How to Reset a Dell BIOS Password

To discover a working BIOS password for your Dell, enter the Service Tag from your Dell into our password generator tool. The Service Tag will be documented on a small sticker on the bottom, back, or side of your Dell PC. The Service Tag is a 7 digit identifier that is unique to your Dell. The Service Tag is different from the 10 digit Express Service Code. The Dell web site also has a tool to automatically detect your Service Tag.

Dell BIOS Password Generator Tool

Following generated passwords may help:

Some Dell laptops and computers require you to press CTRL + Enter and on some is enough to just press enter

Dell Dimension BIOS Password Recovery

The BIOS password may be cleared from a Dell Dimension by moving the password jumper on the motherboard.

The password jumper’s location on a Dell Dimension motherboard can be found by reviewing the Dimension User Guides.

For most Dell Dimension desktops, the steps to reset a BIOS password and clear all CMOS settings are:

• Locate the 3-pin CMOS password reset jumper on the system board.
• Remove the jumper plug from pins 1 and 2.
• Place the jumper plug on pins 2 and 3 and wait approximately 5 seconds.
• Replace the jumper plug on pins 1 and 2.

Dell Optiplex BIOS Password Recovery

The BIOS password may be cleared from a Dell Optiplex by removing the password jumper (PSWD) from the motherboard.

The password jumper’s location on a Dell Optiplex motherboard can be found by reviewing the Optiplex User Guides.

For most Dell Optiplex desktops, the steps to reset a BIOS password and clear all CMOS settings are:

• Locate the 3-pin CMOS password reset jumper on the system board.
• Remove the jumper plug from pins 1 and 2.
• Place the jumper plug on pins 2 and 3 and wait approximately 5 seconds.
• Replace the jumper plug on pins 1 and 2.

Dell Inspiron BIOS Password Recovery

Each Dell Inspiron has a master password that clears the BIOS password. Call Dell Technical Support at (800)624-9896 to get this number.

Dell Technical Support will request the Service Tag and Express Service Code from the bottom of the Inspiron.

If the current user is not the original Inspiron owner, Dell will transfer the used Inspiron’s registration from the original owner with only the Service Tag and Express Service Code from the tag on the laptop.

To transfer a used Dell Inspiron’s registration, fill out the Transfer of Ownership form on Dell’s web site.

Dell Latitude BIOS Password Recovery

Christophe Grenier wrote a program that calculates the master BIOS password for Dell Latitudes from the Service Tag number. That program is available here.

If a Latitude cannot be booted to run this program, call Dell Technical Support at (800)624-9896 to get the working password.

Dell Technical Support will request the Service Tag and Express Service Code from the bottom of the Latitude.

If the current user is not the original Latitude owner, Dell will transfer the used Latitude’s registration from the original owner with only the Service Tag and Express Service Code from the tag on the laptop.

To transfer a used Dell Latitude’s registration, fill out the Transfer of Ownership form on Dell’s web site.

Related Reading on BIOS Password:

• BIOS Password
• BIOS Password