{"id":115617,"date":"2022-12-06T11:47:18","date_gmt":"2022-12-06T11:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/?p=115617"},"modified":"2025-04-16T08:30:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T08:30:33","slug":"fix-attempted_switch_from_dpc-error-in-windows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/fix-attempted_switch_from_dpc-error-in-windows\/","title":{"rendered":"FIX: ATTEMPTED_SWITCH_FROM_DPC Error in Windows"},"content":{"rendered":"

You have definitely seen the annoying blue screen of death<\/a> that does not allow you to do anything. The technical term for this error is attempted switch from DPC, which happens in all Windows versions from XP to 11. <\/p>

There are several reasons for this error, including a faulty application, faulty hardware driver, or damaged memory. Fixing this error could be as simple as restarting the system or installing the latest update. But it might also require more drastic measures such as hardware change.<\/p>

However, it makes more sense to try the more straightforward solutions for the attempted switch from DPC error before jumping the gun.<\/p>

Why does the attempted switch from DPC error happen?<\/h2>

DPC stands for Delayed Procedure Call. In simple terms, the attempted switch from DPC error happens when your computer tries to shut down while startup. Since this action is impossible, the DPC triggers the error and the blue screen of death that you will see on the screen.<\/p>

The simplest of which is that you have installed a new application that is faulty somehow. If this is the case, you can reinstall the software to see if the problem is fixed.<\/p>

There also might be an issue with your memory. A portion of your memory might be lost, or it might be infected by a virus or malware.<\/p>

Sometimes the drivers for different hardware conflict with each other, resulting in the blue screen of death.<\/p>

How Can I Fix the Attempted Switch from the DPC Error?<\/h2>

If your PC boots up, the only thing you need to do is to follow the steps below. If not, you should access Safe Mode in order to be able to perform these steps. You can check out our article on How to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode<\/a> if you don’t know how to access this mode.<\/p>

1. Update Windows<\/h3>

Sometimes all it takes is to update your Windows 11 to its latest version. These updates eliminate the bugs that might have existed in the older version. However, sometimes people pause or stop their updates in order to save time and internet usage, so if you start to see this error, maybe it’s time to reconsider and download an update.<\/p>

On the other hand, if you see the attempted switch from DPC error just after updating your Windows, it’s safe to assume that something in the new update is incompatible with your system. In this case, you can uninstall the latest update by following these steps:<\/p>