What does DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED mean?

The short answer

DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED means your graphics card (GPU) crashed or became unavailable while a game or application was trying to use it.

This is a DirectX error that shows up when Windows loses communication with your GPU mid-task. It usually causes the game or app to freeze or close entirely.

Why does this happen?

Several things can trigger this error:

  • Outdated or faulty GPU drivers — the most common cause by far
  • Overclocked GPU — pushing your graphics card beyond stable limits
  • Overheating — the GPU shuts down to protect itself from heat damage
  • Hardware failure — the graphics card itself may be dying
  • Power supply issues — not enough power reaching the GPU under heavy load
  • Conflicting software — certain overlays or background apps interfere with DirectX

How to fix it

Start with the most likely fixes first:

Update your GPU drivers

  • NVIDIA: Download the latest drivers from GeForce Experience or the NVIDIA website
  • AMD: Use AMD Software to check for updates
  • Intel: Use the Intel Driver & Support Assistant

Do a clean install of the driver if a regular update doesn’t help. Both NVIDIA and AMD offer this option during installation.

Remove any GPU overclock

If you’ve overclocked your graphics card, reset it to default speeds. Even a small overclock can cause instability in certain games.

Check for overheating

Monitor your GPU temperature while gaming using a tool like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner. If temperatures exceed 90°C, improve airflow in your case or clean out dust buildup.

Adjust Windows settings

  • Open Registry Editor and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers
  • Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value called TdrDelay and set it to 10
  • This gives your GPU more time to respond before Windows considers it lost

Check your hardware

If nothing else works, try reseating your graphics card — remove it and plug it back in firmly. Also check that your power supply cables are secure.

When should you worry?

If this error happens once in a while, a driver update usually solves it. If it happens constantly across multiple games, your GPU may be failing — especially if you also see visual glitches like colored lines or flickering. In that case, test with a different graphics card if possible.