Windows has its fair share of errors, and one of the issues you can encounter on your PC is the “video dxgkrnl fatal error.” This error usually occurs when your PC is using outdated graphics drivers.

However, there are other reasons as well as why this error pops up. Luckily, you have quite a few fixes to apply and potentially fix the video dxgkrnl fatal error on your PC.

1. Use the Hardware Troubleshooter

A good thing about Windows is that it comes with several troubleshooters. One of these is a hardware troubleshooter that allows you to find and fix issues with your hardware devices.

When you see the “video dxgkrnl fatal error” on your PC, it’s worth running this troubleshooter to see what issues it can find and fix.

To do that:

  1. Open the Run dialog by pressing Windows Key + R at the same time.
  2. Type the following in Run and press Enter: 
            msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
  3. On the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter screen, click the Next button.
  4. Wait for the troubleshooter to find and fix issues with your hardware devices.
Use Windows 10's hardware troubleshooter

2. Fix Corrupt Files

The most common reason for many Windows issues is corrupt files. If any core system files have gone corrupt on your PC, that may be why you see the “video dxgkrnl fatal error.”

In this case, you can use Windows’s built-in corrupt file checkers; SFC, and DISM. We covered both of these tools, what they do, and how to use them in our guide on the differences between CHDSK, SFM, and DISM on Windows.

3. Reinstall Your Graphics Card Drivers

Your Windows PC uses the installed graphics card drivers to display items on your screen. If there’s an issue or fault with these drivers, reinstalling them can fix the issue.

To reinstall graphics card drivers:

  1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager from the menu.
  2. Expand the Display adapters menu in Device Manager.
  3. Right-click your graphics card in the list and select Uninstall device.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to remove the drivers.
  5. Restart your PC.
  6. When your PC boots back up, open Device Manager.
  7. Click the Action menu at the top and select Scan for hardware changes. This should find your graphics card and install the required drivers for you.
Uninstall a device in Windows 10

Alternatively, you can download the required drivers from your graphics card manufacturer’s website. Manufacturers like Intel, AMD, and Nvidia all have their graphics card drivers available to download on their websites.

4. Use System Restore

Use System Restore on Windows 10

If you see the “video dxgkrnl fatal error” after you made a change to your PC, that change might be the culprit. In this case, you can roll back to a restore point which will revert all your changes up to the creation date of that point.

You can use System Restore on your Windows PC to roll back to a specific point, and you can learn more in our guide on how to reset a Windows PC or use System Restore.

5. Turn Off Fast Startup

Fast startup in Windows allows your PC to boot up at a faster rate. While this is usually handy, it can sometimes cause issues with other elements on your PC.

Fortunately, it's really easy to disable Fast Startup and see if it's causing the problem. Check out what is Windows Fast Startup and how to disable it for more instructions.

6. Update Windows

Running an older version of Windows almost always guarantees to cause problems. Your “video dxgkrnl fatal error” could be the result of an outdated Windows system.

To fix this, visit the Settings app and update your Windows to the latest version.

For Windows 10:

  1. Make sure you’re connected to the internet.
  2. Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
  3. Click Update & Security on the Settings window.
  4. Select Windows Update from the left sidebar.
  5. Click Check for updates on the right pane.
  6. If you see any available updates, click Install now to install them.
  7. Restart your PC.
Update Windows 10

If the computer you're using runs Windows 11, then follow these steps:

  1. Open the Settings menu.
  2. Select Windows Update from the left side of the pane.
  3. On the right, click the Check for updates button.

If updates are available, it will automatically download and install them. After installing the updates, restart your computer.

7. Reset Windows

If you still haven’t been able to fix the “video dxgkrnl fatal error,” then it might be a good idea to reset your PC. This removes all your configured setting options and brings back the default values.

You’ll get the option to keep or remove your stored files when you begin to reset your PC.

For Windows 10:

  1. Open the Settings app by pressing Win + I.
  2. In Settings, click Update & Security at the bottom.
  3. Select Recovery from the left sidebar on the following screen.
  4. On the right pane, click Get started under the Reset this PC section.
    Reset Windows 10
  5. Select Keep my files if you’d like to reset your PC while keeping your files.
  6. Select Remove everything to remove all your files as well as settings.
  7. Finish the reset process.

In case you have Windows 11, follow these steps to reset the operating system.

  1. Right-click on Start and select Settings from the menu list.
  2. From the left pane, select System.
  3. Click Recovery on the right side of the window.
  4. Under Recovery options, click Reset PC.
    Reset Windows 11 PC
  5. If you want to reset your PC while keeping your files, select Keep my files.
  6. Then select Remove everything to delete all your files and settings.

There Are Many Ways to Fix the VIDEO DXGKRNL FATAL ERROR on Windows

If you ever get the “video dxgkrnl fatal error” on your Windows PC, do not panic. This issue is fixable in most cases, and all you basically need to do is apply some standard fixes. Our guide above should help you do just that.