Critical Operating Systems ✓ Solution Verified by Community (100+ upvotes)

How to fix error irql-not-less-or-equal in Windows 11

Driver conflict or faulty memory. Often caused by outdated drivers accessing invalid memory addresses.

✅ 85% success rate
👥 100+ users verified
📅 Updated: 2026-08-12
⏱️ 60 min read
Source: Community Report · How we verify fixes
Error Codeirql-not-less-or-equal
Affected SystemWindows 11 (Microsoft)
DifficultyCritical
Estimated Time60 min
Requires Admin Rights⚠️ Yes
Requires Reboot🔄 Yes

Solution Steps

  1. 1 Boot into Safe Mode.
  2. 2 Update all drivers — especially network (WiFi/Ethernet) and GPU drivers.
  3. 3 Run Driver Verifier to identify faulty driver: verifier /standard /all.
  4. 4 After identifying faulty driver, disable verifier: verifier /reset.
  5. 5 Remove faulty driver via Device Manager, install latest version from manufacturer.
  6. 6 Run Windows Memory Diagnostic.
  7. 7 Update BIOS to latest version.
  8. 8 If overclocking: reset BIOS to defaults, disable XMP temporarily.

Alternative Solutions

Method 2 (0 upvotes)

  1. Boot into Safe Mode. Press Windows key + I to open Settings, go to System → Recovery, and under 'Advanced startup' click 'Restart now'. After your PC restarts, choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart, then press 4 or F4 to enter Safe Mode. Safe Mode loads only essential drivers, so if the error doesn't appear, it's driver-related.
  2. Once in Safe Mode, open Device Manager by pressing Windows key + X and selecting 'Device Manager'. Expand categories and look for devices with a yellow exclamation mark. Right-click each problematic device and select 'Uninstall device'. Check 'Delete the driver software for this device' if available, then restart. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.
  3. Update your drivers. In Device Manager, right-click each device and select 'Update driver'. Choose 'Search automatically for drivers'. For critical drivers like graphics and network, visit the manufacturer's website (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) to download the latest version. Outdated drivers are the #1 cause of this error.
  4. If you recently installed a new driver, roll it back. In Device Manager, right-click the device, select 'Properties', go to the 'Driver' tab, and click 'Roll Back Driver'. This reverts to the previous version that worked.
  5. Run System File Checker. Open Command Prompt as administrator (Windows key + X → Terminal (Admin)). Type 'sfc /scannow' and press Enter. This repairs corrupted system files that might be causing the error.
  6. If SFC finds issues, run DISM. In the same Command Prompt, type 'DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth' and press Enter. This fixes the system image.
  7. Check for hardware issues. If you've overclocked your CPU or RAM, reset BIOS settings to default. Restart your PC and press the key to enter BIOS (usually Del, F2, or F12). Look for 'Load Optimized Defaults' or 'Reset to Default' and save. Overclocking can cause memory access errors.
  8. If the error persists, use Windows Memory Diagnostic. Press Windows key + R, type 'mdsched.exe', and press Enter. Choose 'Restart now and check for problems'. Faulty RAM can cause this error.

Method 3 (0 upvotes)

  1. Boot into Safe Mode: Restart your PC and press F8 (or Shift + Restart) to access Advanced Startup Options. Choose 'Safe Mode'. This loads minimal drivers, which can help you uninstall problematic drivers.
  2. Uninstall recently installed drivers: Press Windows key + X and select 'Device Manager'. Look for devices with a yellow exclamation mark. Right-click the device and select 'Uninstall device'. Check 'Delete the driver software for this device' if available, then restart. This removes the driver that might be causing the conflict.
  3. Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic: Press Windows key + R, type 'mdsched.exe', and press Enter. Choose 'Restart now and check for problems'. This tests your RAM for errors. Faulty RAM is a common cause of this BSOD.
  4. Run the System File Checker: Open Command Prompt as administrator (right-click Start, select 'Terminal (Admin)'). Type 'sfc /scannow' and press Enter. This repairs corrupted system files that might be causing the issue.
  5. Update your drivers: In Device Manager, right-click each device and select 'Update driver'. Choose 'Search automatically for drivers'. Pay special attention to network adapters, graphics cards, and storage controllers. Outdated drivers are the number one cause of this error.
  6. Check for Windows updates: Press Windows key + I to open Settings, go to 'Windows Update', and click 'Check for updates'. Install all pending updates. Microsoft often patches driver-related issues.

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