# How to Fix DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE in Windows 11

URL: https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-driver-power-state-failure-windows-11/
Published: 2026-07-26 | Author: Ankit Kumar
Tags: Windows 11, BSOD, Troubleshooting, Fix, Drivers
Summary: DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE blue screen when your PC sleeps or wakes? Fix the power-management settings and drivers behind it with these step-by-step fixes.
Recommended app: PC-Troubleshooter — https://www.mytechnician.tech/apps/windows-troubleshooter/ (Microsoft Store: https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9N7RWKW8SP24?hl=en-us&cid=mytechnician-web). Optional; every step below uses built-in Windows tools.

## The Problem
Your PC blue-screens with **DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE** (technical code 0x0000009F), almost always **going into sleep, waking from sleep, or shutting down**. A driver failed to respond when Windows asked it to change power state, so the kernel gave up waiting.

Wi-Fi adapters, graphics drivers, and SSD/NVMe controllers cause the overwhelming majority. Laptops see this far more than desktops.

> **PC won't sleep at all rather than crashing?** That's a different fix: [sleep and hibernation not working](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-sleep-hibernation-not-working-windows-11/). **Crashing at shutdown only?** See [Windows 11 not shutting down or restarting](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-windows-11-not-shutting-down-restarting/).

## Symptoms
* Blue screen reading **DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE** on lid close, sleep, or wake.
* Laptop is hot and the fan is running when you open the lid — it crashed inside the bag.
* Event Viewer shows **Kernel-Power** event 41 with a bugcheck code of `0x9f`.

## Step 1: Find the Driver That Stalled
1. Open **Event Viewer** → **Windows Logs** → **System** and open the **BugCheck** entry from the crash time.
2. Or read the filename on the blue screen itself: `Netwtw*.sys` (Intel Wi-Fi), `nvlddmkm.sys` (NVIDIA), `stornvme.sys` / `iaStorAC.sys` (storage), `usbxhci.sys` (USB controller).
3. Generate a power report for extra detail — in **Terminal (Admin)**:
   ```
   powercfg /energy /output C:\energy-report.html
   ```
   Open that file and read the **Errors** section.

## Step 2: Stop Windows Powering Down Your Network Adapter
This one setting fixes a large share of cases.

1. Right-click Start → **Device Manager** → expand **Network adapters**.
2. Right-click your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter → **Properties** → **Power Management** tab.
3. Untick **Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power** → **OK**.
4. Repeat for every network adapter, and for **USB Root Hub** entries under **Universal Serial Bus controllers**.

## Step 3: Update the Wi-Fi, Graphics, and Storage Drivers
1. Download drivers from the **laptop or motherboard manufacturer's support page** for your exact model — generic Windows Update versions are often the problem.
2. Install chipset first, then Wi-Fi, then graphics, then storage. Restart between them.
3. For graphics, remove the old driver cleanly: [clean install GPU drivers with DDU](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/clean-install-gpu-drivers-ddu-windows-11/).
4. Background reading: [how to update outdated drivers](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/how-to-update-outdated-drivers/).

## Step 4: Turn Off Fast Startup
Fast Startup mixes shutdown and hibernation, and drivers that mishandle it crash here.

1. **Control Panel** → **Power Options** → **Choose what the power buttons do**.
2. Click **Change settings that are currently unavailable**.
3. Untick **Turn on fast startup (recommended)** → **Save changes** → restart.

## Step 5: Reset the Power Plan to Defaults
1. Open **Terminal (Admin)** and run:
   ```
   powercfg -restoredefaultschemes
   ```
2. Then **Control Panel** → **Power Options** → **Change plan settings** → **Change advanced power settings**.
3. Set **PCI Express** → **Link State Power Management** to **Off**.
4. Set **Wireless Adapter Settings** → **Power Saving Mode** to **Maximum Performance**.
5. Apply and restart.

## Step 6: Update the BIOS and Chipset
Sleep and wake behaviour is largely firmware. On laptops especially, a BIOS update often fixes this outright.

1. Find your exact model on the manufacturer's support site.
2. Install the latest **BIOS/UEFI** and **chipset** package, following their instructions exactly.
3. Keep the laptop plugged in for the whole update.

## Step 7: Disable Hybrid Sleep and Test
1. **Control Panel** → **Power Options** → **Change plan settings** → **Change advanced power settings**.
2. Expand **Sleep** → set **Allow hybrid sleep** to **Off** and **Hibernate after** to **Never**.
3. Test sleep and wake several times. If it is now stable, reintroduce one setting at a time.

## Step 8: Repair System Files
1. In **Terminal (Admin)**:
   ```
   sfc /scannow
   ```
2. Then:
   ```
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   ```
3. Restart. See [repair Windows 11 with SFC and DISM](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/how-to-run-sfc-dism-repair-windows-11/).

## What Not to Do
* **Don't just disable sleep** and call it fixed — a laptop that never sleeps drains its battery and cooks in your bag. See [laptop battery draining fast](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-laptop-battery-draining-fast-windows-11/).
* **Don't install drivers from third-party updater apps.** Use the manufacturer's page.
* **Don't skip the BIOS update** on a laptop. It is the single most effective fix for power-state bugs.

## Still Not Working?
If crashes continue with defaults, current drivers, and updated firmware, suspect the SSD — failing NVMe drives stall on power transitions. Check it with [SSD and hard drive health](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/check-ssd-hard-drive-health-windows-11/), then consider [reinstalling Windows without losing data](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/reinstall-windows-without-losing-data/).

Related stop codes: [IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-irql-not-less-or-equal-windows-11/), [DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-dpc-watchdog-violation-windows-11/), and [SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-system-service-exception-windows-11/).

---
Source: https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-driver-power-state-failure-windows-11/ — My Technician, free Windows 10/11 troubleshooting guides.
Related tool: PC-Troubleshooter (PC-Troubleshooter is a system diagnostic and repair tool for Windows 10 and Windows 11—hardware, drivers, network, and common fixes in one app.) — https://www.mytechnician.tech/apps/windows-troubleshooter/
More guides: https://www.mytechnician.tech/llms.txt