High
Operating Systems
✓ Solution Verified by Community (0+ upvotes)
How to fix error dxgi-error-device-hung in Windows 11
GPU stopped responding. Graphics driver timeout during heavy rendering.
Fix based on community reports and expert analysis. Last verified: 2026-08-12
· How we verify fixes
| Error Code | dxgi-error-device-hung |
|---|---|
| Affected System | Windows 11 (Microsoft) |
| Difficulty | High |
| Estimated Time | 40 min |
| Requires Admin Rights | ⚠️ Yes |
| Requires Reboot | 🔄 Yes |
Solution Steps
- 1 Press Windows key + R, type 'eventvwr' and press Enter. This opens Event Viewer. Go to Windows Logs > System and look for 'Display' errors. Note the time and details of the error. This helps identify if the issue is driver-related or hardware.
- 2 Update your GPU driver: Go to your manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and download the latest driver. Run the installer and choose 'Clean Installation' if available. This replaces the old driver with a fresh one, fixing any bugs.
- 3 If you have overclocked your GPU, reset it to default. Use tools like MSI Afterburner to set clock speeds to base values. Overclocking can cause instability and trigger this error.
- 4 Increase the TDR (Timeout Detection and Recovery) delay. This gives the GPU more time to respond before Windows declares it hung. Press Windows key + R, type 'regedit' and press Enter. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers. Right-click on the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it 'TdrDelay', and set its value to 10 (decimal). This tells Windows to wait 10 seconds instead of the default 2 seconds.
- 5 Restart your PC after the registry change. Then test your game. If the error persists, try lowering in-game graphics settings to reduce GPU load.
Alternative Solutions
Method 2 (0 upvotes)
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type 'eventvwr.msc' and press Enter. In the Event Viewer, go to Windows Logs → System and look for errors with source 'Display' or 'nvlddmkm' (NVIDIA) or 'amdkmdag' (AMD). This tells you exactly which driver crashed and when, helping you pinpoint the cause.
- Update your GPU driver. Press Win+X and select 'Device Manager'. Expand 'Display adapters', right-click your GPU, and select 'Update driver'. Choose 'Search automatically for drivers'. If Windows doesn't find a new one, go to the manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest driver for your exact model. Outdated or corrupted drivers are the #1 cause of this error.
- If the error started after a recent driver update, roll back the driver. In Device Manager, right-click your GPU, select 'Properties', go to the 'Driver' tab, and click 'Roll Back Driver'. This reverts to the previous version that worked, undoing any problematic changes.
- Check your GPU temperature. Download a free tool like MSI Afterburner or HWiNFO. Run it while gaming and note the temperature. If it exceeds 85°C (185°F), your GPU is overheating. Clean the dust from your PC case, ensure fans are spinning, and consider improving airflow. Overheating causes the GPU to throttle or crash.
- If you have overclocked your GPU (using tools like MSI Afterburner), reset it to default clock speeds. Open the overclocking tool and click 'Reset' or set the core clock and memory clock to factory defaults. Unstable overclocks are a common trigger for this error.
- Run the System File Checker and DISM to repair corrupted system files. Press Win+X and select 'Terminal (Admin)'. Type 'sfc /scannow' and press Enter. Wait for it to finish. Then type 'DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth' and press Enter. This fixes underlying Windows corruption that might affect GPU drivers.
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