How to Fix irql_not_less_or_equal Errors in Windows 11? IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL is one of the more prevalent Windows stop codes. This cryptic-sounding name refers to an Interruption ReQuest Line (IRQL) used by PCs to notify occurrences that require immediate attention or response.
Fix irql_not_less_or_equal Errors in Windows 11
In actuality, IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL (also known as “IRQL”) is a memory-related error that happens when a system process or a device driver attempts to access a memory address for which it does not have appropriate access rights. Because process memory allocations typically have an upper bound address, the “NOT LESS OR EQUAL” component refers to an attempt to access an address that is outside (greater than) that boundary value. Instructions to Fix irql_not_less_or_equal Errors in Windows 11.
What Happens When the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Error Occurs?
This error causes an OS shutdown, which causes Windows to crash and results in a Blue Screen of Death, or BSOD. While collecting forensics data in the background, Windows shows a stop screen. When the collecting phase is complete, the PC reboots by default (unless you have altered the settings to instruct it to shut down instead). This BSOD serves as the story’s lead-in graphic.
Most Common Issues for IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Error
When this mistake occurs, there are various possible causes that should be investigated. Your best bet is to consider what has recently changed on your computer. Among the potential causes are:
1. Faulty hardware
When a device malfunctions or fails, you should see error reports in Reliability Monitor, which you can access by typing perfmon /rel in the Run box, at a command prompt, either in PowerShell.
When a device fails or malfunctions, the best thing you can do is detach it from the PC (however for critical devices like a mouse, keyboard, disc drive, and so on, you may also need to replace the ill item with a known good working instance).
2. Corrupt system files
These should be addressed with the DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth command (run at an administrative command prompt or in an administrative PowerShell session). If this command detects anything to report, clear things up with DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /restorehealth. Next, use SFC /SCANNOW to perform the system file checker until it reports nothing discovered or fixed (this may take 2 or 3 attempts). If it works, it will usually resolve the IRQL problem as well.
3. Incompatible device drivers
If you recently updated a driver, consider reverting to the previous version. This can be accomplished by opening the Device Manager (accessed by pressing Win + X), right-clicking on the device in issue, selecting Properties, heading to the Driver tab, and clicking the “Roll Back Driver” button. If the button is greyed out, you may need to manually uninstall the current driver and reinstall the old version.
4. Incomplete or Damaged Software Installation
When you’ve recently installed an app or update, look in Reliability Monitor for installation failure notifications (for updates and upgrades these will also appear in Update History) (for updates and upgrades these will also appear in Update History). In such circumstances, your best option is to uninstall the issue software and see whether the problem goes away.
How to Fix irql_not_less_or_equal Errors in Windows 11
In this post, I will discuss a few options for removing this problem from your Windows PC. These solutions are step-by-step instructions that are simple to grasp. To begin, disconnect all USB devices that are currently connected to your computer. These can include your printer, scanner, webcam, or external hard drive.
When your PC is scanning and installing a driver for a new USB device, the IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL error may display. That is why you must unplug all USB devices & restart your PC to see if the BSOD error persists.
Scenario #1:
If it has vanished, you have a problem with one of your USB devices. In this instance, you must connect USB devices to your computer one at a time to determine which one is causing the BSOD error.
Reinstall the driver for the USB device that caused the IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL BSOD problem once you’ve identified it. To download the most recent version of the driver, go to the official website rather than a third-party source. This will help you avoid making mistakes in the future.
Scenario #2:
If the BSOD error persists, you may have a problem with the installed drivers of internal hardware, such as a chipset, CPU, graphics card, or sound card. Then proceed to the following step to understand more about this situation.
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Method #1: Repair, Reinstall or Update Windows Drivers to Fix irql_not_less_or_equal Errors
If you attempted the above remedy (case #1), the issue still exists. Then one (or more) of your Windows PC’s drivers that are used by internal devices may be corrupted. You must fix, reinstall, or upgrade the driver in this scenario.
When you encounter the IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL issue on your PC, it will display a specific STOP error code, including such D1 or 0A. This will show you which file is causing this BSOD error by displaying the “D1” halt error code. However, if it shows the “0A” stop error number, Windows was unable to discover the cause of the problem.
In this instance, you can investigate the error using Windows System Log. Click the Start button -> Run -> type “see event logs” -> and select Event Viewer from the list to access Windows System Log.
Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Event Viewer is another way to access the Event Viewer tool. Select Windows Logs on the left, followed by System. Simply look for events with a red icon in the list of Windows events.
Click on it to learn more about the mistake and to find a suitable solution to solve it. For example, if it is a chipset driver issue, you can delete the old driver and install the new one.
If you don’t know how to determine the reason for the BSOD error using event details, right-click on that event, pick “Copy,” and then “Copy details as text.” Next, copy it into a.txt (Text file) and save it to your computer.
Next, go to Microsoft’s support forum and create a new topic to solicit assistance from Microsoft’s users. They will assist you in analysing the logs (Text file) and determining the reason for the error.
Note: Whether you recently upgraded or installed new hardware, such as a new graphics card or a new sound card, consider removing it and uninstalling the driver to see if it is the cause of the IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL BSOD issue.
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Method #2: Run Hardware Diagnostic To Check Your RAM
This issue can also occur if you have a problem with your RAM (Random Access Memory). You may fix it by checking your PC’s RAM and replacing it with a good one. Memory Diagnostic is a built-in utility in Windows that allows you to do memory diagnostics.
To launch the Memory Diagnostic tool, press Windows and input “memory diagnostic,” followed by Windows Memory Diagnostic from the list.
Begin by analysing your RAMs and replacing any damaged RAM sticks as soon as feasible.
Method #3: Restore or Reset Windows to Fix IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Error
If you have System Protection activated on your computer, you can use Windows System Restore to restore your Windows machine to earlier functioning points.
To reinstall Windows, right-click on the “My Computer” icon on the desktop and select Properties. Then, on the left, pick System Protection and then click the “System Restore” button. When your computer is still working properly, you will be able to select “prior points” in the next window. Simply select the point you wish to restore to.
Windows System Restore only works if it was enabled prior to the BSOD error. If System Protection is turned off, there is no backup to choose from.
Note: Simply launch Windows Update & check for new updates before applying them. It will immediately assist you in resolving this problem.
I hope this post has assisted you in resolving the IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL BSOD error on your Windows machine.
