How to Fix VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE (0x00000116) nvlddmkm.sys on Windows 11

The Windows 11 stop code video_tdr_failure 0x116 occurs when the Windows display subsystem detects that the GPU has failed to complete an assigned graphics operation or respond to a preemption request within the standard Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) threshold (by default, 2 seconds). When the kernel attempts to reset the graphics hardware and the NVIDIA kernel-mode driver (nvlddmkm.sys) fails to acknowledge or recover from the re-initialization sequence, Windows triggers bugcheck 0x116 video_tdr_failure to prevent an unrecoverable system freeze.

Quick Diagnostic Matrix

1. Clean Driver Purge via DDU (video tdr failure 0x116 nvidia fix)

[Boot Windows 11 into Safe Mode]
 └── Run Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU)
      ├── Select Device Type: GPU > Device: NVIDIA
      └── Click "Clean and restart"
           └── Disconnect Internet > Install Clean WHQL Driver

1. Download the latest official WHQL Game Ready or Studio Driver from NVIDIA’s website.

2. Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) and extract the archive to your desktop.

3. Boot Windows 11 into Safe Mode:
   • Hold the Shift key while clicking Restart in the Start Menu.

   • Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

   • Press 4 or F4 to enter Safe Mode.

4. Open DDU. Under Device type, select GPU, and under Device, select NVIDIA.

5. Click Clean and restart.

6. Crucial: Keep your computer disconnected from the internet (unplug Ethernet or disconnect Wi-Fi) upon reboot to prevent Windows Update from automatically installing a generic display driver.

7. Run the downloaded NVIDIA installer:
   • Select NVIDIA Graphics Driver and GeForce Experience (or Driver Only).

   • Choose Custom (Advanced).

   • Check the box for Perform a clean installation.

8. Restart your system and reconnect the network. This clean video tdr failure 0x116 fix resolves corrupted shader pipelines and driver registration errors.

2. Adjust TdrDelay Registry Values (video_tdr_failure 0x116 fix)

[Registry Editor (regedit)]
 └── HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlGraphicsDrivers
      ├── New > DWORD (32-bit) Value: "TdrDelay" = 8 (Decimal)
      └── New > DWORD (32-bit) Value: "TdrDdiDelay" = 8 (Decimal)

1. Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

2. Navigate to the following path:
   Plaintext

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlGraphicsDrivers
   

3. Right-click an empty space in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it:
   Plaintext

   TdrDelay
   

4. Double-click TdrDelay, set the base to Decimal, and enter 8 in the Value data box. This extends the GPU recovery window from 2 to 8 seconds.

5. Create a second DWORD (32-bit) value in the same directory and name it:
   Plaintext

   TdrDdiDelay
   

6. Double-click TdrDdiDelay, set the base to Decimal, and set its value to 8. (This controls the timeout for driver interface commands).

7. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer to apply the updated watchdog thresholds.

3. Disable HAGS and Multi-Plane Overlay (video tdr failure fix windows 11)

Step A: Disable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings.

2. Go to System > Display.

3. Scroll down and click Graphics, then click Change default graphics settings.

4. Toggle Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling to Off.

5. Restart your computer.

[Windows 11 Settings]
 └── System > Display > Graphics
      └── Change default graphics settings
           └── Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling > [Toggle OFF]

Step B: Disable Multi-Plane Overlay (MPO)

1. Open regedit as Administrator.

2. Navigate to:
   Plaintext

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsDwm
   

3. Right-click the Dwm key, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it:
   Plaintext

   OverlayTestMode
   

4. Double-click OverlayTestMode and set its value to 5 (which instructs DWM to bypass multi-plane overlays).

5. Restart your system.

4. Rebuild the nvlddmkm.sys Binary from DriverStore

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to:
   Plaintext

   C:WindowsSystem32drivers
   

2. Locate nvlddmkm.sys and rename it to nvlddmkm.sys.old.

3. Navigate to the Windows DriverStore repository:
   Plaintext

   C:WindowsSystem32DriverStoreFileRepository
   

4. Search this folder for files named nvlddmkm.sy_ or nvlddmkm.sys. Open the most recent folder prefixed with nv_dispi.inf.

5. If the folder contains nvlddmkm.sy_ (a compressed cabinet file):
   • Copy it to C:WindowsSystem32.

   • Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
     DOS

     cd C:WindowsSystem32
     expand.exe nvlddmkm.sy_ nvlddmkm.sys
     

6. If the folder contains an uncompressed nvlddmkm.sys, copy it directly into C:WindowsSystem32drivers.

7. Restart your PC to allow the kernel to bind the newly expanded binary.

5. Adjust Power Management and PCIe Bus States

[NVIDIA Control Panel]
 └── Manage 3D Settings > Global Settings
      └── Power management mode > [Set to "Prefer maximum performance"]

1. Open the NVIDIA Control Panel.

2. Navigate to 3D Settings > Manage 3D settings.

3. Under the Global Settings tab, scroll down to Power management mode.

4. Change the setting from Normal to Prefer maximum performance (or Prefer consistent performance).

5. Open Windows Power Options (powercfg.cpl via Win + R).

6. Click Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.

7. Expand PCI Express > Link State Power Management and set both battery and plugged-in options to Off.

6. Hardware Verification & Thermal Integrity (video_tdr_failure 0x116 reddit insights)

• PCIe Link Speed Downshift (Riser Cables): If you use a vertical GPU mounting bracket or a PCIe riser cable, signal attenuation across the extension ribbon frequently trips TDR timeouts. Enter your motherboard’s UEFI BIOS setup (F2 or Del at startup), navigate to the PCIe Subsystem / Slot Configuration, and change the primary PCIe x16 slot link speed from Auto or Gen 4 down to Gen 3. Gen 3 provides higher electrical noise tolerance while preserving over 98% of real-world rendering throughput.

• 12VHPWR / PCIe Auxiliary Connectors: Inspect the power cables feeding your graphics card. High-wattage GPUs (such as RTX 30 and 40 series) require clean, dedicated 8-pin PCIe power cables from the power supply; using daisy-chained “pigtail” splitters causes transient voltage drops under load. Ensure 12VHPWR connectors are seated completely flush against the GPU socket with zero gap or bend within 35 mm of the connector head.

• VRAM Thermal Throttling: Download a monitoring tool such as HWiNFO64 and check your GPU Memory Junction Temperature under load. If GDDR6/GDDR6X temperatures exceed $105^circtext{C}$, the memory controller will drop read/write cycles, stalling the video tdr failure 0x116 nvlddmkm pipeline.

• Clock Stabilization: If running factory-overclocked cards, launch MSI Afterburner and temporarily apply a -100 MHz Core Clock and -200 MHz Memory Clock offset. If the BSOD ceases immediately, the GPU core silicon or VRAM chips have degraded below their factory VBIOS boost curve, requiring a permanent slight underclock or an RMA request.