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0x00000116VIDEO_TDR_FAILUREStop codeWidely reported

VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE (0x116): what it means and how to fix it

By Gaurav Rawat · Updated Oct 2, 2026 · Checked against Microsoft documentation · How this page is made

Quick answer

VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE means your graphics driver stopped responding and Windows couldn't reset it, so it stopped the PC. The file named on the screen tells you which: nvlddmkm.sys is NVIDIA, atikmpag.sys or amdkmdag.sys is AMD, igdkmd64.sys is Intel. Do a clean install of the graphics driver first.

What it means

Windows watches the graphics card. If the GPU stops responding for a couple of seconds, Windows tries to reset the driver without crashing; you might see the screen flicker and a display driver stopped responding and has recovered message. That's Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR).

Bug check 0x116 means that reset failed. The driver didn't recover in time, so Windows had to stop.

The file name tells you whose driver

The blue screen usually lists What failed:

  • nvlddmkm.sys: NVIDIA graphics driver
  • atikmpag.sys or amdkmdag.sys: AMD graphics driver
  • igdkmd64.sys: Intel graphics driver

The cause isn't always the driver's code. A GPU that's overheating, overclocked or short of power stops responding too, and the driver gets the blame.

Common causes

  • A corrupted or buggy graphics driver.
  • A GPU overclock, or factory overclock settings that aren't stable.
  • The graphics card overheating.
  • Not enough power to the graphics card: a loose cable or an undersized power supply.
  • Two graphics drivers conflicting, for example after switching from AMD to NVIDIA.

How to fix it

Safest and most likely fixes first. Readers' answers to "Did this fix it?" reorder this list over time.

  1. Clean-install the graphics driver

    First step for any VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE.

    1. Download the latest driver for your exact graphics card from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel.
    2. Run the installer and choose the clean or factory-reset install option (NVIDIA: Custom > Perform a clean installation; AMD: Factory Reset).
    3. Restart when it finishes.
    4. If the newest driver crashes, try the previous version instead.
    Did this fix it?

  2. Remove GPU overclocks

    If you've used MSI Afterburner or similar, or the card is factory-overclocked.

    1. Reset the clocks to default in your tuning tool, then close it and stop it starting with Windows.
    2. Check the PC for a few days at stock settings.
    Did this fix it?

  3. Check heat and power

    If the crash happens after a few minutes of gaming.

    1. Clean dust from the graphics card's fans and the case vents.
    2. Make sure every power connector on the graphics card is fully seated, using separate cables from the power supply if possible.
    3. Compare your power supply's wattage with the graphics card maker's recommendation.
    Did this fix it?

  4. Remove the update that started it

    If the blue screens began right after a Windows or driver update.

    1. Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history and note what installed the day the crashes started.
    2. For a Windows update, scroll to Related settings > Uninstall updates and uninstall it.
    3. For a driver, open Device Manager, right-click the device, choose Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver.
    4. Restart and see whether the crashes stop.
    Did this fix it?

Is it just you?

25+ Microsoft Q&A threads discuss this. Most recent activity:

Checked Oct 2, 2026. Refreshed automatically every few days.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What is nvlddmkm.sys in VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE?

It's the NVIDIA graphics driver. The blue screen names it because that driver stopped responding.

Is VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE a graphics card failure?

Usually not. Drivers, overclocks, heat and power cause it far more often than a dead card.

Why does VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE happen in games?

Games push the graphics card hardest, so heat, power or stability problems show up there first.

Written by

Gaurav Rawat

Gaurav Rawat is a full-stack developer from Jaipur with a B.Tech in Information Technology. At PC Decoder, he writes practical guides on Windows 11 updates, error codes, and fixes for apps that stop working after an update, with an emphasis on clear steps that actually solve the problem.

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