VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE Error (nvlddmkm.sys)? 5 Fixes That Actually Work in 2026

The Windows stop code VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE typically occurs when the graphics card or its driver fails to respond within a predefined time window. Well, if you are getting BSOD “Video TDR Failure (nvlddmkm.sys)”, it usually means Windows detected a problem with your Nvidia graphics card driver, which failed to recover on its own. TDR stands for Timeout, Detection, and Recovery, a Windows feature that helps your GPU recover from unresponsive states. However, when it fails, Windows displays the Blue Screen of Death, pointing to nvlddmkm.sys, a critical NVIDIA system file. Most of the time, this error is caused by corrupted or outdated graphics drivers, system file issues, overheating, or software conflicts. In rare cases, it can point to a failing graphics card. Here are eight effective solutions you can apply to fix the Video TDR Failure on Windows 11.

What Causes the Video TDR Failure Error on Windows 11?

The “video tdr failure” error is commonly associated with the display driver and trigger during graphics-intensive tasks like gaming or video playback. Issues with your graphics card or its drivers are the most common reason behind this. It can also result from software conflicts, corrupt system files, too many background processes, or improper power settings.

• Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers: This is one of the most common causes, as old or corrupted drivers may not support new features or be incompatible with other software.
• Hardware issues: A failing graphics card, loose PCIe connection, or faulty power supply can also trigger repeated Video TDR Failure errors.
• GPU or system overheating: Poor airflow, dust buildup, or overclocking may cause your GPU to overheat, leading to TDR (Timeout, Detection, and Recovery) failures.
• Corrupt system files: Damaged Windows system files can interfere with how the OS communicates with your NVIDIA graphics driver.
• Software conflicts: Too many applications running at once, or conflicts with other third-party drivers, can overload the graphics processing unit (GPU)

Disconnect External Devices and Reboot Your PC

External devices such as USB drives, printers, or external GPUs can sometimes conflict with system drivers and trigger blue screen errors. Disconnecting them temporarily lets Windows 11 load only essential drivers and can help you quickly identify if one device is causing the Video TDR Failure error.

1. Shut down your PC completely.
2. Disconnect all non‑essential external devices, such as:
   • USB drives and external hard disks
   • Printers and scanners
   • USB hubs and docks
   • External GPUs
3. Leave only your keyboard, mouse, and monitor connected.
4. Power on your PC and boot into Windows 11 normally.
5. Use your system for a while, especially with apps that previously caused the Video TDR Failure.
6. If the error does not appear, reconnect your external devices one by one, testing after each to find the problematic device.

If removing external devices stops the Video TDR Failure on Windows 11, you’ve likely found a driver conflict. Update or replace the driver for the problematic device or avoid using it while gaming or running GPU‑heavy tasks.

Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode

Safe Mode starts Windows 11 with a minimal set of drivers and services. If the nvlddmkm.sys blue screen is caused by a bad or corrupted NVIDIA driver, starting in Safe Mode lets you uninstall it safely without the system crashing mid‑process.

• On the Windows 11 sign‑in screen or desktop, hold Shift, then click Power > Restart.
• When the Choose an option screen appears, go to: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
• After restart, press 4 (or F4) to boot into Safe Mode.

From Safe Mode, proceed to uninstall or reinstall your NVIDIA graphics driver.

• Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
• Expand Display adapters. Right‑click your NVIDIA graphics card and select Uninstall device.
• Check Delete the driver software for this device if available, then click Uninstall.
• Restart your PC normally.

If Windows boots normally without the Video TDR Failure on Windows 11 after removing the NVIDIA driver, the driver was likely the cause. Next, perform a clean installation of the latest stable NVIDIA driver, as shown in the next method.

Note: If due to this BSOD error, Windows won’t start normally:

• Turn off your computer 3 times in a row to trigger Advanced Troubleshooting
• Once you see the options screen, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings

• Click Restart from the bottom right and press 4 to boot into Safe Mode.

Reinstall or Clean Install NVIDIA Graphics Drivers (nvlddmkm.sys)

The nvlddmkm.sys file is part of the NVIDIA graphics driver. If the driver is corrupted, incompatible, or incorrectly installed, Windows 11 can crash with a Video TDR Failure. A clean installation removes old components and installs fresh, stable drivers that are compatible with your system.

• Press Windows key + X, then select Device Manager..
• Expand Display adapters, right-click your NVIDIA GPU and choose Uninstall device.
• Check, Delete the driver software for this device, then click Uninstall.
• Restart your PC.
• Now visit the NVIDIA Driver Download page in your browser.
• Enter your GPU model and Windows 11 as the OS, then download the latest Game Ready or Studio driver.
• Run the installer and choose Custom (Advanced). Enable Perform a clean installation, then complete the setup.

You can also use NVIDIA GeForce Experience to update your graphics drivers automatically.

Perform a Clean Driver Installation:

1. Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) from its official website.
2. Boot into Safe Mode (see previous method).
3. Run DDU and select GPU: NVIDIA.
4. Choose Clean and restart to completely remove existing NVIDIA drivers.
5. After the restart, install the latest NVIDIA driver using the steps above.

After reinstalling or clean‑installing the NVIDIA driver, stress your system with games or videos. If the Video TDR Failure on Windows 11 no longer appears, the issue was likely a corrupted or incompatible driver.

Rename and Regenerate the nvlddmkm.sys File

If the nvlddmkm.sys file itself is corrupted, Windows may repeatedly crash when it tries to load it. Renaming the old file and regenerating a fresh copy from the driver package can fix crashes tied to that specific file.

• Open File Explorer → Go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers.
• Find nvlddmkm.sys, right-click it, and rename it to nvlddmkm.sys.old.
• Navigate to your driver extraction path (usually C:\NVIDIA\DisplayDriver\<version>\Display.Driver\).
• Locate nvlddmkm.sy_ and copy it to your desktop.
• Open Command Prompt (Admin) and run: expand.exe C:\Users\< YourUserName >\Desktop\nvlddmkm.sy_ C:\Users\< YourUserName >\Desktop\nvlddmkm.sys

(Adjust the path to match your actual user name and file location.)

• Copy the new nvlddmkm.sys file back to the System32\drivers folder.
• Restart your PC normally and check whether the error persists.

If Windows 11 starts and runs stable without more Video TDR Failure errors, the original nvlddmkm.sys file was likely corrupted, and regenerating it resolved the problem.

Update Windows 11 to Improve Driver Stability

Microsoft regularly releases Windows 11 updates that improve driver compatibility, fix bugs, and enhance system stability. Running an outdated build can cause conflicts with newer NVIDIA drivers and contribute to Video TDR Failure errors.

• Press Windows + I to open Settings.
• Go to Windows Update > Check for updates.
• Install all available updates, including optional driver or .NET updates if recommended.
• Restart your PC to apply changes.

Once Windows 11 is fully updated, test your usual apps and games. If the Video TDR Failure on Windows 11 goes away, the issue was likely tied to outdated system components or compatibility problems.

Run SFC and DISM to Repair Corrupt System Files

Corrupted or missing Windows system files can disrupt communication between the OS and your NVIDIA driver, triggering the nvlddmkm.sys blue screen. The System File Checker (SFC) and DISM tools scan for and repair damaged system files.

• Press Windows key + S, type cmd, and Open Command Prompt as administrator.
• Run the system file checker command sfc /scannow
• This scans all protected Windows system files and repairs corruption by replacing them with cached versions from the system image.
• Next run DISM restore Health command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• This command repairs corrupted Windows system files by checking the local Windows image for corruption and then replacing the affected files with good copies from Windows Update or a specified source.

Let the scan complete, then restart your PC and check if the issue is resolved.

After the restart, monitor your system for crashes. If the Video TDR Failure on Windows 11 no longer appears, the issue was likely caused by corrupted system files that SFC/DISM repaired.

Check for GPU Overheating or Hardware Problems

Overheating or failing hardware is a common trigger for TDR (Timeout, Detection, and Recovery) failures. If your GPU runs too hot or is unstable under load, Windows may repeatedly lose contact with the driver, leading to Video TDR Failure errors.

If you’ve overclocked your GPU, CPU, or RAM, revert all settings to manufacturer defaults.

Clean your PC case and GPU:

• Power off your PC and unplug it.
• Open the case and use compressed air to gently blow dust out of the GPU fans, heatsinks, and vents.
• Ensure all fans can spin freely.

Check airflow:

• Make sure there is enough clearance around your case for air intake and exhaust.
• Confirm that all case fans are working and blowing in the correct direction.

Monitor GPU temperature:

• Install tools such as MSI Afterburner, GPU‑Z, or HWMonitor.
• Run a game or GPU‑intensive application and watch the GPU temperature.
• Ideally, under load, most GPUs should stay below 80–85°C (varies by model).

Reset overclocks:

• If you have overclocked your GPU or CPU, reset them to default/stock settings in your overclocking tool or BIOS.

Reseat the graphics card (desktop PCs):

• Shut down your PC and unplug it.
• Open the case and gently remove the graphics card from the PCIe slot.
• Reinsert it firmly until it clicks into place.
• Make sure all PCIe power connectors are securely attached.

If GPU temperatures go down, stability improves, and the Video TDR Failure on Windows 11 no longer occurs, the root cause was likely overheating or a loose connection. If crashes continue even with good temperatures and stock settings, hardware failure is still possible.

Adjust TDR Timeout in the Windows 11 Registry

The TDR (Timeout, Detection, and Recovery) feature in Windows decides how long it waits for the GPU to respond before resetting the driver. If heavy workloads cause brief delays, Windows may trigger a Video TDR Failure too quickly. Increasing the TDR delay gives the GPU more time to recover.

Avoid changing Registry values you do not understand. Create a system restore point or back up the Registry before making changes.

• Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers.
• Right‑click on the right pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
• Name the new value TdrDelay, Double‑click TdrDelay and set Base to Decimal.
• Enter 10 as the value data (this sets a 10‑second delay) and click OK.
• Close Registry Editor. Restart your PC for the changes to apply.

After increasing TdrDelay, test your usual games and apps. If the Video TDR Failure on Windows 11 happens less often or disappears, the GPU simply needed more time to respond under heavy load. If the error persists, do not keep raising the value indefinitely—focus on drivers or hardware next.

Still need help, It may be your Graphics card is faulty. Disable the dedicated GPU in Device Manager and use the integrated graphics to check for stability. If the issue resolves, the dedicated GPU may be faulty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)