Solved: Driver_power_state_failure Error on Windows 2025

Driver_power_state_failure Error occurs when a device driver fails to handle power state transitions correctly, especially when your computer goes to sleep, hibernates, or restarts. For example, when your system tries to wake from sleep, a driver may not “wake up” correctly, leading Windows to force a crash to protect your data. It often displays the stop code 0x0000009F. Many users have reported encountering this issue after Windows update. Outdated or incompatible device drivers, incorrect power management settings, Corrupted system files, or Faulty hardware are some of the common reasons for this BSOD error. Whatever the reason, here we have few effective solutions to fix the Driver Power State Failure error on Windows PC.

What causes the DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE Error?

This error indicates a problem with driver power management, typically caused by outdated, corrupted, or incompatible drivers, or faulty external devices like USB drives.

• Outdated or Incompatible Drivers: Drivers are software that allow your system to communicate with hardware. If a driver is old or doesn’t work with your current operating system, it can cause power state issues.
• Faulty Hardware: Malfunctioning external devices, especially USB devices like external drives, are common culprits.
• Corrupted or Missing Driver Files: Essential driver files can become corrupted, leading to the error.
• Power Settings Misconfiguration: Incorrectly configured power settings can also interfere with proper device transitions into and out of power states.
• System File Corruption: A damaged operating system can indirectly cause driver-related problems.

Disconnect external peripherals and restart

External devices (USB drives, printers, webcams, docking stations, external HDDs) load their own drivers. If one of those drivers fails during a power transition (sleep/hibernate/restart), Windows can throw a Driver_Power_State_Failure BSOD.

• Shut down the PC completely.
• Disconnect all USB devices, external hard drives, printers, and other peripherals except mouse and keyboard.
• Start Windows. If it boots normally, reconnect devices one by one to identify the faulty hardware.
• When you identify the device, update or reinstall its driver

If your PC keeps restarting before you can troubleshoot, boot into Safe Mode, where only essential drivers load and allow you to apply the following solutions.

Update or reinstall device drivers

Device drivers enable communication between Windows and hardware. Outdated or corrupted drivers often fail to manage power state transitions correctly. Updated drivers come with bug fixes and compatibility improvements.

• Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
• Expand categories such as “Network adapters,” “Disk drives,” and “Universal Serial Bus controllers.”
• Right-click each device, choose Update driver, then select Search automatically for updated driver software.
• Restart the PC after updates.

Reinstall Drivers (if update fails):

• In Device Manager, right-click the driver and select Uninstall device.
• Check Delete the driver software for this device.
• Restart your computer, and Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.

Visit your PC or device manufacturer’s website (e.g., Intel, AMD, NVIDIA) to download the latest drivers.

If the error started after a driver update, use Device Manager to roll back to the previous version. This is particularly useful for graphics or network drivers.

Install the latest Windows updates

Microsoft regularly releases driver updates and patches for system stability. Installing the latest update may fix power management and driver conflicts that trigger this error.

• Press Win + I to open Settings.
• Go to Windows Update → Check for updates.
• Install all available updates (including optional driver updates).
• Restart your PC.

Modify Advanced Power Settings

Aggressive power-saving modes like Fast Startup, Sleep, or Hybrid mode may cause drivers to fail when resuming from sleep/hibernation. Adjusting power settings ensures stable driver performance.

• Press Win + R, type powercfg.cpl, and press Enter.
• Select your current power plan and click Change plan settings.
• Click Change advanced power settings.
• Expand PCI Express → Link State Power Management, set it to Off.
• Expand Wireless Adapter Settings → Power Saving Mode, set it to Maximum Performance.
• Click Apply and OK. Restart your PC.

Also, disable Fast Startup:

1. Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do.
2. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
3. Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended).
4. Save changes and restart.

Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM

Corrupted or missing system files can cause drivers to misbehave, leading to BSOD errors. Running SFC and DISM scans repairs system file integrity.

• Press Win + S, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.
• Type: sfc /scannow and press Enter. Wait until the scan completes and fixes any errors.
• Then type: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter. This repairs corrupted Windows image files.
• Wait for each to finish (DISM can take 10–20+ minutes) and restart the PC.

Roll Back Recently Updated Drivers

Sometimes a new driver update may be incompatible, causing the error. Rolling back restores the previous stable version.

• Open Device Manager.
• Right-click the device driver → Properties.
• Go to the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver.
• Restart your PC.

Again, Faulty hardware like a bad hard drive, RAM, or external device, can trigger power state failures. Press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter. Choose Restart now and check for problems. Let Windows Memory Diagnostic scan your RAM.

If the issue started after a recent change, System Restore can roll back your PC to a stable state. If nothing works, resetting Windows reinstalls the OS while keeping your files.

FAQ – Driver_Power_State_Failure in Windows 11

Q1: What causes the Driver_Power_State_Failure error in Windows 11?
A1: This error usually occurs due to outdated, incompatible, or faulty drivers, power management issues, corrupted system files, or occasionally hardware problems like bad RAM or hard drives.

Q2: Can updating Windows 11 fix this error?
A2: Yes. Updating Windows ensures that your system has the latest drivers and patches, which can resolve conflicts that trigger the Driver_Power_State_Failure BSOD.

Q3: Which drivers are most likely to cause this error?
A3: Common culprits include graphics card drivers, network adapters, storage controllers, and chipset drivers. Outdated or unstable versions can lead to BSODs during sleep, hibernation, or shutdown.

Q4: Is it safe to roll back a driver to fix this error?
A4: Yes. If a recent driver update caused instability, rolling back to a previous stable version is safe and often resolves the issue.

Q5: Will checking hardware help fix the error?
A5: Absolutely. Faulty hardware like RAM, SSD/HDD, or external USB devices can trigger this error. Running memory diagnostics or checking the hard drive for errors can help identify and fix the problem.

Q6: What if all these fixes don’t work?
A6: If the error persists, you can try System Restore to revert your PC to a stable state or perform a Windows 11 Reset, which reinstalls the OS while keeping personal files.