Windows BSOD Error 0x00000139 — KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

The 0x00000139 blue screen means KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE. Windows detected that a critical security check on its kernel failed. This is usually caused by corrupted system files, a bad driver, faulty RAM, or malware.

Affected Models

Windows 10
Windows 11

Common Causes

A driver is corrupted or incompatible with your version of Windows
Windows system files have been corrupted by a bad update or file system error
Your RAM has a fault causing it to write incorrect data to kernel memory
Malware has corrupted or tampered with core Windows components
A recently installed program installed a faulty kernel-mode component

How to Fix It

Run System File Checker to repair corrupted Windows files. Open Command Prompt as administrator (right-click the Start button > Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin)). Type: sfc /scannow and press Enter.

Wait for it to finish — do not close the window. It takes 10 to 20 minutes.
Run DISM to repair the Windows component store. In the same administrator Command Prompt, type: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.

DISM downloads clean Windows files from Microsoft's servers to replace any corrupted ones. It needs an internet connection.
Check for driver issues. Press Windows + X, select Device Manager. Look for any items with a yellow warning icon. Right-click them and select 'Update driver' or 'Uninstall device.'

A yellow warning icon in Device Manager means that device has a known driver problem.
Test your RAM. Press Windows + R, type mdsched.exe, press Enter, and select 'Restart now and check for problems.' Let the full test run.

Faulty RAM causes all kinds of kernel errors including this one. The test is free and built into Windows.
Scan for malware. Run a full scan with Windows Defender, then also run Malwarebytes Free for a second opinion. Some malware specifically targets kernel security to avoid detection.

If malware is found, remove it and run both scans again to confirm it is fully gone.

When to Call a Professional

If SFC, DISM, and RAM tests do not resolve this blue screen, consult a technician. Persistent KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE can indicate hardware failure or deep malware infection. A professional can run deeper diagnostics and, if needed, perform a clean Windows reinstall.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 'kernel security check' in plain English?

Windows constantly monitors its own core (the kernel) for signs of tampering or damage. This is a security feature — like a building's internal alarm system. When something fails that check, Windows crashes on purpose rather than let a potential attack or corruption continue.

Can a new Windows Update cause KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE?

Yes, occasionally. A buggy update can install a problematic system component. If this error started immediately after a Windows Update, try rolling back that update. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update History > Uninstall Updates and remove the most recent one.

Do I need to reinstall Windows to fix this?

Not usually. SFC and DISM repair most cases without a reinstall. A clean Windows reinstall is a last resort — only consider it if all other fixes fail. If you do reinstall, back up your files to an external drive first.