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HYPERVISOR_ERROR (0x20001) Blue Screen

Advanced Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 11

A crash tied to Windows' virtualization layer, not a single broken file — here's how to actually isolate the cause.

Before you start: save any open work and note down what you were doing when the problem started — that context helps if you need to search further or ask for help.
  1. Run the diagnostic toggle test first, before anything else: open an administrator Command Prompt and run bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off, then restart. This turns off the hypervisor entirely, so use the PC normally through whatever was previously triggering the crash. If the crashes stop, you've confirmed the hypervisor itself is the cause and the fixes below are worth working through. If crashes continue with the hypervisor off, the real cause is elsewhere (RAM, storage, a driver) and this specific error was a symptom, not the root problem. Re-enable anytime with bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto.
  2. If you run VMware Workstation, VirtualBox, or similar virtualization software, update it to the current version. Older versions of these tools competed with the Windows hypervisor rather than running on top of it, and a specific Windows update in mid-2026 (KB5089573) is documented to have triggered exactly this conflict — current releases (VMware Workstation 17.x+, VirtualBox 7.x+) are built to work alongside Hyper-V instead.
  3. Try turning off Memory Integrity as a diagnostic step: Windows Security > Device Security > Core Isolation > Memory Integrity, off, then restart. This is a real security feature, so treat disabling it as temporary troubleshooting, not a permanent fix — re-enable it once you've identified the actual cause.
  4. Update your BIOS/UEFI firmware and chipset or power management drivers from your PC or motherboard manufacturer's site. Outdated firmware misreporting virtualization support to Windows is a well-documented, specific cause of this exact error.
  5. If you don't actually use Hyper-V, virtual machines, or Windows Sandbox, disable the virtualization features entirely: Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off, uncheck Hyper-V, Windows Hypervisor Platform, and Virtual Machine Platform, then restart.
  6. Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to rule out corrupted system files as a contributing factor.
  7. If the crashes started right around a specific Windows update, check Settings > Windows Update > Update history for one installed at that time, and consider uninstalling it temporarily while a permanent fix rolls out.
Still not fixed? Send us the details and we'll help you dig further, or browse related guides in Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need virtualization software installed for this to happen?
Yes, typically — this error is specifically tied to a conflict involving Hyper-V, VMware, VirtualBox, or similar virtualization features, so it's uncommon on a PC that doesn't use any of them.
Will disabling Hyper-V affect anything else I use?
It can — some features like Windows Sandbox, certain Docker configurations, and Windows Subsystem for Linux depend on Hyper-V-related components, so it's worth confirming you don't rely on those before disabling it.

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