How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10

This is a Blue Screen of Death error that is typically caused by two situations: either your CPU pushes an incoherent file to the kernel, or you have a fatal hardware failure. Driver incompatibility can also lead to this error. There are a few ways to troubleshoot and fix this error. Cleaning out dust from its hardware components is one way. But let’s look at the technical ways to go about things.

How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10

Restoro is powered by an online database that features the latest functional system files for Windows 10 PCs, allowing you to easily replace any elements that can cause a BSoD error.

This software can also help you by creating a restore point before starting the repairs, enabling you to easily restore the previous version of your system if something goes wrong.

This is how you can fix registry errors using Restoro:

  1. Download and install Restoro.
  2. Launch the application.
  3. Wait for the software to identify stability issues and possible corrupted files.
  4. Press Start Repair.
  5. Restart your PC for all the changes to take effect.

As soon as the fixing process is completed, your PC should work without problems, and you will not have to worry about BSoD errors or slow response times ever again.

⇒ Get Restoro


Disclaimer: This program needs to be upgraded from the free version in order to perform some specific actions.


2. Run the BSoD troubleshooter

  1. Open the Settings app, and go to the Update & Security section.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  2. Select Troubleshoot from the menu on the left followed by Additional troubleshooters on the right.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  3. Select BSOD from the right pane, and click on Run the troubleshooter.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting steps.

Windows’s own troubleshooting tool can be used for dealing with various system problems, including BSOD issues. So, it might help with the Unexpected Kernel Mode Trap in Windows 10/11 issue, as well.

3. Remove the problematic driver

  1. Go to the Start Menu, and click the Restart button while holding Shift on your keyboard.
  2. In Advanced Startup select Troubleshoot.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  3. Go to Advanced Options, and choose Startup Settings.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  4. Click on the Restart button.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  5. You should see an option to enter Safe Mode once the PC reboots. It is usually the F4 key.
  6. When you enter Safe Mode, go to Device Manager.
  7. Locate the problematic driver, right click and choose Uninstall.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10

This issue can be caused by all sorts of drivers, but some users claim to uninstall your Bluetooth, Wireless, & Intel RST(Intel Rapid Storage Technology).

We have to warn you that this issue can be caused by another driver, it doesn’t have to be related to Bluetooth or Wireless drivers, but they are often the main causes of this issue.

Searching for drivers on your own can be time-consuming. So, we advise you to use a tool that will do this for you automatically.

Using an automatic driver updater will certainly save you from the hassle of searching for drivers manually, and it will always keep your system up to date with the latest drivers.

A professional tool will help you update drivers automatically and prevent PC damage caused by installing the wrong driver versions.

⇒ Get DriverFix

4. Run the SFC scan

  1. Press Windows then type cmd and click the Run as administrator option from the right panel.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  2. Paste the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  3. Restart your PC once it’s done.

The SFC scan is another troubleshooter we’re going to try here. This is a command-line tool that scans your system for potentially broken files and repairs them (if possible).

Repairing corrupt system files can resolve BSOD issues like the UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP error. So, running the SFC scan is definitely worth trying.

Read more about this topic

  • UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP_M error on Windows 10/11
  • Fix: Kernel Security Check Failure BSOD Windows 11
  • Fix: ndu.sys BSoD error in Windows 10/11
  • Fix igdkmd32.sys blue screen failure in Windows 10/11
  • How to fix the Kernel mode heap corruption in Windows 10/11

5. Run the DISM scan

5.1 Standard way

  1. Tap Windows then type cmd into the search bar and select Run as administrator.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  2. Paste the following command and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  3. Wait until the scan is finished then restart your computer and try updating again.

5.2 With the Windows installation media

  1. Insert your Windows 10 installation media, or Windows 11 one.
  2. Tap Windows then input cmd into the search bar and select Run as administrator.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  3. In the command line, type the following commands and press Enter after each: Dism /Online /Cleanup-image /ScanHealth Dism /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth
  4. Now, type the following command and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:SourcesInstall.wim:1 /LimitAccess
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  5. Make sure to change an X value with the letter of the mounted drive with Windows installation.
  6. After the procedure is finished, restart your PC.

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a tool that re-deploys the system image all over again. This can resolve various issues, including BSOD errors.

6. Install the latest updates

  1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app, and navigate to the Update & security section.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  2. Now click on Check for updates button.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10

Windows will now check for available updates. If updates are available, Windows will download them in the background and install them.

If you’re getting a UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP error on your PC, you might be able to fix it by installing the latest updates, so be sure to try that.

7. Fix Unexpected Kernel Mode Trap using CHKDSK

The Unexpected Kernel Mode Trap error can be caused by corrupted files or hard drive failure. Therefore, running a CHKDSK scan to check your drives for errors should solve your problem.

1. Press the Windows Key + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin), or PowerShell (Admin). They are both command line tools and serve the same function.

How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10

2. Type the following command, and then press Enter: chkdsk /r c:

How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10

3. You’ll be asked to schedule disk checking the next time you restart your PC.

4. Enter Y and press Enter.

5. Restart your PC and your computer will automatically perform chkdsk scan.

6. After the scan is complete, check if the Unexpected Kernel Mode Trap error is gone.

Some users reported that the UNEXPECTED_KERNEL_MODE_TRAP error occurred while playing League of Legends.

According to them, you might be able to fix it on your PC simply by running a CHKDSK scan. This error can occur due to corrupted files on your hard drive, but you should be able to fix it by following the above steps.

Keep in mind that you might have to scan other drives on your PC besides C in order to fix this problem, so be sure to perform the task when needed.

8. Remove your graphics card driver

According to users, your graphics card driver can be the cause of this error. Several users reported this issue with the latest Nvidia drivers, and according to them, the solution is to revert to the older drivers.

To do that, simply remove the Nvidia driver from Device Manager. If you want to remove all files associated with your graphics card, check out our tutorial on how to use Display Driver Uninstaller.

After removing the driver, Windows will install the default driver once you restart your PC. Now check if the issue reappears with the default driver.

Keep in mind that Windows can sometimes update your driver automatically in the background causing the error to reappear.

However, you can easily prevent Windows from automatically updating certain drivers.

9. Reset Windows

  1. Press the Windows key + I then go to Update & Security from down the window.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  2. Click the Recovery option from the left pane, then, under Reset this PC, click Get started.
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
    How to fix unexpected kernel mode trap Windows 10
  3. Choose the Keep my files option and continue with the procedure.

After finishing the reset, you’ll have a fresh installation of Windows and your problem should be resolved.

If the problem still appears, you might have to reset your PC and choose to delete your files as well. This process will delete all files from your system drive, so be sure to back them up.

What does unexpected kernel mode trap mean?

About the “UNEXPECTED KERNEL MODE TRAP” error. This is a Blue Screen of Death error that is typically caused by two situations: either your CPU pushes an incoherent file to the kernel, or you have a fatal hardware failure. Driver incompatibility can also lead to this error.

What is kernel mode trap Windows 10?

The “UNEXPECTED KERNEL MODE TRAP” is a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) error that results in sudden crashing or freezing of the Windows. The stated error usually takes place whenever the CPU generates a trap, or a kernel fails to catch an exception.

What is kernel trap?

A trap changes the mode of an OS to a kernel routine. Here, the OS executes some actions and returns the control to the process it was executing before. During a trap, the execution of a process is set as a high priority compared to user code. Moreover, the trap handler is synchronous.

What is driver IRQL not less or equal?

The IRQL not less or equal blue screen of death might appear while booting a computer or when working with incompatible drivers. A third-party antivirus program might prevent a driver from doing its job, or CPU overclocking could be to blame.