How-To

How to Fix VIDEO DXGKRNL FATAL BSOD Error on Windows

By Brian Burgess

Published June 2, 2023

A VIDEO DXGKRNL FATAL BSOD error on Windows points to a problem with your graphics card. To resolve the problem, follow this guide.

Blue screen (BSOD) errors can be alarming, and one you might run across is the VIDEO DXGKRNL FATAL error on Windows. You may experience this error if your graphics card drivers are outdated, but that isn’t the only possible cause.

You may also experience this issue if your version of DirectX is no longer supported or because of corrupt system files. Still, the error is generally tied to your system’s GPU, and there are various steps you can take to resolve the problem.

If you get a blue screen with the VIDEO DXGKRNL FATAL error on Windows 11, this guide will show you how to fix it.

Use Hardware Troubleshooter to Fix VIDEO DXGKRNL FATAL Error

Windows 10 and 11 include tools that will allow you to fix the video error. Here we’ll be starting with the hardware troubleshooter that can identify errors and give you solutions to fix them. We’re showing screenshots from Windows 11, but you can use the same tools and fixes on Windows 10.

To run hardware troubleshooter on Windows 11:

1. Press Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog window.
2. Type in the following and click OK or press Enter:

   msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic

   

3. When the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter launches, click Next.
4. Wait for the troubleshooter to scan for issues and apply fixes automatically.
5. If it doesn’t identify a problem, close the troubleshooter, and use one of the following options.

Reinstall Your Graphics Card Drivers

If you have manually updated drivers for your graphics card, there could be a corruption issue, and reinstalling the graphics card drivers can resolve the blue screen error.

To reinstall graphics card drivers on Windows 11:

1. Press the Windows key, search for Device Manager, and click the top result.
2. Expand the Display adapters section.
3. Right-click your graphics card in the list and select Uninstall device.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions for the removal of the device.
5. Once complete, restart your PC.
6. During the restart, Windows should reinstall the card automatically, but it might need help.
7. Open Device Manager and click Action > Scan for hardware changes from the top toolbar.

Windows will scan your GPU (and other hardware) and reinstall the proper driver for the device.

Fix Corrupt System Files

If the problem is due to missing or corrupt system files, Windows has a couple of built-in command line tools you can use to fix it. For example, running an SFC and DISM scan will find and fix any necessary core system files.

To run SFC and DISM scans:

1. Press the Windows key, type PowerShell, and select Run as Administrator.
2. When the terminal opens, type the following command and press Enter:

   sfc /scannow

   

3. Once the SFC scan is complete, run the following command in the same elevated PowerShell terminal:

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

   

Note that these scans can take a while to complete, and once they do, restart your PC. You should no longer receive the blue screen error.

Disable Fast Startup on Windows 11

If you have enabled the fast startup option, it allows your Windows PC to boot faster. However, it can cause conflicts with your system and lead to video errors – especially on older hardware. To prevent it, try turning the feature off.

To disable fast startup on Windows:

1. Press the Windows key, search for control panel, and select the top result.
2. Select Hardware and sound.
3. Select Power Options from the menu of items.
4. Select the Choose what the power button does link in the left panel.
5. Click the Change settings that are currently unavailable option near the top.
6. Under the Shutdown Settings section, uncheck the Turn off fast startup (recommended) box.
7. Click Save Changes.

Once fast startup is disabled, check to see if the video error persists. Also, if you aren’t on Windows 11 yet, learn how to use fast startup on Windows 10.

Check for DirectX Updates

DirectX is the Windows utility that enhances graphics for gaming and consuming content in video apps. It also allows you to enable the dynamic refresh rate on Windows on supported systems.

If outdated, DirectX can cause the VIDEO DXGKRNL FATAL error on Windows.

To check your currently installed DirectX version:

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog window.
2. Type dxdiag and click OK or press Enter.
3. Click Yes on the message asking to check digitally signed drivers.
4. When the DirectX Diagnostic Tool launches, you can view the current version of DirectX, display drivers, and other system info.
5. To update your version of DirectX, you need to run Windows Update and install any available updates manually.

If a new version of DirectX isn’t in the update, you are currently running the latest version, and an update isn’t available. In addition to updating DirectX, Windows will check for other system updates, including bug fixes that could be causing the error.

Recover Windows from a Restore Point

If you start getting the VIDEO DXGKRNL FATAL BSOD error after a system change, you can try to roll back your system to a time when it was working.

Using System Restore allows you to revert changes to the point of receiving the error.

Reset or Clean Install Windows

If you’ve exhausted the above steps and still receive the error, you can reset your PC. This option allows you to reset Windows to factory settings but keep your files.

This is a drastic step, so before resetting Windows, create a backup first. Then you can recover your system from a backup image if things don’t go as planned. Also, it’s a good idea to create a Restore point, just in case.

To kick off the reset, open Settings > System > Recovery, click the Reset PC button and follow the onscreen instructions. For complete instructions, check out our guide to reset Windows 11 or how to reset Windows 10.

You’ll need to reinstall the OS if a reset doesn’t do it. Again, ensure your data is backed up and perform a clean install of Windows.

Fixing Blue Screen of Death Errors on Windows

If your PC keeps crashing and displays the VIDEO DXGKRNL FATAL BSOD error, there are several steps you can use to resolve the problem. But remember that the error is mainly tied to your GPU, and following those steps first should get it fixed.

There are other blue screen errors on Windows that you need to resolve. For example, you may need to fix an NTFS File System BSOD error or check how to fix the Ntoskrnl.exe BSOD error.

Also, you might need to fix a Clock Watchdog Timeout BSOD error on Windows. And another BSOD message you might need to fix is a Kmode Exception Not Handled error which can also be fixed by disabling fast startup.