Are you witnessing the kernel security check failure in Windows 11? Many users have reported seeing this error message.
In this article, we’ll delve into the cause of this error and how to fix it.
What is Kernel security check failure in Windows 11?
The kernel security check failure is a blue screen of death error that indicates the Windows kernel has detected a violation of its security or integrity.
The kernel is the core component of the Windows operating system and manages several important functionalities such as memory, processes, drivers, and others.
There are situations when the kernel encounters a problem to such a degree that it cannot handle or recover from. In these rare situations, it crashes and you will see a blue screen with the message:
Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you.
Stop code: KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE
Occasionally, the error message also displays a file name or a driver name where the error is based.
Also read: How to fix Kernel Security Check Failure in Windows 10?
Possible reasons for Kernel security check failure in Windows 11
There are several reasons for kernel security check failure; the most common ones are as follows:
- Corrupted or missing system files: If some important core file has been missing or has been corrupted, the kernel may be unable to locate the file while processing properly.
- Incompatible or outdated drivers: If the drivers on your Windows system are incompatible or in conflict with each other or the operating system, it may cause conflict with the kernel, and it may crash or show errors.
- Faulty hardware: A computer system has a variety of hardware components such as RAM, hard drives, or graphics cards. If any of this hardware malfunctions or turns out to be defective, it may cause kernel error.
- Malware infection: If your PC has been infected by malware, you may see the kernel error.
Also read: What is kernel in Linux?
How to fix the kernel security check failure error?
Depending on the cause of the error, there are different solutions that you can try to fix it.
Here are some of the most effective ones:
Run System File Checker (SFC) scan
SFC scan, also known as System File Checker scan, is a built-in Windows utility that is designed to scan and repair corrupted or damaged system files.
Here’s how to perform an SFC scan:
Step 1: Press Windows Key + S to bring up the Cortana/Search box and search for Powershell. Open Windows Powershell from the search results.
Step 2: Type sfc /scannow to scan your system.
Step 3: If the SFC scan finds any problems, use the following command to resolve them:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Run a malware scan
You can download any standard anti-virus on your computer and perform a quick or detailed scan to detect any malicious programs.
Windows also provide an in-built virus detection software. Type Windows Security in the taskbar search space and then click on the software. Here, select Virus and threat protection and then run a full scan.
Update drivers
After you have run the SFC scan and malware scan, you should update drivers to fix kernel security check failure in Windows 11.
Here are the steps to do so:
Step 1: Open Settings and head to the Windows Update icon located at the bottom.
Step 2: In the Windows update section, go to Advanced options.
Step 3: Head to Optional Updates.
Step 4: Select the updates that you want to install and then click on Download and Install.
Perform a clean boot of your system
A clean boot, also known as a clean startup, is a troubleshooting technique used in Windows operating systems to diagnose and isolate software conflicts or issues. By performing a clean boot, you start your computer with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, allowing you to identify and resolve problems that may be caused by conflicting software or services.
Here’s how to perform a clean boot of your system:
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Type msconfig and press Enter. This will open the System Configuration utility.
Step 2: In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab.
Step 3: Check the box that says Hide all Microsoft services to prevent essential Windows services from being disabled. Click the Disable All button to disable all non-Microsoft services.
Step 4: Next, open the Task Manager. In the Task Manager, go to the Startup tab and disable all the listed startup programs by right-clicking on each one and selecting Disable.
Once you are done, close the Task Manager and go back to the System Configuration window. Click OK to apply the settings and then restart your computer.
Run Check Disk
Check Disk (CHKDSK) is another built-in tool that scans your disk drives and fixes any errors or bad sectors. This can help fix problems with your kernel that may cause the kernel security check failure error.
Check out our detailed article on how to run Check Disk.
Update Windows OS
Sometimes, the kernel security check failure error can be caused by a bug or a glitch in Windows 11 that has been fixed in a newer version.
Search Windows Update Settings in the search bar and then click on Update. In the screenshot above, you will see Restart Now option. This is because I have already downloaded the updates and after restarting my PC, the updates will install automatically.
By following the above steps, you will certainly resolve the kernel security check failure in Windows 11.
Also read: Fix: Driver power state failure Windows 11
