CRITICAL PROCESS DIED on Windows 11: Solved 6 ways

User Case: CRITICAL PROCESS DIED Windows 11 Cannot Boot

Are you experiencing this blue screen problem like the above user: CRITICAL PROCESS DIED. This is a fatal system error that can cause a system crash. Blue screen of death (BSOD) errors are some of the most troublesome problems you may encounter on your computer and they are the most difficult to fix.

BSOD Error: CRITICAL PROCESS DIED Windows 11 Fix

Don't panic when you encounter a CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED problem on Windows 11. You can first learn about what might be causing this problem in this article. Then we also provide some ways you can solve this problem. You can try them one by one to bring your computer back to normal.

Note: Before starting the following fixes, it is recommended that you backup your important files to avoid data loss in case of an accident.

Way 1: Enable Safe Mode to boot OS🔥

Way 2. Run Troubleshooter Tool for Hardware and Device Issues🔥

Way 3. Update/Reinstall the Outdated/Corrupted Driver🔥

Way 4. Run SFC And DISM Command to Scan Errors

Way 5. Scan and Remove Viruses or Malware

Way 6. Run System Restore

Way 1. Enable Safe Mode to boot OS

Many users report that they may not be able to boot Windows when they encounter this blue screen error, which will prevent you from troubleshooting in normal mode. In this case, you will need to boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode and then access the required tools. (If you can boot your PC normally after the CRITICAL PROCESS DIED error, skip this step.)

While your computer is booting, press and hold the power button for a few seconds until your computer restarts. Interrupt the startup process three times in a row and Windows will greet you with the Startup Repair screen.

Click Advanced options -> Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Startup Settings -> Restart. Then press 4 or F4 on your keyboard to restart your PC in Safe Mode.

Way 2. Run Troubleshooter Tool for Hardware and Device Issues

Before we move on to more complex solutions, let's start with the simplest solution. Windows now includes a wide range of dedicated troubleshooting tools. One of them is designed for hardware and device issues.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog. Type in msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and press Enter.

2. Then click Next to run the troubleshooter, follow the on-screen instructions and select the relevant response when prompted to complete the troubleshooting process.

3. If any problems are detected and fixed, please check if the Windows 11 "CRITICAL PROCESS DIED" error has been resolved.

Way 3. Update/Reinstall the Outdated/Corrupted Driver

The "CRITICAL PROCESS DIED" error on Windows 11 can also be caused by a corrupted driver or an outdated driver. In this case, you will have to reinstall or update the driver.

1. Press Windows + S to open the search box, enter Device Manager, and open the best match results.

2. Now, find any drivers with the yellow exclamation mark symbol. These drivers may be faulty and it is best to reinstall them. Right-click on the driver and select Uninstall device.

3. After uninstalling the driver and restarting the system, Windows will automatically install the most compatible driver to replace it. After installing the new driver, check if the error is fixed.

✨ Tip: If you cannot find a corrupted driver, then you may also be running outdated drivers that cause errors. In this case, you should update the driver. You can select Update driver in step 2.

Way 4. Run SFC And DISM Command to Scan Errors

SFC (System File Checker) scans to identify corrupt system files and replaces them with a cached copy of them. DISM (Deployment Image Services and Management) is an administrator-level command that will check and repair Windows images. The combination of the two will help fix the "CRITICAL PROCESS DIED" problem on Windows 11.

1. Use Windows + S to open the search bar, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.
2. In the command prompt character window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
3. Enter the following commands in turn, and press Enter to execute the commands respectively.

• Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
• Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
• Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Way 5. Scan and Remove Viruses or Malware

Stopping codes can be caused by malware on the system. Malware can change system files and processes and make them unusable. You can simply use Windows Defender to run a full system scan.

1. Search for Windows Security in the search box and click on the relevant search result to launch the application.

2. Click Virus & Threat Protection.

3. Next, click Scan options to view all available scans. Select the Full scan option and click the Scan Now button at the bottom to deeply scan your PC for viruses or malware.

Way 6. Run System Restore

If none of the above fixes work and you created System Restore Point on Windows 11 before the error CRITICAL PROCESS DIED occurred, you can run System Restore to restore your computer to normal. Running System Restore may uninstall recently added applications and change settings, but will not affect the files stored on your system.

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box. Type sysdm.cpl and press Enter to open the System Properties window.
2. Click System Restore under the System Protection tab. This action will open a new System Restore window on your Windows PC. Click Next on the screen.

3. Select the restore point you wish to restore from the list. You can click Scan for affected programs to see what changes will be made.

4. Then you need to confirm disks to restore and click Next.

5. Then you need to confirm your restore point. Click Finish to start the System Restore process.

Back-Up Your System in Advance - Get Rid of All BSOD Problems

Believe that the above five methods can get you out of CRITICAL PROCESS DIED on Windows 11. After you solve this problem, I recommend you to make regular backups of your system. AOMEI Backupper Standard is a free and versatile backup software that can help you do this easily.

After creating a system backup, you can still use it to create a bootable media. If you experience any blue screen of death issues again that prevents you from booting properly, you can use this tool to enter AOMEI Backkuper for system restore to quickly restore your system to a working state. This way, you don't have to go looking for a solution to every error.

Download this freeware on your computer and launch it.

To create a system backup, you just need to click Backup -> System Backup and select the destination to save your backup. This program will automatically select the system and boot partitions by default as the source.

Tip: If you want to create a regular system backup, click on Schedule in the Operation Summary window.
✨ Schedule Backup: It will automatically back up your system at regular intervals, such as Daily, Weekly or Monthly. (Event Triggers and USB plug-ins are available after upgrading). This way you can get the latest changes after a complete system backup and continuously protect your system.

Understanding the Critical Process Died Error and How to Prevent It

The "Critical Process Died" error is a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error that occurs when a critical system process fails to run correctly. This error can be triggered by various issues, including corrupted system files, outdated drivers, hardware failures, or malware infections.

How to Prevent the Critical Process Died Error:

1. Keep Your System Updated: Regularly install Windows updates to ensure your system files and drivers are up to date. Microsoft frequently releases patches that fix known issues and improve system stability.
2. Update Drivers: Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause system processes to fail. Use Device Manager to check for driver updates or visit the manufacturer's website to download the latest versions.
3. Run System File Checker (SFC): This built-in tool scans and repairs corrupted system files. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run sfc /scannow to initiate the scan.
4. Check for Hardware Issues: Faulty hardware, such as a failing hard drive or RAM, can lead to critical errors. Use tools like Windows Memory Diagnostic and CHKDSK to test your hardware for issues.
5. Use Antivirus Software: Malware can corrupt system files and cause critical errors. Ensure you have reliable antivirus software installed and regularly scan your system for threats.
6. Avoid Overclocking: Overclocking can push your system beyond its stable limits, leading to errors. If you're experiencing stability issues, revert to the default clock speeds.

By taking these preventive measures, you can reduce the risk of encountering the "Critical Process Died" error and maintain a stable and reliable Windows 11 system.

Common Causes of CRITICAL PROCESS DIED Error on Windows 11

CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED is one of the most common blue screens of death errors due to unexpected corruption of a critical Windows background process such as services.exe, winlogon.exe, or csrss.exe. Since these processes are critical to the overall device operation, Windows displays this error to protect the integrity of the operating system. We have listed some common causes that may cause this error: Corrupted System Files: When vital system files become damaged or go missing, it can lead to this critical error, causing your system to crash.

⚡Driver Issues: Outdated, corrupted, or incompatible drivers can interfere with essential processes, resulting in system instability.
⚡Malware or Viruses: Malicious software can attack and corrupt crucial system processes, leading to the "Critical Process Died" error.
⚡Hardware Failures: Faulty or failing hardware components, such as RAM or hard drives, can cause this error by disrupting essential system operations.
⚡Software Conflicts: Conflicts between installed software programs, especially those that interact closely with the operating system, can trigger critical errors.
⚡Overlack: For gamers who upgraded to Windows 11 for its enhanced gaming capabilities, overclocking can be a double-edged sword. This can lead to errors and instability, making it crucial to balance performance enhancements with system limitations.

Summary

The blue screen of death problem has always been a headache. When you encounter CRITICAL PROCESS DIED on Windows 11, do not worry, you can use the five methods provided in this article to bring your computer back to normal.

However, we cannot predict whether there will be other BSOD problems in the future, such as IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Error in Windows 11. Therefore, we recommend you make regular backups of your system. You can do this easily with the help of AOMEI Backupper. This way, when you encounter such problems again, you don't have to look for the corresponding solutions separately.