If your PC crashes to a blue screen showing “Driver Power State Failure,” you are dealing with one of the most common Windows 11 crashes. It usually happens right when you wake your PC from sleep, or after it has been sitting idle for a while. Here is exactly what causes it and how to fix it, starting with the easiest steps first.
Quick Answer
- The error code is DRIVER_POWER_STATE_FAILURE, stop code 0x0000009F
- It means a driver did not respond correctly when Windows tried to change power states, like going to sleep or waking up
- The most common causes are outdated drivers, especially graphics and USB device drivers
- Start by disconnecting USB devices and updating your graphics driver
- If that does not work, disable USB Selective Suspend and Fast Startup
What Causes Driver Power State Failure
This error happens when a driver on your PC fails to properly handle a change in power state, most often around sleep, hibernation, or waking up. Windows waits for the driver to respond, and when it does not, Windows crashes on purpose rather than risk damaging your data.
On Windows 11 specifically, the most common culprits are:
- USB devices, like Wi-Fi adapters, webcams, or external audio devices
- Graphics drivers, especially NVIDIA drivers
- Outdated or corrupted drivers for network, storage, or Bluetooth hardware
- Power management settings that are misconfigured
- Fast Startup, a Windows feature that can sometimes interfere with drivers during boot
Fix 1: Disconnect USB Devices and Restart
Start here, since it takes seconds and helps you figure out if a connected device is the cause.
- Shut down your PC completely
- Disconnect all external USB devices, keyboard and mouse included if you are using a laptop with a built-in keyboard
- Restart your PC and use it normally for a while
- If the crash does not happen again, reconnect your devices one at a time to figure out which one is causing it
Fix 2: Update Your Graphics Driver
Outdated graphics drivers are one of the most common causes of this specific error.
- Right-click the Start button and open Device Manager
- Expand Display adapters
- Right-click your graphics card and select Update driver
- Choose Search automatically for drivers
- If Windows does not find a newer version, go directly to your graphics card manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest driver from there
Fix 3: Check Device Manager for Driver Problems
- Press Windows key + X, then select Device Manager
- Look through the list for any device with a yellow warning icon
- Right-click that device and choose Update driver
- If updating does not help, right-click the same device and choose Roll back driver, if that option is available
Fix 4: Disable USB Selective Suspend
This Windows power-saving feature is a common trigger for this error.
- Open Control Panel
- Go to Power Options
- Click Change plan settings next to your active power plan
- Click Change advanced power settings
- Expand USB settings, then expand USB selective suspend setting
- Set both On battery and Plugged in to Disabled
- Click Apply, then restart your PC
Fix 5: Turn Off Fast Startup
- Open Control Panel
- Go to Power Options
- Click Choose what the power button does
- Click Change settings that are currently unavailable
- Uncheck Turn on fast startup
- Click Save changes
Fix 6: Run System File Checks
Corrupted system files can also trigger this error. This fix checks for and repairs them.
- Search for Command Prompt, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator
- Type
sfc /scannowand press Enter, then wait for it to finish - Type
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealthand press Enter - Restart your PC once both scans are complete
Fix 7: Install Pending Windows Updates
Microsoft regularly patches driver-related issues through Windows updates.
- Go to Settings
- Click Windows Update
- Click Check for updates
- Install anything available, then restart your PC
If Nothing Above Works
If you have tried all of these and the crashes continue, it is worth checking whether your PC is overheating, since that can also cause driver crashes under load. It is also worth backing up your important files at this point, just as a precaution, in case the issue points to a failing piece of hardware rather than a driver problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Driver Power State Failure mean?
It means a driver on your PC failed to respond correctly when Windows tried to change its power state, usually while going to sleep, waking up, or hibernating.
What causes this error on Windows 11?
The most common causes are outdated or faulty drivers, especially for graphics cards and USB devices, along with misconfigured power settings.
Why does this happen right when I wake my PC from sleep?
This is the most common trigger, since waking from sleep is exactly when Windows asks all your drivers to change power state at once. A slow or broken driver fails to respond in time, causing the crash.
Will disconnecting USB devices actually fix it?
It will not fix the underlying issue, but it helps you identify whether a specific device is causing the problem, which then tells you exactly what to update or replace.
Should I disable USB Selective Suspend permanently?
It is generally safe to leave disabled if it stops the crashes. The trade-off is very slightly higher power usage, which most people will not notice.
Do I need to reinstall Windows to fix this?
No. This error is almost always fixable through driver updates and power setting changes. A reinstall should only be considered as a last resort.
