Windows

How to Fix DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED on Windows 11/10

Learn effective solutions to resolve the DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED error and get back to gaming without interruptions on your Windows PC.

By Shivamm 3 min read
How to Fix DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED on Windows 11/10

The DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED error can abruptly end your gaming session on Windows 11 or 10. This DirectX-related issue often stems from graphics card driver problems or system instabilities. Let’s explore several methods to resolve this error and get you back to gaming smoothly.

Restart Your Graphics Adapter Driver

Step 1: Press the Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B simultaneously. This keyboard shortcut triggers a quick restart of your graphics driver without the need for a full system reboot.

Step 2: Your screen may flicker briefly, indicating the driver has restarted. Check if the error persists when you return to your game.

This quick fix often resolves temporary driver glitches. If the error continues, move on to more comprehensive solutions.

Update Your Graphics Drivers

Step 1: Open the Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting “Device Manager” from the menu.

Step 2: Expand the “Display adapters” category, right-click on your graphics card, and select “Update driver”.

Step 3: Choose “Search automatically for drivers” and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process.

If Windows doesn’t find a new driver, visit your graphics card manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) to download and install the latest driver manually.

For a clean installation:

Step 4: Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) from a trusted source.

Step 5: Boot your PC into Safe Mode, run DDU to remove all traces of your current graphics drivers, then restart your PC.

Step 6: Install the latest drivers downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.

Modify the Windows Registry

Adjusting the TDR (Timeout Detection and Recovery) settings in the Windows Registry can prevent premature driver timeouts.

Caution: Modifying the registry can cause system instability if done incorrectly. Create a backup of your registry before proceeding.

Step 1: Press Windows key + R, type “regedit”, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Step 2: Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers

Step 3: Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it “TdrLevel”.

Step 4: Double-click the new TdrLevel entry, set the Value data to 0, and click OK.

Step 5: Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

This modification disables the TDR feature, which can help prevent the DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED error in some cases.

Disable NVIDIA ShadowPlay

For NVIDIA users, the ShadowPlay feature can sometimes conflict with games and cause this error.

Step 1: Open NVIDIA GeForce Experience.

Step 2: Click on the Settings icon (gear) in the top-right corner.

Step 3: In the General tab, find the “In-Game Overlay” option and toggle it off.

Step 4: Restart your computer and test if the error persists in your games.

Adjust Anti-Aliasing Settings

Modifying anti-aliasing settings in your graphics control panel can sometimes resolve the DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED error.

For NVIDIA users:

Step 1: Right-click on your desktop and select “NVIDIA Control Panel”.

Step 2: Navigate to “Manage 3D settings” in the left panel.

Step 3: In the Global Settings tab, find “Antialiasing – FXAA” and set it to Off.

Step 4: Locate other Antialiasing settings and set them to “Application-controlled” or the lowest available option.

Step 5: Click Apply and restart your computer.

AMD users can follow a similar process in the AMD Radeon Software.

Check Your System’s RAM

Faulty RAM can cause various system errors, including DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED.

Step 1: Press Windows key + R, type “mdsched.exe”, and press Enter to open Windows Memory Diagnostic.

Step 2: Choose “Restart now and check for problems” to run a comprehensive memory test.

Step 3: Allow the test to complete. Your computer will restart automatically.

Step 4: After restart, check for test results in Event Viewer under Windows Logs > System, looking for MemoryDiagnostics-Results events.

If the test reveals memory issues, consider replacing the faulty RAM module(s).

By systematically applying these solutions, you should be able to resolve the DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED error and return to uninterrupted gaming. If the issue persists, consider seeking help from the game’s support forums or contacting your PC manufacturer for hardware-specific advice.