Fixing a bricked Framework laptop
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
A Framework laptop owner fixed a bricked motherboard after a failed BIOS update, bypassing Framework's out-of-warranty replacement policy.
The author's Framework 13 AMD laptop was bricked by the official BIOS 3.20 update in August 2026. Framework support offered no solution beyond draining the battery, then said the out-of-warranty motherboard would cost at least CA$500 to replace. The author instead used $20 tools (pogo pins and a USB flash programmer) to externally reprogram the BIOS chip, following forum users' guidance. The article notes that competitors like Dell and HP offer built-in BIOS recovery; Framework does not, despite its repairability claims. He also discovered Framework support shared his personal data in a breach.
What commenters are saying
Top commenters were furious at Framework for shipping a BIOS update that bricks machines, lacking a recovery bootloader (common on cheap desktop boards), and refusing to repair it despite the official update being the cause. Several commenters reported good warranty experiences, but felt the policy was indefensible for a manufacturer-caused brick. Others questioned Framework's Linux battery life and long-term reliability. One legal-adjacent comment noted that EU/UK consumer protection laws may limit such disclaimers. A subthread discussed Google's similar behavior with smart TV and mesh network updates.