How to Fix "Your Device Ran Into a Problem and Needs to Restart" on Windows 10/11

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Are you seeing the dreaded "Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart" error on your Windows 10 or 11 device? If so, you're not alone. This error can be caused by a number of issues, from outdated drivers to hardware malfunctions. In this guide, we'll walk you through several troubleshooting steps to get your PC back on track.

What Does the "Your Device Ran Into a Problem and Needs to Restart" Error Mean?

This error typically occurs when Windows encounters a critical issue, forcing it to crash and restart. It can happen after an update, driver installation, or even due to hardware problems. While frustrating, there are multiple ways to resolve it, so let’s dive into how you can fix it!

1. Restart in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a diagnostic startup mode that loads only the essential drivers and services. This can help you isolate whether the problem is caused by third-party software or hardware issues.

How to Boot into Safe Mode:

  1. Click on the Start menu and select Power.

  2. Hold down the Shift key and select Restart.

  3. Once your PC restarts, you will be presented with several options. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings and click Restart.

  4. After your PC restarts again, select 4 or press F4 to boot into Safe Mode.

Once you're in Safe Mode, check if the issue persists. If it doesn’t, it’s likely a software or driver problem.

2. Install Windows Updates

An outdated system could be causing the issue. Make sure your Windows is fully updated by following these steps:

How to Check for Updates:

  1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

  2. Click Check for updates.

  3. Install any pending updates and restart your PC.

Tip:

You may also want to enable automatic updates to ensure your system stays up to date in the future.

3. Update or Reinstall Drivers

Faulty or outdated drivers—especially display or network drivers—can often cause system crashes. Here’s how to fix this:

How to Update Drivers:

  1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.

  2. Right-click on any device with a yellow triangle (usually under Display adapters or Network adapters) and select Update driver.

  3. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

Alternatively, uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers can help:

  1. Right-click the device in Device Manager and select Uninstall device.

  2. Restart your PC, and Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver automatically.

4. Run System File Checker (SFC)

Corrupted system files can also be the culprit. The System File Checker tool scans your system for errors and repairs them automatically.

How to Run SFC:

  1. Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin).

  2. Type the following command and press Enter:

    bash
    sfc /scannow

  3. Wait for the scan to complete, and follow any on-screen instructions to fix issues.

5. Check for Disk Errors (CHKDSK)

A corrupted disk can cause a range of problems, including crashes. You can use the CHKDSK utility to check your disk for errors.

How to Run CHKDSK:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

  2. Type the following command and press Enter:

    bash
    chkdsk /f

  3. You may need to restart your PC for the scan to begin.

6. Use Windows Memory Diagnostic

Faulty RAM can lead to system instability and crashes. To check for memory issues, use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool.

How to Run Windows Memory Diagnostic:

  1. Press Windows + R, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter.

  2. Choose Restart now and check for problems.

  3. The system will reboot and scan the memory for issues.

7. Disable Fast Startup

Windows 10 and 11 feature a Fast Startup mode that can sometimes interfere with system stability. Disabling it might help resolve your problem.

How to Disable Fast Startup:

  1. Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.

  2. Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.

  3. Under Shutdown settings, uncheck Turn on fast startup and click Save changes.

8. Perform a System Restore

If the issue started after a recent update, driver installation, or software change, you might be able to resolve it by performing a System Restore.

How to Perform System Restore:

  1. Press Windows + R, type rstrui.exe, and press Enter.

  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your system to an earlier point.

9. Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot starts Windows with only the essential services, which can help identify if a third-party program is causing the problem.

How to Perform a Clean Boot:

  1. Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.

  2. Go to the Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services.

  3. Click Disable all and go to the Startup tab.

  4. Click Open Task Manager, and disable all startup items.

  5. Restart your computer.

10. Check for Hardware Issues

If none of the above solutions work, the problem might be hardware-related, such as failing RAM, a dying hard drive, or overheating. Here are a few things you can try:

  • Run CrystalDiskInfo or HD Tune to check your hard drive’s health.

  • Check for overheating issues by ensuring your PC is in a well-ventilated area.

  • If possible, test your RAM using diagnostic tools or replace it temporarily to see if the issue persists.




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