4 Best Fixes for Driver Power State Failure in Windows 11

The driver power state failure is a Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) error that can confuse many Windows 11 users. It causes random and reoccurring crashes. When the problem starts, you may not be able to use your computer continuously. So, it is essential to analyze the cause of the crashes.

Many Windows 11 users complained about the Driver Power State Failure error and having to restart their computer. In this guide, we point you to likely causes and show you practical solutions so you can enjoy uninterrupted device use.

What Causes Driver Power State Failure

Most users will get this Blue Screen of Death when the driver malfunctions due to power-related problems. Also, it might occur when your PC has a corrupt or damaged driver that can no longer communicate with the hardware it is supposed to control.

Additionally, driver power state failure may be triggered by faulty hardware. The reason is that a bad hardware component may no longer be compatible with the assigned driver, also leading to a driver’s invalid or inconsistent power state.

Sometimes, the Blue Screen of Death is caused because your computer goes to sleep while a connected device is still functional. Windows will assume there is a critical error if the connected device can not access your computer. Before we move on to solutions, you can perform two key checks to figure out a particular driver causing the problem.

Boot Into Safe Mode

When you run into the driver power state failure, frequent crashes may make it impossible to boot and use your computer normally. So, it’s a good idea to boot your Windows 11 PC into the Safe Mode to use it with limited drivers and services while disabling any third-party apps or services. This may eliminate the cause of the crash and keep your computer stable while you troubleshoot.

Check the System Log for Errors

Before troubleshooting, checking for errors in the System’s log is wise. This log is a record of all events on your computer. They are organized by date; you can find errors and possible causes. This tool is integral in knowing what troubleshooting steps to take. Here is how to use the event log to find errors:

Step 1: Click the Windows Search icon (magnifying lens), type event and select the Event Viewer application.

Step 2: Expand Windows Logs on the left pane, click the System option, then click ‘Filter Current Log…’ in the right pane.

Step 3: Select a time frame from the Logged option (ensure it covers when the crash occurred), tick the Error and Critical options, then click OK.

Step 4: Review the generated error list. Double-click on any error you suspect triggers the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) and use specific troubleshooting steps.

1. Update Windows

Updating the Windows operating system may provide you with the latest driver versions for your device. This will be a handy fix if an outdated driver causes the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD). You may use the steps below to update your Windows 11 computer.

Step 1: Press Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open the Settings app.

Step 2: Click Windows update on the left pane, then click the ‘Check for updates’ button on the right.

Step 3: If there are any updates, click Download & install. You may have to restart the computer to complete the installation.

2. Update or Rollback Drivers

Outdated drivers may no longer function well with your hardware, leading to an invalid or inconsistent power state; an update is required in such cases. Conversely, if you have downloaded a driver version incompatible with your hardware, it may go into an invalid or inconsistent power state. Rolling back the driver will fix the problem.

Step 1: Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.

Step 2: Expand any category with outdated drivers, right-click on your driver, and select update driver.

Step 3: Select ‘Search automatically for drivers’ and follow the prompts on the wizard to complete the process.

If you recently updated drivers before the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) occured, consider rolling them back.

Step 1: Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.

Step 2: Expand any category with the newly updated driver and double-click on your driver.

Step 3: Click the Driver tab and the ‘Roll Back Driver’ button if it is not greyed out.

Step 4: Select a reason for the rollback and click Yes.

3. Update the Power Plan On Your Windows Laptop

The power plan may control your computer’s hibernation or sleep mode. You should use plans that keep your computer active while peripheral devices are operational to avoid triggering critical error signals. Disabling sleep is a valid guard against the problem.

Step 1: Click the magnifying lens on the Taskbar, type power, and select ‘Edit power plan’.

Step 2: Select Never for both ‘Put the computer to sleep’ options and click the Save changes button.

4. Disable Fast Startup

Fast startup is beneficial on Windows devices since it reduces boot time. However, some drivers may not be correctly unloaded during the boot process, leading them to enter an invalid or inconsistent power state. Disabling Fast Startup prevents the computer from loading your drivers into memory at shutdown, forcing them to be correctly unloaded.

Avoiding Future Crashes

You may have sudden crashes on your computer for many reasons, and sometimes, fixing it may be tricky. Keeping Windows 11 updated helps to avoid such issues. Having updated drivers will reduce the chances of miscommunication between hardware and software components on your device. Lastly, please let us know which of the solutions worked for you.