KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED: What It Means and How to Fix It

KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED is a Windows Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error, officially logged as bug check 0x0000001E. It means a kernel-mode program (often a driver) triggered an exception that Windows’ error handler couldn’t catch.

Common Causes

• Faulty or outdated device drivers — the most frequent cause, especially graphics, network, or storage drivers.
• Faulty RAM — memory corruption can trigger this exact error.
• Hardware incompatibility — newly installed hardware that isn’t fully compatible with your Windows version.
• Windows Fast Startup conflicts — occasionally interferes with a clean reload of the kernel and drivers.

How to Fix It

1. Check the crash details — Windows usually names the specific driver file involved (like a .sys file) in the error report, which tells you exactly what to update.
2. Update or roll back that driver — go to Device Manager, find the device, and either update the driver from the manufacturer’s site or roll back to a previous version if the issue started after an update.
3. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic — search for “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in the Start menu to check for faulty RAM.
4. Disable Fast Startup — go to Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do, and uncheck “Turn on fast startup.”
5. Run System File Checker — open Command Prompt as administrator and run sfc /scannow to repair corrupted system files.

If the Error Keeps Happening

Recurring KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED crashes, especially tied to the same driver, often point to a hardware problem (failing RAM or a incompatible component) rather than something software alone can fix — at that point, testing the specific hardware or consulting the manufacturer is the more reliable path.

Related: See Java error 1618 for another common Windows software error.

FAQ