How to Fix dxgmms2.sys Crash in Windows 11 While Gaming (2026 Fix)

If your PC has been crashing with a dxgmms2.sys blue screen while gaming, you’re not alone. This KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE error has plagued thousands of Windows 11 gamers since January 2026, causing black screens, green screens of death, and hard crashes — especially on NVIDIA GPUs. Microsoft confirmed the issue and released a fix in February 2026. Here’s how to resolve the dxgmms2.sys crash fix for gaming once and for all.

What Is the dxgmms2.sys Error?

The dxgmms2.sys file is a Windows system driver that handles DirectX graphics memory management. When it crashes, it means your GPU’s communication with Windows has broken down. In gaming, this typically manifests as:

• Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) with error code KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE
• Black screen during gameplay (screen goes dark, audio may continue briefly)
• Green screen of death on Windows Insider builds
• Hard system freeze requiring a power button restart

The crash is most common in DirectX 12 games and has been reported in titles like Genshin Impact, Cyberpunk 2077, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Call of Duty, CS2, and Fortnite.

What Caused This?

Microsoft’s January 2026 Windows 11 update introduced a regression in the DirectX memory management subsystem. The bug specifically interacted with:

• NVIDIA GPU configurations (most affected, though AMD users reported issues too)
• Kernel-mode Hardware-enforced Stack Protection — a security feature that conflicted with certain GPU drivers
• DirectX 12 memory bandwidth operations — games that heavily utilize GPU VRAM were hit hardest

This wasn’t a driver issue. It was a Windows kernel-level bug that no amount of driver updates could fix on their own.

Fix 1: Install the February 2026 Windows Update (Primary Fix)

Microsoft patched this in their February 10, 2026 Patch Tuesday release. This is the fix that works for most people.

Steps:

1. Open Settings > Windows Update
2. Click Check for updates
3. Look for KB5077181 (OS Builds 26200.7840 or 26100.7840)
4. Install the update and restart your PC
5. Test your game

Multiple independent testers confirmed this update resolves the dxgmms2.sys crash. If you’ve been avoiding Windows updates, this is the one to install.

Verify You Have the Update:

1. Press Win + R, type winver, press Enter
2. Your build should be 26200.7840 or higher
3. If it’s lower, the patch hasn’t installed — try running Windows Update again

Fix 2: Update Your GPU Drivers

Even after the Windows update, outdated GPU drivers can still trigger crashes. Here’s how to get clean, current drivers.

NVIDIA Users:

1. Open GeForce Experience or visit NVIDIA’s driver download page
2. Download the latest Game Ready Driver (February 2026 or newer)
3. Choose Custom Install > check Clean Installation
4. Restart your PC after installation

AMD Users:

1. Open AMD Adrenalin Software
2. Check for driver updates under Home > Driver & Software
3. Install the latest Recommended driver
4. Use Factory Reset option during install if crashes persist
5. Restart your PC

Intel Arc Users:

1. Visit Intel’s Arc driver page
2. Download the latest driver for your Arc GPU
3. Install and restart

Fix 3: Disable Kernel-mode Hardware-enforced Stack Protection

This Windows security feature was the primary trigger for the crash when combined with the January update bug. If you’re still crashing after updates:

1. Open Windows Security (search for it in the Start menu)
2. Go to Device Security > Core Isolation Details
3. Find Kernel-mode Hardware-enforced Stack Protection
4. Turn it off
5. Restart your PC

This disables a security layer, but it’s the confirmed workaround if the February patch alone doesn’t fix your crashes. You can re-enable it after a future Windows update addresses the compatibility issue fully.

Fix 4: Roll Back to a Previous Windows Update

If you can’t install KB5077181 for some reason, rolling back to a pre-January update state can help:

1. Open Settings > Windows Update > Update History
2. Scroll down and click Uninstall Updates
3. Find the January 2026 cumulative update
4. Click Uninstall
5. Restart and pause updates until you can install the February patch

This is a temporary fix. You’ll want the February update eventually for security reasons.

Fix 5: Verify Game File Integrity

Sometimes the crash corrupts game files. After applying the Windows and driver fixes:

Steam:

1. Right-click the game in your Library
2. Select Properties > Installed Files
3. Click Verify Integrity of Game Files

Epic Games:

1. Click the three dots next to the game
2. Select Manage > Verify

Xbox/Game Pass:

1. Right-click the game in your library
2. Select Manage > Repair

Additional Performance Improvements

The February 2026 patch didn’t just fix crashes. Benchmarks show approximately 2-5% better frame rate consistency in DirectX 12 titles after installing KB5077181. Games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Flight Simulator 2024 showed the most improvement, particularly in scenarios with heavy GPU memory bandwidth usage.

If you’re looking to squeeze more performance out of your setup, check out our PC optimization guide for tips on reducing input lag and improving frame times.

Preventing Future Crashes

To minimize your chances of hitting GPU-related crashes in the future:

• Keep Windows updated — Don’t skip Patch Tuesday updates, especially cumulative ones
• Use Game Ready drivers — These are tested with new game releases
• Monitor GPU temperatures — Use MSI Afterburner or HWMonitor. If your GPU hits 90C+, improve your case airflow
• Don’t overclock while troubleshooting — Return GPU to stock clocks to rule out instability
• Set a frame rate cap — Uncapped FPS pushes your GPU harder and can trigger driver timeouts

For a solid hardware foundation, check our gaming PC build guide for recommended components that play nicely with Windows 11.

The Bottom Line

The dxgmms2.sys crash was a Windows 11 kernel bug, not a GPU or game issue. Install KB5077181, update your drivers, and optionally disable Kernel-mode Hardware-enforced Stack Protection if crashes persist. The fix is confirmed, tested, and available now. Your gaming sessions should be crash-free again.

If you’re still crashing after all of these steps, the issue may be hardware-related (failing GPU, bad RAM, or overheating). Run a memory diagnostic (search “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in Start) and check your GPU temps during gameplay.