How To Clear CMOS without Jumper Clip | A Step-By-Step Guide

CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) reset is the perfect solution to issues like incorrect BIOS setup. You can reset CMOS using a jumper clip or jumper switch. However, if your motherboard doesn’t have a CLEAR CMOS jumper or a jumper button, then don’t worry, there are still other ways to clear CMOS.

The shortcut and effective way to clear CMOS is by removing the CMOS battery. While the CMOS battery is unplugged for a few seconds, the BIOS settings go back to its factory default.

In this article, we will guide you on how to clear CMOS without a jumper and what can you use as an alternative to the jumper clip to reset the CMOS. So, without wasting any of your valuable time, let’s get started.

5 Steps to Clear CMOS Without Jumper Clip or Switch

If your motherboard doesn’t have any jumper or if you don’t want to take the risk of using a jumper to clear CMOS, then you need to remove the battery to clear CMOS. Here is how you can clear CMOS without a jumper:

Step 1: Turn off your computer and detach all the cables including peripheral devices that are connected to the computer.

Step 2: Remove the screws of your computer case and open the side panel of the case to get access to the motherboard.

Step 3: Locate a battery on the motherboard. It can be placed horizontally on a battery holder or vertically on an onboard header with a wire.

Step 4: If the battery is placed on a battery holder, then gently pry the battery free from its connector. In that case, note the “+” and “–” orientation before removing it so that you can place the battery back correctly. However, if the battery is placed on the header, simply disconnect the wire of the onboard header.

Step 5: After 5 minutes, Place the battery back to its holder or reconnect the battery header cable to the motherboard.

After this, the CMOS will be cleared and your BIOS will return to its default setup.

Method To Clean CMOS Without Removing the Battery or Without Jumper Cap

Sometimes, other components of the computer like the GPU cover up the CMOS battery. As a result, it makes the battery unremovable. If you have the same issue where you neither can remove the battery nor you have a jumper cap, then you can still clear CMOS with a screwdriver.

To reset CMOS without removing the battery or without a jumper cap, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Turn off the computer and disconnect it from the power outlet.

Step 2: Touch the two pins of the “Clear CMOS jumper” at the same time using any conductive material. You can use a wire or a screwdriver for this.

Step 3: Plug your computer back into the power outlet and turn it on.

After this, the CMOS will be cleared and the BIOS will be reset. However, there are some cautions for this method.

CAUTIONS:

• Make sure to touch both pins at the same time.
• Do not hold the two pins; Only touch the pins with the conductive material for a second to short the jumper.
• Make sure no other conductive materials nearby the CMOS pins. Any objectives such as wires, small hardware in your chassis, or even dust can short the pins and reset the CMOS.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs)

Can You Clear CMOS With a Screwdriver?

Yes, you can clear CMOS with a screwdriver. You can even clear CMOS using any conductive materials. You just need to short the two pins of CLEAR CMOS on the motherboard to do that. A jumper also does the same thing as a screwdriver does to short the pins.

Can You Clear CMOS Without Removing Battery?

Yes, you can clear CMOS using Jumper, and, in that case, you don’t need to remove the CMOS battery. You only need to hold the jumper in place for 10-15 seconds to clear the CMOS.

How To Clear CMOS With a Paperclip?

To clear CMOS with a paperclip, you need to disconnect the system from the power source and press the power button for 1 minute to drain residual energy. After that, touch or short the 2 points or pins on the CLRMOS pad or CLEAR CMOS pad with a paperclip for at least 5 seconds to clear CMOS.

Conclusion

All the step-by-step process on how to clear CMOS without a jumper is described above and we hope you can now clear your CMOS or BIOS using this process if you do not have any jumper or jumper switch. However, there are many other ways to clear CMOS. If you know of any easier method to reset CMOS without a jumper, feel free to share that idea in our comment section below. Thanks for reading.