How to Fix Critical Process Died Error in Windows 11,10

Critical process died, also known as Blue of Screen of Death, is considered a fatal Windows error. It can ruin your experience as when it occurs, your PC stops working entirely and shows nothing but a blue screen.

There can be multiple reasons for encountering critical process errors, like recently upgrading your Windows or reinstalling it, etc. The worst part about this error is that it makes your PC slow and crash randomly, leaving no choice but to stop using it. This means all the unsaved data is wiped, which is another issue. 

In this post, let us discuss how fatal this error can be and how to fix it. 

Critical Process Died Error: How Fatal is it?

For those who keep running their PC even after sudden crashes, critical process died errors can be a death warrant as it practically makes the PC unusable. If you are aware of fatal errors on Windows, you might also be aware of system errors. Blue Screen of Death, also known as BSOD, is the result of a critical process died error. 

Reasons for Critical Process Died Error

1. Hardware failure caused due to disk drives and other CPU components.
2. Unnecessary changes in the data files of the Windows Operating System.
3. Bad sector on hard drives and other storage device issues.
4. Outdated/ Missing device drivers 
5. Overclocking PC for better performance.

These issues make the error a common occurrence. However, you need not panic as it is resolvable. Let’s take a look at some of the fixes that can help prevent it from occurring.

Ways to Fix Critical Process Died Errors on Windows

To be clear, let us take the primary example of Windows 11, as most users have complained about the error after upgrading. We will also discuss the same fixes for Windows 10 too. 

Fix 1 – Install the Latest Update for OS & Drivers

If your PC has started slowing down or keeps hanging, keeping your operating system and drivers updated is very important. To check for updates on Windows, follow the given instructions – 

1. Press Windows+I on your keyboard to open Windows Settings. 
2. Navigate to Windows Update from the left panel.   
3. There you will find a button that says Check for updates. Click on it.

Make sure you are connected to the internet while searching for updates. Even if there is a minor update, install it. These updates hold system driver updates, which means you can kill two birds with a stone. 

As far as updating your drivers is concerned, there are so many of them that manually updating each can take a complete day. Hence, the best way to update drivers and keep them updated is to use the best driver updater software for Windows. I use Advanced Driver Updater and recommend the same. The software is easy to use and does the job regularly, thanks to its scheduling feature.

Fix 2 – Run SFC & DISM to Spot & Filter Bad Sectors

DISM and SFC are commands that can help identify issues related to bad sectors or poor performance of the hard drive. Slow read and write speed, slow processing speeds, and loss of storage space are all symptoms of issues with your hard drive. If the issue is found in the C: drive where your Windows is installed, it can corrupt the system files. 

To use both these commands, all you have to do is – 

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator on your PC. Refer to screenshot below: 
• In the Command Prompt, enter sfc/ scannow command and press the Enter key. 
• Let the process end.
• When done, use the DISM command. 

For DISM, use the following commands simultaneously (hit enter after each command) in the command prompt.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthThis way, you can rectify PC issues. Keep in mind though these commands are reliable, they might not yield the best results if your system files are corrupt, as in the end, these are also system tools.

For an average user, the process seems complex. But if you use a PC optimization tool, you can do it quickly and effectively. 

Advanced System Optimizer has a dedicated module called Disk Tools. You can use it to optimize storage space, check for bad sectors, and more. Here’s how to use it – 

• Download the tool from the link given below.
  

  

• After installing, run the application. You will find multiple tools listed in the left panel.
  
  
• From there, choose Disk Cleaner and Optimizer Options.
  
• In the Disk options, you have various tools to check for Disk Errors use Disk Tools. In addition, you can use System Cleaner to clean junk files, Disk Optimizer to defrag the disk, Disk Explorer to manage files, and get rid of the oldest and largest files that you no longer use. Also, you can use other modules to clean up the PC.

These tools make scanning system files and keeping PC free from errors super easy. The best part is that the results are accurate and the PC tuneup tool is safe to use. 

Fix 3 – Uninstall the Problematic Applications Or  Restore to the Stable State

If the sudden restart or shutdown issues started after installing a particular application or tool, uninstall it immediately. It is possible that your PC cannot handle the application or the application is infected.

To uninstall the application, simply follow the steps – 

1. Press Windows+R to bring up the Run search.   
2. In the Run Search box, type Control and hit enter.   
3. Click on Uninstall a program to open the uninstaller. 
4. Let the Uninstaller fetch the list of installed applications. 
5. Remember the last date your PC worked fine and look for the applications installed after that.
6. Uninstall them one by one. 

However, if you don’t know which application might have caused the issue, perform a system restore to the last stable state of the PC. For that, you can follow the instruction – 

• In the Control Panel, change the display to large icons.
• Look for Recovery options and click on them to open.
• In Advanced Recovery tools, open system restore to find the restore points available.
• Follow the instructions of the system restore wizard, and it will soon lead you to the restored system with zero errors.

By using these restore points, you can gain your PC control and rectify the issues that may lead to Critical Process Died errors on Windows 11 and 10. 

Critical Process Died Error: Fixed!

Besides these three fixes, you can try running the Windows troubleshooter. However, since it is a system error, system tools might not function properly. Use these three fixes and let us know which one worked for you in the comments below. 

With that, we have reached the end of this post. I hope you found your solution to Critical Process Died Error on Windows 10, 11. With the help of Advanced System Optimizer, you can keep your PC optimized. Even if your PC is running fine, I recommend downloading it and using it because prevention is always better than cure!

Next Read : 5 Signs You Might Need a PC Upgrade