Windows BSOD errors are never a welcome sight. One particularly infamous blue screen crash is the dxgmms2.sys error, which usually occurs while gaming. Accompanied by a message like SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED or DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, the error is mostly the result of a malfunction of the graphics drivers or hardware.
However, it can also be due to other underlying issues. Fortunately, you can troubleshoot the error right at home using the fixes listed below.
1. Manage graphics drivers
The first course of action that you should take when dealing with the dxgmms2.sys blue screen is to make changes to your graphics drivers. If you don’t remember the last time your display drivers were updated, update them. The error may also appear after installing a new driver update recently. In this case, you should try to roll it back to a previous update.
There are two basic ways to manage your graphics drivers. If you are using a dedicated graphics card, it is recommended that you use companion software such as NVIDIA GeForce Experience or AMD Radeon Software, depending on your GPU. You can also manage all your drivers using Device Manager in Windows.
How to update graphics drivers via Device Manager
If you want to update your drivers using Windows, here’s how to do it:
- Journalism Win + R. To open the launch application.
- Here, type devmgmt.msc in the text field, and press Enter. This will open the Device Manager window.
- Search Display adapters section and expand it.
- Right-click your graphics driver, usually referred to as your GPU or manufacturer, and then click Driver Update.
- On the next screen, select File Automatically search for drivers Selection.
- Wait while Windows downloads and installs the latest driver.
- Click finish.
- Restart your computer.
How to roll back the previous driver version
Alternatively, if you think a recent driver update is causing you grief, here’s how to roll back your old drivers:
- open run command (Win + R.).
- Enters devmgmt.msc in the text box and press Enter to start device Manager.
- Again, expand Display adapters existing.
- Right-click on the display driver and click Properties.
- In the properties window, click Driver tab.
- Click on return driver button.
- Wait for Windows to install the previous version of the driver.
- Click Yes.
- Restart your computer.
2. Disable hardware acceleration
Another common cause of dxgmms2.sys error is the hardware acceleration feature in Windows 10 and 11. The hardware acceleration feature helps improve the performance of your PC, but you can disable it to see if the dxgmms2.sys error still persists.
You will have to edit the registry settings to disable hardware acceleration, so be sure to create a system restore point before moving forward.
- Journalism Win + R. To open the launch application.
- Write regedit in the text box and press Enter. You will need administrator privileges to make changes to the Windows registry.
- In the registry, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Avalon.Graphics Using the navigation pane on the left.
- Here, right-click on the empty space in the right pane, and go to New Value > DWORD (32-bit).
- Name the entry Disable HWA Acceleration.
- Now, double click on the newly created entry and under value dataWrite 1.
- Click Yes.
- Exit Registry Editor and restart your computer.
If the blue screen error still appears after this method, make sure to turn on hardware acceleration again by changing the value data in Disable HWA Acceleration Login to 0.
The dxgmms2.sys error is directly related to DirectX on Windows. In fact, the file name itself is the abbreviated form of DirectX Graphics MMS.
Therefore, one of the best ways to effectively diagnose the problem is to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool built into Windows:
- Run the Run command with a file Windows key + R. abbreviation.
- Write dxdiag in the dialog and press Enter. This will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
- Wait for the DirectX Diagnostic Tool to finish troubleshooting.
- Now, click Show tab in the window.
- check the Notes Section for any errors or conflicts.
- If you see an error in the section, Download DirectX Web Installer To reinstall the required components.
This should resolve the dxgmms2.sys error for many users. If it doesn’t, move on to the next step.
4. Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic Utility
In rare cases, a memory glitch or glitch can also cause the dxgmms2.sys blue screen to appear. Also in this case, Windows has a built-in utility that can effectively diagnose and solve problems. The tool is called Windows Memory Diagnostic.
- In the Start menu search bar, search for Windows Memory Diagnostic.
- A prompt will be displayed.
- Click on Reboot now and check for problems Option to restart your computer immediately.
- You can also choose a file Check for problems the next time I turn on my computer Option if you have unsaved work open on your computer.
- Windows will check for memory-related problems when the computer starts.
5. Update BIOS
Outdated BIOS can lead to many errors on your computer, one of which is dxgmms2.sys BSOD. It is a good idea to always keep your BIOS updated to the latest version.
While the methods for updating your computer’s BIOS may vary across different manufacturers, the general process looks like this:
- Visit the downloads section of your motherboard manufacturer’s website and download the latest BIOS version. Double-check the motherboard model on your computer before doing this.
- If the update came in the form of a ZIP or RAR file, extract its contents to a USB drive. Make sure there is nothing else on the USB drive.
- Now, click Begins then tap Energy Selection.
- while pressing convertsClick Restart.
- On the next screen, go to Troubleshooting > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Reboot.
- You will now have to navigate the BIOS menu of the motherboard until you find an option Update. Many motherboards allow you to flash the BIOS using a USB drive, so be sure to insert the USB drive.
While the above steps will give you a general outline, it is always a good idea to refer to your motherboard manual for specific instructions. Some manufacturers also provide a companion app that automatically updates the BIOS.
DXGMMS2.SYS Error, Now Fixed
The above methods will resolve dxgmms2.sys error for most of the users. However, a hardware error can also cause the error, in which case you will have to replace the GPU or RAM. There are many other signs that can tell you if it’s time to upgrade your GPU.
read the following
About the author