laptop-13-amd-7040-bios-320-bricking-warranty)
[](https://www.theverge.com/authors/antonio-g-di-benedetto)
Antonio G\. Di Benedetto
is a reviewer covering laptops and the occasional gadget\. He spent over 15 years in the photography industry before joining The Verge as a deals writer in 2021\.
Some Framework Laptop 13 owners with last\-gen AMD chips[have reported](https://community.frame.work/t/upgrading-to-bios-3-20-on-ryzen-7040-series-may-brick-your-machine/84031)that[a recent BIOS update is bricking](https://community.frame.work/t/framework-laptop-13-ryzen-7040-bios-3-20-release-stable/83283/20)their laptops on both Windows and Linux\. The BIOS update causing this issue is version 3\.20 for Ryzen 7040\-series mainboards, released back in July and[still available on Framework’s site](https://resources.frame.work/downloads/laptop-13/amd-ryzen-7040-series/3.20/)at the time of this writing\. Upon running the update, some users reported their laptops[getting stuck on the update screen](https://community.frame.work/t/bios-update-stuck/83416)\.
While some users on Framework’s community forums reported that the company was sending them replacement mainboards under the one\-year warranty,[several with](https://community.frame.work/t/upgrading-to-bios-3-20-on-ryzen-7040-series-may-brick-your-machine/84031)[out\-of\-warranty boards](https://community.frame.work/t/framework-laptop-13-ryzen-7040-bios-3-20-release-stable/83283/39)said they were told they’d have to buy new ones\. A few were able to[take matters into their own hands](https://quantum5.ca/2026/08/16/fixing-bricked-amd-7040-series-framework-13-laptop-with-20-tools/)with external BIOS programming equipment\.
When*The Verge*reached out to Framework for comment, founder Nirav Patel shared this statement:
> We’ve received reports of a small percentage of Framework Laptop 13 7040 Series BIOS updates resulting in non\-bootable boards and are investigating the root cause of the issue\. In the meantime, in addition to replacing in\-warranty Mainboards, we are making exceptions for out\-of\-warranty replacements where we can confirm a stable\-release BIOS update caused the board to become non\-bootable\. In parallel to this, we’re introducing “Crisis Recovery Mode” BIOS functionality to enable a path for failed updates to be directly recoverable\. Our latest Framework Desktop BIOS release includes this functionality, and we are actively bringing it to Framework Laptop 12, 13, and 16 in our upcoming BIOS release cycles for each\.
*The Verge*asked Framework what percentage of Laptop 13s were affected, and if there’s a timeline for the Crisis Recovery Mode coming to future BIOS updates\. Framework’s external PR rep Jim Redner reiterated it is a “small percentage” and added, “They are targeting releasing that functionality before the end of year for each product line\.”
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- Antonio G\. Di Benedetto
Framework addresses complaints about BIOS updates bricking some Ryzen 7040-based laptops, offering out-of-warranty replacements and introducing a 'Crisis Recovery Mode' in upcoming BIOS releases.
A user details how they fixed a bricked Framework 13" laptop with AMD 7040 series after a failed BIOS update, using inexpensive tools to avoid a costly motherboard replacement.
Jeff Geerling tests the MetaComputing AI PC Arm mainboard for the Framework Laptop, featuring Cix's P1 SoC and 16GB LPDDR5 RAM. The board offers UEFI support and runs Ubuntu, with acceptable performance but higher idle power consumption compared to AMD alternatives.