IRQL-UNEXPECTED-VALUE

What it means

A related but distinct stop code from IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL — here a driver attempted to lower its interrupt request level improperly, or accessed something unexpected while running at an elevated one. Like its more common relative, it's almost always a driver issue, most often network adapter drivers specifically.

Also seen as: IRQL UNEXPECTED VALUE

Quick fix steps

1. Update your network adapter driver first — it's the most commonly implicated driver for this specific stop code, the same as for IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.
2. Update Windows fully: Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, since Microsoft periodically ships driver compatibility fixes through regular updates.
3. Boot into Safe Mode to check whether the crashes stop — if they do, a third-party driver is confirmed as the cause.
4. If nothing above resolves it, follow the same troubleshooting path as IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL — the underlying cause and fix process are close enough that our full guide on that stop code applies directly here too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this rarer than IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL?

Yes, noticeably rarer — but when it does occur, the underlying cause and fix path are close enough to its more common relative that the same troubleshooting approach applies effectively.

Does this always mean a network driver specifically?

Network drivers are the most commonly implicated, similar to IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, but other driver types can trigger it too — updating drivers broadly is still the sensible first step.

Other error codes