You might be gaming, editing a video, or just starting your PC when it suddenly crashes to a blue screen showing VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR. After a quick restart, it may look like nothing serious happened, but it actually points to a major graphics system failure in Windows.
This BSOD (stop code 0x00000113) means the DirectX graphics system has crashed in a way it can’t recover from. It can sometimes cause repeated crashes, boot loops, or even lost or corrupted files if it happens while data is being saved. But you can fix this error and retrieve your lost files successfully. For how, read this article till the end!
Key Takeaways
- VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR is a Windows BSOD, usually caused by graphics driver, DirectX, GPU, or hardware issues.
- The error often appears during gaming, video editing, startup, or after Windows and driver updates.
- Recover important files first, as BSOD crashes can lead to data loss or file corruption.
- Common fixes include updating/reinstalling GPU drivers, running SFC and DISM scans, and checking for overheating or overclocking issues.
- Prevent future crashes by keeping drivers and Windows updated, monitoring temperatures, and backing up data regularly.
Part 1: What Causes Video Dxgkrnl Fatal Error
dxgkrnl.sys is a core Windows file that helps DirectX communicate with your graphics card (GPU). If that communication fails severely, Windows may crash with a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) to prevent further problems. The “video DXGKRNL fatal” error can happen because of the following reasons:
- Corrupted DirectX files: Damaged DirectX components or a corrupted shader cache can cause crashes, especially when launching games or other GPU-intensive apps.
- Problematic Windows updates: Some Windows updates may not work well with existing graphics drivers, causing BSODs shortly after the update is installed.
- GPU overclocking: Running the graphics card beyond its recommended speeds can lead to instability and random DXGKRNL crashes.
- Failing or overheating GPU: Hardware issues such as overheating, dust buildup, poor cooling, or a loose graphics card can trigger BSOD errors.
- Conflicting overlay apps: Programs like Discord Overlay, GeForce Experience, RTSS, or OBS can interfere with graphics processing and cause crashes.
- Faulty RAM: Bad memory modules can make the system unstable and sometimes result in DXGKRNL-related BSODs.
Part 2: When Does This Error Occur
The video DXGKRNL fatal error doesn’t show up randomly across all usage scenarios. So, what failed in dxgkrnl.sys? Here’s what happened:
- During gaming or heavy graphics use: Common when running games, video editing software, 3D design tools, or VR applications that put a high load on the GPU.
- After a Windows update or driver installation: A recent update may create conflicts with graphics drivers or system files.
- At startup or shutdown: Issues with Fast Startup or driver loading can trigger the error before Windows fully starts or shuts down.
- After installing new hardware: Adding a new GPU, monitor, or changing display connections can cause compatibility problems.
- When hardware acceleration is enabled: Apps like Chrome, Firefox, Spotify, and Teams may trigger crashes if the graphics driver is unstable.
Note: Each crash carries a data loss risk. If you had documents, Photoshop projects, database files, or any unsaved work open when the BSOD hit, those files may be corrupted or gone entirely
Part 3: Fix Video DXGKRNL Fatal Error (Step-by-Step Solutions)
Before making major fixes such as reinstalling drivers, repairing system files, or resetting Windows, it’s a good idea to back up important data. You should also recover any files that may have been lost.
BSOD crashes can sometimes corrupt or delete files, and continued use of the drive may make recovery harder. A tool like 4DDiG Windows Data Recovery can scan your drive and help recover files lost due to crashes, accidental deletion, corrupted partitions, or failed Windows updates.
Why 4DDiG is excellent for post-BSOD recovery:
- Recovers over 2,000 file types, like documents, spreadsheets, videos, photos, system files, and more.
- Supports HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, SD cards, and external storage.
- Deep scan mode recovers files that standard scans miss, including overwritten or fragmented data.
- The free preview lets you verify exactly which files are recoverable before committing to a full recovery.
- Designed to be accessible for non-technical users, with no command-line knowledge required.
After you’ve recovered your data, you can proceed with fixing the “video dxgkrnl fatal” error:
Fix 1: Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers
An outdated or corrupted graphics driver might cause the dxgkrnl error. To fix it, update the driver. But if it doesn’t do the job, the driver might be corrupted. Therefore, reinstall it. Here’s how to fix dxgkrnl.sys error:
To update:
Step 1: Right-click the “Start” button. Select “Device Manager.” Then, expand “Display Adapters.”
Step 2: Right-click your “GPU.” Choose “Update driver.” Next, select “Search automatically for driver.” Windows will update the driver. Restart your computer.
For a clean reinstall:
Step 1: Download “Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU).” It’s a free third-party tool that strips all GPU driver traces completely.
Step 2: Boot into Safe Mode (press “F8” or hold “Shift” while clicking “Restart”). Then, run DDU to fully remove the existing driver.
Step 3: Restart normally and install the latest driver directly from NVIDIA’s, AMD’s, or Intel’s official site.
Note: Avoid installing drivers via Windows Update alone if you’re troubleshooting a crash. Microsoft’s driver versions often lag behind the manufacturer's latest stable releases
Fix 2: Run Windows Update
Some DXGKRNL crashes are caused by Microsoft pushing an update that patches a known graphics kernel bug. So, you’ll need to run the “Windows Update” to install it:
Step 1: Press “Windows + I” to open “Settings.” Click “Windows Update.”
Step 2: Hit “Check for Updates” and install everything available, including optional updates. Restart your system.
Fix 3: Repair System Files (SFC & DISM)
Corrupted Windows system files, including dxgkrnl.sys itself, can be repaired without reinstalling Windows with built-in SFC and DISM tools. SFC repairs files using a local cache. If that cache is itself corrupted, SFC will fail. In such a case, you can run DISM, which goes deeper by pulling a clean image from Microsoft's servers:
Run SFC (System File Checker):
Step 1: Press the “Windows + X” keys. Then, select “Command Prompt (Admin).” Type the following and press “Enter” afterward:
sfc /scannow
Step 2: Wait for the scan to complete (it can take 10–20 minutes). Next, restart your PC.
Run DISM:
Step 1: Open “Command Prompt” with admin privileges again. Then, run these commands in order, pressing “Enter” after each:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealthDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealthDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Step 2: The “RestoreHealth” step can take several minutes. Don’t close the window. Restart your PC when done.
Fix 4: Disable Overclocking and Hardware Acceleration
Sometimes the DXGKRNL error isn’t because of software at all. If you’ve tried the fixes above and the crash persists, your GPU itself may be the problem. So, here’s what you can do:
- Check GPU temperature: Use tools like GPU-Z or HWiNFO64 while gaming. Most GPUs should stay under 85°C. If it stays above 90°C, it likely means cooling issues like dust, dried thermal paste, or a failing fan.
- Physically inspect (desktop PCs): Turn off and unplug the PC, then open the case. Reseat the GPU firmly in the PCIe slot and make sure the 8-pin or 16-pin power cables are fully connected. A loose GPU can cause random system crashes.
- Run a stress test: Use tools like FurMark or 3DMark. If the PC crashes within a few minutes, it often points to a failing GPU rather than just a driver problem.
Fix 6: Recover Lost Data After BSOD (Recommended)
If the steps above are complete but files are still missing or corrupted from a previous crash, it's not too late to recover them. As long as you haven’t written large amounts of new data to the drive since the crash happened. Here’s how to employ 4DDiG Data Recovery to retrieve data lost after the BSOD:
Step 1: Install and execute 4DDiG
Download, install, and launch 4DDiG. Then, select your drive where you lost your files after the BSOD. You can also filter file types like “Document” before scanning.
Step 2: Start scanning
Click “Scan.” Pick a deep scan to find lost files. This may take a while, depending on your drive size. You can pause/resume anytime.
Step 3: Preview files
After scanning, you can view recoverable files. Use the preview to check what you want to restore
Step 4: Select what to recover
Choose the files you want by ticking them, or select all if needed. Click “Recover” and save files to another drive or cloud.
Part 4: How to Prevent Dxgkrnl Fatal Error
Once you’ve resolved the immediate crisis, take these steps to keep it from coming back:
- Update GPU drivers carefully: Install updates from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel, but check release notes and user reports (e.g., Reddit r/nvidia or r/AMD). If a driver seems unstable, wait for a later version.
- Avoid heavy overclocking: Only make small performance boosts and always stress-test. Even stable overclocks can break after Windows or driver updates.
- Watch temperatures: Use tools like HWiNFO64 to monitor GPU/CPU heat. Set alerts around 85°C to catch overheating early.
- Keep Windows updated: Regular updates can fix issues in dxgkrnl.sys and other graphics components. Delaying updates too long may miss important stability fixes.
- Use trusted software only: Avoid pirated software, unknown mods, and unofficial drivers, as they can corrupt system files.
- Back up regularly: Use Windows Backup, Macrium Reflect Free, or an external drive so you can recover files after any BSOD, not just DXGKRNL crashes.
Final Words
The “video DXGKRNL fatal” error is a serious Windows issue, but it usually has known causes and fixes. Most of the time, reinstalling graphics drivers and running system repairs like SFC or DISM can solve it. If it’s hardware-related, fixing overheating or turning off overclocks often helps.
But the most important step is to back up or recover your files first with the help of a tool like 4DDiG Data Recovery before making any changes. It can dig deeply to find lost, and corrupted files with high success. After that, apply the fixes step by step.
FAQs
1. What is video DXGKRNL fatal error?
It’s a Windows BSOD error with stop code 0x00000113, caused by a fatal failure in the DirectX Graphics Kernel Subsystem (dxgkrnl.sys). This error signals a problem with your GPU drivers, DirectX components, or graphics hardware itself.
2. Can this error cause data loss?
Yes. When a BSOD crash interrupts active file operations, like saving a document, writing to a database, or rendering a video, files can end up corrupted or lost. Repeated crashes increase this risk substantially.
3. How do I fix dxgkrnl.sys error quickly?
Start by performing a clean GPU driver reinstall using DDU, then clear the DirectX Shader Cache, and run sfc /scannow from Command Prompt. These three steps resolve the majority of cases within 30 minutes.
4. Can I recover files lost after a BSOD?
Yes, in most cases, especially if you act quickly. A tool like 4DDiG Windows Data Recovery can deep-scan your drive. It can recover files lost to crashes, accidental deletion, or system repair operations, even if they no longer appear in File Explorer.
5. Is video DXGKRNL fatal error hardware-related?
It can be. While the majority of cases are driver or software issues, a failing GPU, overheating components, or even defective RAM can all surface as a DXGKRNL BSOD. If software fixes don’t resolve the crash, stress-testing the GPU with FurMark and checking thermals with HWiNFO64 is the next logical step.
