10 Fixes: Kmode Exception Not Handled Error on Windows

The Kmode Exception Not Handled is a type of system crash. Such crashes can happen when any Kernel Mode Program causes an exception and the error handler cannot recognize the error. In such a situation, your PC will show an error code and the system might not be able to reboot.

Moreover, the Kmode Exception Not Handled could lead to software shutdowns or, in other cases, a complete system crash. Fortunately, you can correct this error on your own by following just a couple of quick steps. In this article, we will be sharing 9 such methods to fix the Kmode exception not handled error.

kmode Exception Not Handled Error on Windows

Why Do You Get the “KMode Exception not Handled” Error?

The KMode Exception not handled error could arise due to several reasons. Some of them are stated below:

  • Faulty device drivers or outdated device drivers
  • Corrupt system files
  • RAM problems
  • Incompatible software programs
  • Any external hardware problem

How to Fix Kmode Exception Not Handled Error on Windows 10?

1. Disable Fast Startup And Boot Your PC

The Fast Startup does plenty of good but it can also be the reason behind a lot of errors. When you shut down your system, Windows clears the RAM and while doing the same, it resolves several issues that might arise while standard working operation. But, Fast Startup will allow you to quickly boot your system out of Hibernation and Sleep modes.

What this means is that your system will never close fully due to Fast Startup. All the problems that were there while shutting down Windows won’t exist after booting it back. You can disable Fast Startup and here are the steps to do the same:

Step 1. Open your system’s Control Panel

Step 2. Visit the “System and Security” option. Click “Power Options.”

Visit the “System and Security” option. Click “Power Options.”

Step 3. Select “Choose what power buttons do” from the left side menu.

Select “Choose what power buttons do” from the left side menu

Step 4. Navigate to the “Shutdown settings” to disable/uncheck the “Turn on Fast Setup” option. It might be greyed out. So, you need to click on “Change Settings that are currently unavailable” to make the Shutdown settings clickable.

click on “Change Settings that are currently unavailable” to make the Shutdown settings clickable.
Power Options System Settings

Step 5. Click on Save and restart your system. The reboot might take longer than usual but it will reduce the chances of reoccurrence of the Kmode exception error.

2. Network Drivers May Be Outdated

Driver issues might also give rise to the Kmode Exception Not Handled. If your drivers are outdated or incompatible with another driver in the system, this error might be thrown. However, if that is the case, Windows will let you know which driver is behind the problem.

Pay attention to what is written in the brackets after the Kmode Exception Not Handled error message. After identifying the driver, follow the steps given below to solve the issue:

Step 1. Click on the search icon beside the Start menu option on the toolbar. Type “Device Manager” in the search bar.

Step 2. In the Device Manager window, right-click on the driver name that you saw earlier with the error message. Right-click on it and select the “Update driver” option.

Step 2. In the Device Manager window, right-click on the driver name that you saw earlier with the error message. Right-click on it and select the “Update driver” option.

Step 3. Now, click on “Search automatically for updated driver software.” From then on, you need to follow the on-screen instructions. The procedure is usually different and depends on the specific driver being updated.

Check if the error is gone or not. If it doesn’t, check the driver manufacturer’s website for new driver updates and download the latest release. Now, manually update the drivers by selecting “Browse my computer for…” instead of choosing “Automatically search…” Then choose the downloaded file to perform the update. The manual update procedure takes up more time but has a higher chance of solving your error.

3. Diagnosing Memory Issues

The Kmode Exception Not Handled error message is mostly due to some memory issue in your system. However, Windows comes with an in-built utility that will help you solve several memory issues. Here’s how you can use it:

Step 1. Type in “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in the search bar beside the Start menu. Select the very first match that comes up.

Type in “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in the search bar beside the Start menu. Select the very first match that comes up.

Step 2. Save all your work beforehand. A dialog box will appear with two options: “Restart now and check for problems” and “Check for problems the next time I start my computer.”

“Restart now and check for problems” and “Check for problems the next time I start my computer.”

Step 3. Click on either of the two options as per your preference and the tool will scan your system for memory or RAM problems and resolve them.

Click on either of the two options as per your preference and the tool will scan your system for memory or RAM problems and resolve them.

4. Disable Your Antivirus Software

Antivirus software is often responsible for quarantining/deleting important system files. This might happen with pre-existing drivers or while installing their updates. So, you could try disabling it temporarily when you install the updates for your drivers or while downloading and installing any new software.

Find the icon of your antivirus near the notification bar on your toolbar. Right-click on it and select “Disable.” The disabling procedure might be different for different antivirus software. Check out the manual of your antivirus to know how to do the same.

Your system might still be getting the Kmode exception not handled error even after disabling the antivirus. The reason might be the in-built Windows Security that might flag certain safe software and files. So, you need to disable Windows Security. The following steps will tell you how:

Step 1. Type Windows Security in the search bar beside the Start menu icon. Select the very first result that comes up.

Step 2. Click “Virus and threat protection” in the dashboard.

Step 3. Select “Manage settings” and uncheck the “Real-time protection” option.

Note: Remember this is a temporary disabling procedure. After installing the driver/update or software, remember to turn on your Antivirus again otherwise, you might risk your computer getting compromised. Do check out our article on What is a Macro Virus and How Does It Work

5. Scan Your System

If the above ways haven’t solved the error yet, you could try doing a system scan to identify what the problem exactly is. First, open the Run menu, then enter cmd to open your Command Prompt. 

open the Run menu, then enter cmd to open your Command Prompt.

Now, type in sfc /scannow and press Enter. The scan will start and any problems with your system will be identified and corrected.

type in sfc /scannow and press Enter. The scan will start and any problems with your system will be identified and corrected.

This method could be a bit time-consuming. Once the system scan is finished, restart your computer. If the error doesn’t appear anymore, the scan has worked.

 6. Disconnect External Hardware

While booting or rebooting your PC, remove all sorts of external hardware that might be connected to your PC. The list of external hardware consists of your keyboard, mouse, storage device, video game controllers, and so on.

Check if the error reappears or not after booting. If your system is working normally and the error doesn’t show up, it means the drivers of your external devices have not been installed properly. You need to reinstall or update those drivers.

7. Free Up Your Drive

You might be getting the Kmode exception error because you have minimum or no more space left on your hard drive. You need to leave plenty of space in your C drive because it contains all the system files.

If your C drive becomes full, you will start facing many problems, mostly while downloading and installing the Windows updates.

Build a practice of installing video games in other partitions of your hard drive. Delete all unwanted and unused files from the C drive. Also, uninstall all obsolete programs installed in this drive.

Moreover, if you frequently run out of storage, you should upgrade your existing storage and get a larger drive.

8. Updating System BIOS and Related Settings

Although rare, still the Kmode exception not handled error may be due to your BIOS software becoming outdated. Update your BIOS via the following steps:

Step 1. Visit the motherboard manufacturer’s site and go to the downloads section. Then, select the motherboard you have.

Step 2. Download and install the latest BIOS update for your motherboard.

9. Hardware Compatibility

If you are facing the KMode exception error after upgrading your OS, it might be due to any new update of your OS version and some of your hardware devices being incompatible with it. In this case, check out any official Windows documentation to ensure that your system hardware is compatible with the new version of Windows OS.

10. Uninstall Faulty Software

It is also possible that the KMode Exception Not Handled error is due to your newly installed software being incompatible. Uninstall the new application and restart your PC to check if the error persists.

Final Words

The above methods will help eliminate the KMode Exception Not Handled error message. This isn’t that big of a problem but it might be annoying when you get it on your PC. Who wants to use a system that can crash anytime! If none of the given fixes work, then your final resort is to reset the Windows 10 operating system