How to Fix Ntoskrnl.Exe BSOD Blue Screen Error?

Since you are here, reading this post, it seems you’ve encountered a Blue Screen of Death due to Ntoskrnl.exe, But this error doesn’t occur suddenly. Before you face any error, specially BSOD, the system shows different symptoms like: 

• Lagging system performance 
• High CPU usage and overheating
• Random system restarts

If you ignore them, you will surely be a victim of BSOD error, or you may encounter “ntoskrnl.exe file is missing.”

But there’s nothing to worry about; it’s not something that cannot be handled. In this post, we will discuss how to fix the Ntoskrnl.exe BSOD error. 

P.S. If you are short of time and looking for a quick fix, we have a writer’s tip. 

Read More: Comprehensive review of Advanced System Optimizer. 

What is Ntoskrnl.exe

Ntoskrnl stands for NT Operating System Kernel, and it is an essential Windows component accountable for hardware abstraction, memory management, and other system services: 

It consists of: 

• Memory manager 
• Kernel 
• Cache manager 
• Scheduler, etc. 

As it is essential for Windows, when there’s a problem with this file, you face BSOD. 

What causes Ntoskrnl.exe? 

There’s no specific thing that we can pinpoint as the cause of Ntosknrl.exe. It can occur due to hardware or software related issues. But the factors that are responsible for it are:

1. Outdated device drivers

2. Faulty RAM 

3. RAM and local storage may be inadequate, this leading to slowing down the system

4. Overclocked devices 

5. Corrupt system files 

How to fix Ntoskrnl.exe BSOD error on Windows 10

Now that we know what can cause Ntoskrnl.exe BSOD error let’s learn how to resolve Ntoskrnl.exe.

Solution 1 – Update drivers

Outdated drivers can be updated via Device Manager, or we can use a Driver Updater for that. Since manual steps are more time consuming and not all can use it, we recommend using Advanced System Optimizer. 

Using its Driver Updater module, in no time, you can update all outdated drivers. To use it, follow the steps below:

1. Download, install, and launch Advanced System Optimizer. 

2. Click Windows Optimizers > Driver Updater

3. Scan the system for errors and then update all outdated drivers.

4. Once all the drivers are updated, restart the system to apply changes. 

You should now not face BSOD caused by Ntoskrnl.exe. However, if this does not help, let’s move to the next step.

Solution 2 – Use the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

Sometimes a faulty RAM can also cause BSOD error. To fix it, follow the steps below:

1. Close all running applications 

2. In the Windows search bar, type Windows Memory Diagnostic

3. Select it from the search result and select the Recommended option that reads, “Restart now and check for problems.

4. This will reboot the system and will scan for memory errors at boot time. Wait for the action to complete. 

5. Once done, log in to the system; you should no longer face the Ntoskrnl.exe problem.

Solution 3 – Run System File Checker

If your system files are corrupt, then too, you can face the Ntoskrnl.exe problem. To check if everything is fine, follow the steps below:

1. Press Windows + X

2. Select Windows PowerShell (Admin)

3. Here, type SFC \scannow

4. Wait for the action to complete

5. If there are any errors detected, they will be fixed. However, if you receive the message, some errors were not fixed, we suggest running the CHKDSK command. 

6. For this, you can use the Disk Tools module offered by Advanced System Optimizer. 

7. To use it, launch the tool and click Disk Cleaner & Optimizers > Disk Tools.

8. This will run the check the disk for issues. In addition to this, we suggest running Disk Optimizer too. 

However, if you want to do it manually, here you go. 

1. Open elevated Command Prompt

2. Now type CHKDSK /f /r and press the Enter key. 

3. You will be asked to confirm the action. Type Y and Enter

4. Wait for the scan to finish.

5. This will fix disk errors and will resolve BSOD related to NToskrnl.exe. 

Solution 4 – Scan the system for malware infections

Malware infections also cause BSOD errors. To check the system for malware threats, we suggest running an updated antivirus. However, if you don’t have one, you can use the System Protector offered by Advanced System Optimizer. To use it, follow the steps below:

1. Download, install, and launch Advanced System Optimizer.

2. Click Security & Privacy > System Protector

3. Perform Deep Scan and wait for it to finish

4. Fix all the errors and restart the system; this will help fix Ntokrnl errors.

Solution 5 – Update Windows operating system

Install Windows Updates. To do so, follow the steps below:

1. Press Windows + I

2. Click Update and Security 

3. Next select Windows Update > Check for Updates 

4. Wait for it to look for updates; if available, they will be installed. 

5. Now restart the system. 

Solution 6 – Check hardware

Sometimes due to failing RAM or corrupt hardware, you too can face BSOD error. To fix this, we suggest checking the RAM, cleaning them, and reinserting them. This should help fix BSOD errors. 

We hope using these steps; you can resolve the Ntoskrnl.exe BSOD error you encounter on your system. However, if you face any problems, let us know. We would also like to know which step worked for you, so please share the same in the comments box. 

FAQ – 

Is Ntoskrnl.exe a virus?

Ntoskrnl.exe is neither a virus nor malware. It is a legit kernel image file and is a software component of Microsoft Windows. We do not recommend removing it.

How do I fix Ntoskrnl.exe?

To fix Ntoskrnl.exe, we suggest performing the following actions:

• Updating drivers 
• Scanning the system using Windows Diagnostic Tool 
• Checking system file for errors
• Installing Windows updates and more

To learn how to perform all these actions, read how to fix the Ntoskrnl.exe error.

Can I stop Ntoskrnl.exe?

Unless it is a virus, we do not recommend stopping the Ntoskrnl.exe process.

How do I fix Ntoskrnl.exe high memory usage Windows 10?

To fix High Memory usage caused by Ntoskrnl.exe, we suggest scanning the malware system, updating drivers, windows, and checking for system file errors. This will help fix the high CPU consumption.