How to Fix “Critical Process Died” Error in Windows 11

The “Critical Process Died” error in Windows 11 occurs when a process essential for the system’s operation terminates unexpectedly. We can say a core process on which Windows relies has become corrupted. It could have either stopped entirely, or its data has been incorrectly modified. You may experience this error after a system update, driver installation, hardware changes, or even during normal use. Users report “Just installed the most recent update for Windows 11, 2 minutes after the system crash, the bluescreen was CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED.” Corrupt system files, outdated or faulty drivers, storage issues, malware, or conflicting external devices are some of the most common reasons for this problem. Whatever the reason, let’s take a closer look at how you can fix the Critical Process Died stop code in Windows 11.

What Causes the “Critical Process Died” Error?

The error usually occurs when a critical Windows background process fails or crashes. These processes are responsible for controlling memory, drivers, input/output operations, and system stability. When one becomes corrupted, Windows forces a shutdown to prevent system damage. Corrupt System Files, problematic drivers, or Hardware problems are some of the Common causes of the “Critical Process Died” error.

• Corrupted system files: One of the most common reasons. System files get damaged due to sudden shutdowns, failed updates, or malware.
• Faulty or outdated drivers: Drivers act as a communication layer between hardware and Windows. A bad device driver, especially for storage or chipset, can trigger the crash.
• Bad Windows update: A recent update that is corrupt or contains bugs can cause instability.
• Hardware problems: This can include a failing hard drive, issues with RAM, or other hardware malfunctions.
• Malware or virus attack: Malicious software can corrupt or interfere with critical system processes.
• Newly installed software or hardware: A new device or program that is incompatible can cause conflicts.

Disconnect External Devices and Reboot PC

External hardware, such as USB drives, external hard disks, or peripherals, can sometimes cause driver conflicts that trigger BSOD errors.

• Completely shut down your computer.
• Unplug all devices: USB drives, printers, headphones, external SSD/HDD, etc.
• Turn the PC back ON, and check if Windows boots normally.
• If yes, reconnect devices one by one to identify the problematic hardware.
• If no, try the next solution to fix the BSOD error on Windows 11.

Boot Windows in Safe Mode

Safe Mode loads Windows with default drivers only. This means if a faulty third-party driver or background program is causing the crash, Safe Mode allows you to isolate and remove them safely.

• Access the Windows Recovery Environment
• Once in Windows RE, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

• Once the device reboots, in the Startup Settings screen, Press 4 to boot into Safe Mode.

• Once in Safe Mode, uninstall recently installed programs or drivers.

Repair System Files Using SFC and DISM

Windows relies on thousands of protected system files to boot and operate normally. If these files become corrupted due to a forced shutdown, power loss, incomplete update, disk errors, or malware, Windows may no longer be able to run critical processes correctly.

• Press Windows + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.
• First run sfc /scannow command to scan system files and restore missing or damaged ones.
• After the scan completes, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth command to repair the system image that SFC uses to restore files.
• Once the scanning completes, restart your computer and check if this helps.

The SFC (System File Checker) tool automatically scans and replaces damaged or missing system files. DISM repairs Windows image files that SFC relies on.

Update or Reinstall Device Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can prevent essential system processes from functioning correctly. Updated drivers ensure compatibility with Windows 11 and fix bugs that may cause crashes or blue screens.

• Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
• Expand each section and look for yellow exclamation marks.
• Right-click the problematic driver → Update driver → Search automatically for drivers.

If updating doesn’t help, uninstall and then reinstall the driver from the manufacturer’s website.

Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup feature is designed to reduce boot time by partially hibernating system files during shutdown. However, in some cases, it can cause driver or kernel-level inconsistencies that trigger blue screen errors, especially after updates or hardware changes.

• Press Windows + R, type control, and hit Enter to open the Control Panel.
• Navigate to Hardware and Sound → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do.
• Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
• Under Shutdown settings, uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended).
• Click Save changes, then restart your PC.

After disabling it, monitor your system for a few restarts. If the BSOD no longer appears, Fast Startup was likely the culprit.

Check for Corrupted Disk or Bad Sectors

Hard drive corruption or bad sectors can interrupt Windows processes and trigger BSOD errors. The CHKDSK utility scans your disk for errors and automatically repairs file system issues that may be causing the crash.

• Press Windows + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.
• Type command chkdsk C: /f /r and Press Enter.
• Type Y to confirm when prompted to schedule scan on the next boot.
• Restart your PC to allow the scan to run before booting.

Run Memory Diagnostic Tool

Faulty RAM can also trigger the Critical Process Died BSOD. Running the built-in memory diagnostic tool checks for hardware-level memory problems that can cause crashes.

• Press Windows + R, type mdsched.exe, and hit Enter.
• Choose Restart now and check for problems.
• Windows will restart and perform a memory scan — review the results after reboot.

Update Windows 11 Latest version

Microsoft frequently releases patches that fix system stability and driver issues. If your error is caused by a known system or driver bug, a Windows update might already include the fix.

• Go to Settings → Windows Update.
• Click Check for updates and install any pending updates.
• Restart your PC after installation.

Note: If you notice a recent Windows update causing this BSOD, Open Settings → Windows Update → Update History. Click Uninstall updates. Select the most recent update and click Uninstall.

Perform a System Restore or Reset Windows

If none of the above methods work, consider restoring Windows to an earlier working state. System Restore can undo problematic updates, driver installs, or registry changes.

• Go to Control Panel → Recovery → Open System Restore.
• Select a restore point created before the issue occurred.
• Follow the on-screen instructions.

If System Restore isn’t available, perform a Reset this PC:

• Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC.
• Choose Keep my files to preserve your personal data.

FAQ – Critical Process Died Error on Windows 11

1. What causes the Critical Process Died BSOD?
Usually, it’s caused by corrupted system files, outdated drivers, faulty memory, or storage issues.

2. Can malware cause this error?
Yes. Malware or rootkits can corrupt essential Windows processes, leading to a BSOD. Running a full Windows Defender or third-party antivirus scan is recommended.

3. Will resetting my PC fix the Critical Process Died error?
In most cases, yes — a clean reset reinstalls Windows and eliminates software-related corruption.

4. Can I fix the error without reinstalling Windows?
Absolutely. Try SFC/DISM, driver updates, or Safe Mode first before resetting your system.

5. Is Critical Process Died a hardware issue?
Sometimes. If software fixes don’t work, the issue may lie with faulty RAM or a failing SSD/HDD.