How to Fix a Critical Process Died Windows 11 Error

This article explains how to get rid of the STOP code Critical Process Died warning and prevent it from being triggered again.

How to Fix the Critical Process Died Error

Here are the top solutions for the Windows 11 Critical Process Died alert. It's recommended that you work through these fixes in the order presented, as they’re listed from most effective and easiest to more advanced and intensive.

1. Check hardware connections. A loose cable can cause a Critical Process Died error on startup. Make sure the power cable, monitor, USB cord, and other cables are fully plugged in.

2. Remove new hardware. Connected devices can sometimes cause Windows 11 Critical Process Died error messages. Shutdown your PC, remove all connected devices, and then turn your computer on again. If you don’t get the error message, one of the removed devices is likely behind the issue.

3. Update your drivers. Make sure you have the latest drivers installed for your Windows 11 computer. If you disconnected some devices, reconnect them now and update their drivers. 

4. Update Windows 11. Performing a Windows update can increase device stability and install any needed security updates that can help prevent crashes.

5. Scan for viruses and malware. Once you’ve made sure you have installed the latest Windows security updates, perform a malware and virus scan to detect and remove any that have potentially affected your device.

   If you can’t get into Windows to run a virus scan, there are several bootable antivirus solutions that you can try.

6. Update your Windows games and apps. If you got Windows 11 Critical Process Died while gaming or using an app, they likely caused the crash. Update the software you used during the crash, check for updates for other apps and games, and restart your computer.

7. Get rid of Windows 11 junk files. Performing processes such as emptying the Recycle Bin, deleting temporary files, and running Disc Cleanup can help your computer run faster and potentially reduce the risk of a Windows 11 Critical Process Died crash from happening.

8. Free up some space. A lack of free space has been known to cause the STOP code Critical Process Died error message, so freeing up your storage space could stop this from happening again.

9. Run Startup Repair. If you’re not already looking at it, access the Windows 11 Advanced Startup Options screen and begin the Startup Repair tool. This feature will automatically scan and fix your computer for potential causes of the Critical Process Died error.

10. Run Windows troubleshooters. Open Settings and select System > Troubleshoot to perform a brief search for any problems that any of the above processes may have missed.

11. Open Command Prompt and then run the sfc /scannow command. This will activate a process that automatically scans your Windows 11 computer for damaged files and repair them.
    

12. Perform a system restore. If you keep getting the Windows 11 Critical Process Died on startup and suspect it happened after a recent app or operating system update, you can roll back the recent changes with a system restore.
    

    While a system restore won’t affect any saved files, the process could undo some app and operating system settings and preferences you’ve changed.

13. Reset your Windows 11 computer. If nothing else has worked, try resetting your computer with the Reset This PC feature. You can choose to either remove all your files and start fresh or keep all of your files and reinstall the important system files.

14. Reinstall Windows 11. As an absolute last resort, you can completely reinstall the Windows 11 operating system after trying all of the above. This essentially erases everything and returns your device to its as-new state.

What Is the Critical Process Died STOP Code?

The Critical Process Died STOP code is one of many error messages displayed on a STOP Error message screen, more commonly referred to as the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).

The STOP Error screen fills up the whole display and is usually accompanied by a message that says, “Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you.”

The Critical Process Died STOP code error message screen can’t be closed like a regular Windows 11 error message. Usually, you must wait for its processes to complete and for your device to restart automatically.

What Causes Critical Process Died Errors?

Windows 11 Critical Process Died error messages are usually triggered by:

• New hardware or software
• A data conflict
• Lack of sufficient free memory

Malware and viruses have also been known to cause the STOP code Critical Process Died error.