How to fix
UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP BSOD
on Windows

Cannot fix UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP BSOD for a couple of weeks. It shows up randomly, usually after system's restart. Please provide fixes that I could try. Thanks!

UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP is a Windows 10 specific Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)[ref en-1] that is typically marked with an error code 0x0000007F. In some of the cases, it may be found as UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP_M, though both versions point out to the same problem - the failure of system's driver.

Although it may be triggered by hardware failure, driver's incompatibility is a more frequent trigger of a UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP error. The problem is that the error does not indicate the problematic driver, which is why we would recommend scanning the system with a powerful PC's optimization tool, such as [d1] to fix driver problems, registry errors, delete unwanted or malicious programs,[ref en-2] and other optimization-oriented tasks.

The UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP blue screen can denote the following system's files:

• wdf01000.sys
• win32kfull.sys
• usbxhci.sys
• nvlddmkm.sys
• ntfs.sys
• ndu.sys
• netio.sys

If the error you are getting points out to one of the above-listed files, make a research on the file to identify the software that it is related to. This way, you will narrow down the problem.

If, however, the BSOD does not contain a reference to a file, try to disable your anti-virus, especially if you are using ESET Smart Security, AVG, Avast, McAfee. Based on people's reports, the UNEXPECTED KERNEL MODE TRAP may occur due to a conflict of the anti-virus.

If a scan and disabling anti-virus did not help to fix UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP BSOD, try these fixes:

Update device drivers

If, for instance, the blue screen you get the point out to the nvlddmkm.sys file, it means that the problem is related to Hardware and Sound driver (typically Nvidia). Here's what you should do to update it:

• Right-click on Windows key and select Device Manager.
• Expand Display Adapters section.
• Right-click on NVIDIA driver and select Update driver.
• Select Search automatically for updated driver software and wait for the update process to be finished.

Remove overclock settings

If you get the UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP saying "overclocking has failed," try to remove all overclocking[ref en-3] settings.

For this purpose, you will have to enter BIOS settings and change the overclocking frequency or set it to auto.

Uninstall Windows Update

If the bug started occurring during system's restart after the installation of Windows updates, it might be that some of the update's components were corrupted during the installation process. Thus, you should remove the update and reinstall it.

• Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
• Open Update & Security section and click View installed update history.
• Select Uninstall updates.
• Once you get a list of installed updates, select the update that triggered UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP blue screen.
• Right-click on it and select Uninstall.

If that did not help, consider reinstalling the driver. For that, you should follow the guidelines given above, except that select Uninstall instead of Update. After that, re-open Device Manager and expand Actions tab. Select Scan for hardware changes. Alternatively, you can download the latest version of the driver from manufacturer's website.