diff --git a/playbook/startnet.cmd b/playbook/startnet.cmd
index 28ef75f..f53304c 100644
--- a/playbook/startnet.cmd
+++ b/playbook/startnet.cmd
@@ -254,6 +254,20 @@ if exist "Y:\scripts\winpe-status-push.ps1" (
     powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "Y:\scripts\winpe-status-push.ps1"
 )
 
+REM --- BIOS update sub-stage push ---
+REM If check-bios.cmd actually applied or staged a firmware update, push
+REM a second idx=1 status with a BIOS-specific stage string so the
+REM dashboard friendly-label swaps to "Updating BIOS firmware". The "->"
+REM marker is what check-bios writes for both "updated" and "STAGED"
+REM cases. No-op states ("up to date", "no update in catalog", "Skipped",
+REM "missing") never contain the arrow and stay on the default label.
+echo %BIOS_STATUS% | findstr /C:"->" >NUL
+if not errorlevel 1 (
+    if exist "Y:\scripts\winpe-status-push.ps1" (
+        powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "Y:\scripts\winpe-status-push.ps1" -CurrentStage "WinPE: BIOS firmware update - %BIOS_STATUS%"
+    )
+)
+
 echo Waiting for PESetup.exe to start...
 :wait_start
 ping -n 3 127.0.0.1 >NUL
diff --git a/playbook/winpe-status-push.ps1 b/playbook/winpe-status-push.ps1
index 6d9eb9c..9fba978 100644
--- a/playbook/winpe-status-push.ps1
+++ b/playbook/winpe-status-push.ps1
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ param(
     [string]$PxeServer = '172.16.9.1',
     [int]$Port = 9009,
     [int]$TimeoutSec = 5,
-    [string]$PCType = $env:PCTYPE
+    [string]$PCType = $env:PCTYPE,
+    [string]$CurrentStage = 'WinPE: PESetup / WIM apply',
+    [int]$StageIndex = 1
 )
 
 $logFile = 'X:\Windows\Temp\winpe-status-push.log'
@@ -54,8 +56,8 @@ if (-not $serial) {
 $payload = @{
     serial        = $serial
     pctype        = $PCType
-    current_stage = 'WinPE: PESetup / WIM apply'
-    stage_index   = 1
+    current_stage = $CurrentStage
+    stage_index   = $StageIndex
     stage_total   = 8
     status        = 'in_progress'
 }
diff --git a/webapp/templates/imaging.html b/webapp/templates/imaging.html
index c58f177..6831ef1 100644
--- a/webapp/templates/imaging.html
+++ b/webapp/templates/imaging.html
@@ -63,6 +63,12 @@ window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', scheduleImagingReload);
   {% set is_done = s.status == 'succeeded' %}
   {% set border = 'danger' if is_failed else ('success' if is_done else 'primary') %}
   {% set friendly = stage_labels.get(stage_idx, ('Stage ' ~ stage_idx, '')) %}
+  {# Stage 1 sub-phase: if WinPE pushed a BIOS update stage string,    #}
+  {# show a BIOS-specific friendly label. Otherwise default idx=1.     #}
+  {% if stage_idx == 1 and s.current_stage and 'bios' in s.current_stage|lower %}
+    {% set friendly = ('Updating BIOS firmware',
+        'WinPE detected a firmware update for this model. Do NOT power off until the next reboot. Imaging continues afterward.') %}
+  {% endif %}
   {# Stage 7 fans out by sub-phase. Monitor pushes different stage     #}
   {# strings as it crosses each Phase 1-4 boundary. Swap friendly      #}
   {# label based on which keyword shows up.                            #}