IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL BSOD is a blue screen type error that prevents you from getting past the blue screen. Several users have reported that they were encountering this error code and are eager to know ways that can help overcome this issue.
What causes this Blue-Screen error?
As stated earlier, IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL occurs mainly when some of your device drivers have corrupted. Apart from this, pending Windows updates can also trigger similar BSOD Errors. In this post, we have discussed five working ways that should help users overcome this issue.
They are as follows – System Update, Remove corrupt device drivers, Uninstall Faulty Drivers, and Use System Restore point. You can use the last fix only if you have created a similar one in that post.
Ways to Solve IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL BSOD Error
If you are encountering a blue screen error “IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL” on your PC and don’t know how to tackle this issue, follow the below solutions one by one.
As soon as this error appears on your Display Screen, you can’t log in to your Windows normally. Enter into the Safe Mode and then attempt the below workarounds. If you have already tried a few fixes here and there, you may skip that and follow the next one.
- Check for Update
- Update faulty drivers
- Uninstall faulty drivers
- Use the previous System Restore point
1. Check for Pending Windows updates
BSOD error like IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL mostly occurs when your operating system has been outdated and you haven’t updated it for a long time. Assuming you have already booted into the Safe Mode, follow these easy steps –
- At first, Right-click on the Start icon and select Settings from the list.
- On the pop-up window, select Update & Security followed by Windows Update (left pane).
- Head over to ist adjacent right pane, and hit Check for Updates
- The system will begin searching for any available updates for your computer. If there is any pending update available for your device, the same starts downloading and installing automatically.
- In the end, you will see a prompt on the taskbar. This suggests that the update has already been installed and it is asking for permission to restart your PC.
- Reboot Windows, and when it loads again, check if the issue is resolved.
2. Update faulty drivers
Sometimes, an outdated device driver can also trigger a blue screen error on Windows 11 or 10 PC. Go and update all your device drivers one by one. Do note that the device drivers now receive updates via Windows Update as well under the name “Optional updates”. So, you may check there as well if Device Manager fails to search for any pending driver updates.
Here’s how to check for driver updates using Device Manager –
- Press the Win logo and X altogether to launch the Power menu and select Device Manager.
- Expand each section by clicking on its “>” sign and check if any contains a yellow exclamatory sign.
- Right-click on each driver and select the update driver option.
- When this prompts checking for an update online, click “Search automatically for drivers“.
- Wait for some time as your system is busy connecting to Microsoft or third-party servers and checking for pending updates online.
- If there is indeed any pending update, the system will download and install that on your computer. Otherwise, this will suggest you look for optional updates under Windows Update.
After you perform this task successfully, reboot your PC. Sign back into your device again and check if the problem is resolved now. If not, try the next set of solutions.
3. Uninstall faulty drivers
As per some user reviews, faulty drivers can also lead to this situation i.e. BSOD error. Remove any corrupt drivers that you installed recently. For this, you need to follow the below steps sequentially –
- Press the Window key & R altogether to launch Run.
- In-text box, type devmgmt.msc followed by the OK button, and the Device Manager launches.
- Expand each section and check if any particular driver bears any issue or has been corrupted somehow.
Note: You need to look for the Yellow exclamation mark next to a device driver’s name.
- When found, right-click on it then hit Uninstall to remove the same from System.
- A pop-up screen should appear asking if you want to “Delete the driver software for this device“.
- Well, click OK to confirm the recent changes.
At last, Reboot your system and check if the Blue Screen of Death issue has been resolved or not.
4. Try the previously created System Restore point
If your system is stuck with a blue screen on account of an “IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL” error, System Restore is the best way to overcome this trouble.
When some files like Settings, Registry, or applications get corrupted somehow this nuisance lights up. If that’s the case, the previous System Restore point may help to bring back your PC to a timeline where everything was working pretty well. Here is the complete stepwise procedure –
- First, right-click on Start Menu then select Run to open its command box.
- On the pop-up dialog, type rstrui.exe followed by OK to launch System Restore.
- Now, click on the Next button to proceed.
Moving forward, select one of the restore points that has been generated before the blue screen error occurrence.
- Click “Scan for affected programs” so that the system checks for its Genuity and malware inside it.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to finish this task.
- Once this is over, restart your PC.
This fix will solve the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL issue on your System. If you still have any queries related to this article, do ask us in the below comment section.
