Fix: Windows 11 error Kmode Exception not Handled
- The Windows 11 error Kmode Exception not Handled indicates a conflict between your graphics card drivers.
- As a first solution, you can try reinstalling the faulty drivers.
- Alternatively, we advise you to disable early launch anti-malware protection.

A common occurrence of the Windows 11 error Kmode Exception not Handled is during the installation of the operating system or immediately after it.
Some users who have successfully installed Windows 11 have reported that they are unable to keep their PC operating for more than 2 minutes before getting a BSoD showing this error on their screen.
Follow along as we will show you how to troubleshoot the Kmode Exception not Handled error in Windows 11, right after we see what could have caused it in the first place.
What caused the Windows 11 error Kmode Exception not Handled?
We’ve put together a list of possible causes of this error, but keep in mind that your specific case might be rendered by others that we have not yet detected:
- Third-party antivirus – There is one antivirus suite that has been identified as a source of the problem but there may be others that have not yet been identified.
- Outdated BIOS – Another reason why you can expect to see this issue is a scenario with older BIOS firmware versions of your motherboard that triggered.
- System File corruption – It is also possible that system file corruption is responsible for the general system instability that results in the appearance of this error code in some conditions.
- Conflicting graphics card drivers – The likelihood that you’re dealing with conflicting drivers that are interfering with the installation of the new operating system is high if you encountered this type of issue while attempting to upgrade to Windows 11.
- Damaged physical RAM – The problem is usually caused by the inability of the malfunctioning RAM stick to keep up with the voltage that has been given to it. Taking out the faulty RAM stick and replacing it, or using only one RAM stick, is the only way to stop the crashes.
Now that you are more familiar with the potential causes of the Windows 11 error Kmode Exception not Handled, let’s jump into the list of solutions.
How can I fix the Kmode Exception not Handled error in Windows 11?
1. Uninstall Graphics drivers
- Start by right-clicking on the Start icon and tapping on Device Manager.
- Expand the Display adapters section and right-click on each option. Now click on Uninstall device as we have shown below.
- And at last, reboot your computer in order to reinstall the graphics drivers automatically. That’s it!
We’ve said it before, and we say it again: updating your drivers and taking care of them is really, really important. Thus, we recommend you DriverFix, a specialized tool that automatically updates and solves driver errors.
2. Disable early launch anti-malware protection
- Click on the Start menu icon from your Taskbar, then select the Power button.
- Press and hold the Shift key and click on the Restart option.
- Once you’re redirected to the blue screen below, you need to select Troubleshoot followed by Advanced options.
- Lastly, select Startup Repair and click on the Restart button.
- Now press the F8 key in order to disable early-launch anti-malware protection, after your computer has booted into the Startup Settings menu. That’s it!
Protecting your computer from malware and viruses is another important step in ensuring its sound functionality. ESET is a Slovak antivirus software tool that provides high-quality protection against computer threats, which we use and recommend to all of our readers.
3. Update your BIOS
- For this one, you will need to visit your motherboard manufactuer’s website. As an example we will head to Lenovo’s website and click on PC in order to find the updates needed.
- Then navigate to the Drivers & software section after locating your model and entering its number into the search bar, as we have shown below.
- Search for the latest BIOS update for your computer and download it. Note that you will need a flash drive for the following steps.
- Click on This PC followed by your flash drive in order to move the downloaded file as they instruct you on their wesite.
- Reboot your computer and keep pressing F2 or Del to enter the BIOS menu.
- Click on the BIOS update option then choose the downloaded file from your flash drive. Wait for the process to finish then continue with the rebooting process. That’s it!
For more information on BSoD errors, check out our post on what to do if you get a BSoD way too often and you don’t know exactly how to fix it.
As a bonus, you can read about how to fix the Kmode exception not handled error on Windows 10 & 11 in case you need more solutions as it addresses the same issue.
And lastly, take a look at our article on how to fix the dxgmms2.sys error in Windows 11 if you encounter this problem as well during a reboot.
Leave us a message in the comments section below and tell us which solution worked best for you. Thanks for reading!