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How to fix error 0x0000000a in Windows 11

Bug Check 0x0000000A: IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL — A kernel-mode driver tried to access memory at an IRQL that is too high.

✅ 65% success rate

👥 0+ users verified

📅 Updated: 2026-08-12

⏱️ 60 min read

Fix based on community reports and expert analysis. Last verified: 2026-08-12 · How we verify fixes

Solution Steps

1 Boot into Safe Mode: Press Windows key + I, go to System > Recovery, and under 'Advanced startup', click 'Restart now'. After restart, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. Press 4 or F4 to enter Safe Mode. If the error doesn't occur in Safe Mode, a third-party driver is likely the cause.
2 In Safe Mode, open Device Manager (Windows key + X > Device Manager). Look for devices with a yellow exclamation mark. Right-click and select 'Update driver' or 'Uninstall device'. If you uninstall, restart and let Windows reinstall the driver. For graphics cards, use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Safe Mode to completely remove old drivers, then install the latest from the manufacturer's website.
3 Run SFC and DISM: Open Command Prompt as admin and run 'sfc /scannow' and 'DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth'. This repairs corrupted system files that might be causing the error.
4 Check for Windows updates: Go to Settings > Windows Update and install all updates. Microsoft often fixes driver-related bugs.
5 Test your RAM: Press Windows key + R, type 'mdsched.exe', and press Enter. Choose 'Restart now and check for problems'. Faulty RAM is a common cause of this error. If errors are found, replace the RAM module.
6 If you overclocked your CPU or GPU, revert to default settings. Overclocking can cause instability and trigger this BSOD.

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