# How to Fix KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE in Windows 11

URL: https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-kernel-security-check-failure-windows-11/
Published: 2026-06-22 | Author: Ankit Kumar
Tags: Windows 11, BSOD, Troubleshooting, Fix
Summary: KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE blue screen on Windows 11? Fix this BSOD by updating drivers, testing RAM, and repairing system files — step by step.
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 the stop code **KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE**. It might happen while gaming, waking from sleep, plugging in a USB device, or seemingly at random.

This stop code means a kernel-level integrity check failed — Windows found that a critical data structure was corrupted. In practice, the cause is almost always one of three things: an **incompatible or outdated driver**, **failing RAM**, or **corrupted system files**. Old drivers written before Windows 11's stricter memory-integrity enforcement are the single most common trigger.

## Quick Checks Before You Start
1. **Did you just install new hardware or a peripheral?** Unplug it and see if the crashes stop.
2. **Did the crashes start after a specific program install?** Especially VPNs, antivirus tools, or anything with its own driver — uninstall it first.
3. **Crashing before you can do anything?** Boot into safe mode: [how to enter Safe Mode in Windows 11](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/how-to-enter-safe-mode-windows-11/).

## Step 1: Find the Failing Driver
Windows usually logs which driver caused the crash.

1. Press `Win + R`, type `eventvwr.msc`, press Enter.
2. Go to **Windows Logs** > **System** and look for **Error** or **Critical** entries at the crash time. A BugCheck entry (Event ID 1001) may name a `.sys` file.
3. Search that filename online — it maps to a specific driver (e.g., `nvlddmkm.sys` = NVIDIA graphics, `netwtw*.sys` = Intel Wi-Fi).
4. Update that driver from the manufacturer's website, or if the crashes began after updating it, roll it back in **Device Manager** > right-click device > **Properties** > **Driver** > **Roll Back Driver**.

No obvious culprit? Update the big three anyway: **graphics**, **chipset**, and **network** drivers. See [how to update outdated drivers](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/how-to-update-outdated-drivers/).

## Step 2: Repair System Files
1. Right-click Start > **Terminal (Admin)**.
2. Run:
   ```
   sfc /scannow
   ```
3. Then:
   ```
   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   ```
4. Restart. Full walkthrough: [repair Windows 11 system files with SFC and DISM](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/how-to-run-sfc-dism-repair-windows-11/).

## Step 3: Test Your RAM
Kernel structures live in RAM — a failing stick corrupts them and triggers this exact stop code.

1. Press `Win + R`, type `mdsched.exe`, press Enter, and choose **Restart now and check for problems**.
2. Let both passes finish and check the result notification after reboot.
3. If errors appear, or crashes continue despite a clean result, run **MemTest86** from a USB stick overnight — it's far more thorough.
4. Disable any XMP/EXPO memory profile in BIOS while testing; unstable profiles cause this stop code even on healthy RAM.

The related [MEMORY_MANAGEMENT blue screen guide](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-memory-management-bsod-windows-11/) covers RAM isolation in more detail.

## Step 4: Check the Disk
1. In **Terminal (Admin)**, run:
   ```
   chkdsk C: /f /r
   ```
   Confirm with `Y` to schedule it on next restart, then reboot and let it complete.
2. Verify overall drive health with [check SSD and hard drive health](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/check-ssd-hard-drive-health-windows-11/).

## Step 5: Uninstall Recent Updates or Roll Back
If the crashes began right after a Windows update:

1. Open **Settings** > **Windows Update** > **Update history** > **Uninstall updates**.
2. Remove the most recent quality update and restart.
3. The full rollback procedure — including uninstalling a bad feature update — is in [fix Windows 11 after a bad update](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-windows-11-after-bad-update-rollback/).

If nothing above stops the crashes, back up your files and do a repair install: [reinstall Windows without losing data](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/reinstall-windows-without-losing-data/).

**Different stop code?** See the general [blue screen troubleshooting guide](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/how-to-fix-bsod-blue-screen/), or the specific guides for [DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-dpc-watchdog-violation-windows-11/) and [VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE](https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-video-tdr-failure-windows-11/).

---
Source: https://www.mytechnician.tech/tips/fix-kernel-security-check-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