The “Critical Process Died” error is a blue screen error which shows up when a critical process required to run Windows ends abruptly. In this post, we’ll discuss 8 DIY solutions to fix the error quickly and relatively effortlessly.
So, let’s dig right in.
What’s the Critical Process Died STOP Code?
The Critical Process Died STOP is one of the many error messages that appear on the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), whose actual name is STOP Error message screen.
The whole display gets filled with the Blue screen of Death and is typically accompanied by the following error message:
Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you.
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Note: You cannot close the BSOD or STOP error message screen like a typical Windows error message. You must wait until its process completes and Windows restart automatically. |
Critical Processes Died errors are mostly caused by:
- A data conflict
- New software or hardware
- Malware and viruses
- Lack of sufficient free memory
- Outdated drivers
How to Fix Critical Process Died Error in Windows 11?
1. Prepare your computer for Safe Mode
When you launch Windows in Safe Mode, only essential files and drivers get loaded, which allows you to fix issues with minimal interference.
First, shut down Windows, unplug peripheral devices (except your keyboard and mouse), and then restart Windows. It’s important that you remove all peripheral devices except two since USB devices could cause the blue screen of death.
In case Windows start normally, follow these steps to enter Safe Mode.
- Press the Windows key
- Type msconfig and press Enter
- Click the Boot tab
- Select Safe Mode and then select Minimal
- Click Apply and then OK
In case you get the BSOD when you restart Windows, perform the following steps to enter Safe Mode
- Restart Windows and in the sign-in screen, press the Shift key while you press Power and Restart
- Once Windows restarts, choose Troubleshoot | Advanced Options | Startup Settings | Restart
- Select Enable Safe Mode
2. Uninstall recently installed programs
Sometimes, you receive the Critical Process Died STOP error after you’ve installed a program. If this is the case, uninstall that program after entering into Safe Mode.
Follow these steps to uninstall a program on Windows 11:
- Press the Windows key
- Type Settings and press Enter
- Click Apps
- Click Installed Apps
- Locate the recently-installed software, right-click it, and then select Uninstall
3. Install the latest Windows Update
Windows updates include security patches, driver updates, and bug fixes that often help fix computer errors, including the Critical Process Died STOP error.
To make sure, your Windows system is up to date, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key
- Click Settings
- Click Windows Update
- Follow on-screen instructions to check if any new updates are available
4. Scan your PC for malware
Often malware and viruses can trigger various errors. It’s possible that the same is true in your case. If the previous solutions have not worked for you, we recommend you run a deep scan of your system to ensure there are no viruses and malware hiding.
5. Run an SFC scan
Windows come with an in-built utility, called Windows SFC or System File Checker, that can check for system files that have become corrupt and repair them. Because corrupt system files are one of the main causes behind Blue Screen of Death, running an SFC scan can help.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Press the Windows key
- Type Command Prompt and right-click the first result, and choose Run as administrator
- In the Command Prompt window, type SFC /Scannow and press Enter
- Once the scan is complete, restart Windows
6. Scan the hard drive
If the file system on the hard drive is corrupt, you can encounter various errors. Your system may also crash frequently. A CHKDSK scan allows you to check the complete hard drive, identify errors, and resolve them, improving your computer’s performance and frequent errors, such Blue Screen of Death.
Follow these steps to scan the hard drive:
- Press the Windows key
- Type Command Prompt, right-click the first result, and choose Run as administrator
- In the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk /f /r and then press Enter
7. Check the RAM
An issue with the RAM can cause the Critical Process Died error. Windows include a diagnostic tool to check the RAM’s status. The diagnostic tool cannot actually repair the damaged RAM sectors, but it can identify them and prevent the computer from using them during operation.
Follow these steps to use this diagnostic tool:
- Press the Windows key
- Type Windows Memory Diagnostic and press Enter
- Select Restart now and check for problems (recommended)
- When Windows restarts, it will show the diagnostic results
In case the RAM is severely damaged, it would be best to upgrade it.
8. Update device drivers
If nothing else has worked, try updating device drivers. Outdated drivers can cause a number of errors. Since it is cumbersome to manually check every driver if it requires an update or not, we recommend you give DriverUpdater a try. It scans your computer to check for old drivers and updates them.
Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:
- You can update device drivers automatically
- The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
- The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
- Automatic driver updates are 100% safe
Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.
Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app
Step 2
Scan all devices
Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically
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