LDDM Graphics Subsystem (DXGKrnl) Service Defaults in Windows 11

Controls the underlying video driver stacks to provide fully-featured display capabilities.

Default Settings

Startup type:

Windows 11 Home 21H2	System
Windows 11 Pro 21H2	System
Windows 11 Education 21H2	System
Windows 11 Enterprise 21H2	System
Windows 11 Home 22H2	System
Windows 11 Pro 22H2	System
Windows 11 Education 22H2	System
Windows 11 Enterprise 22H2	System
Windows 11 Home 23H2	System
Windows 11 Pro 23H2	System
Windows 11 Education 23H2	System
Windows 11 Enterprise 23H2	System
Windows 11 Home 24H2	Boot
Windows 11 Pro 24H2	Boot
Windows 11 Education 24H2	Boot
Windows 11 Enterprise 24H2	Boot

Display name:

LDDM Graphics Subsystem

Service name:

DXGKrnl

Service type:

kernel

Error control:

ignore

Group:

Video Init

Path:

%SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\dxgkrnl.sys

Registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DXGKrnl

Default Behavior

LDDM Graphics Subsystem is a kernel driver. It starts at Kernel initialization in all editions of Windows 11 21H2, Windows 11 22H2, Windows 11 23H2. This service starts by the operating system Boot Loader before the Kernel initialization, as a part of the driver stack in all editions of Windows 11 24H2.

If LDDM Graphics Subsystem fails to load or initialize, Windows 11 is starting up without warnings, however the error details are being logged.

Restore Default Startup Configuration of LDDM Graphics Subsystem

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Depending on the version of your operating system, copy the commands below, paste them into the command window and press ENTER.

For Windows 11 21H2 Home, Windows 11 21H2 Pro, Windows 11 21H2 Education, Windows 11 21H2 Enterprise, Windows 11 22H2 Home, Windows 11 22H2 Pro, Windows 11 22H2 Education, Windows 11 22H2 Enterprise, Windows 11 23H2 Home, Windows 11 23H2 Pro, Windows 11 23H2 Education, Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise:
sc config DXGKrnl start= system
sc start DXGKrnl

For Windows 11 24H2 Home, Windows 11 24H2 Pro, Windows 11 24H2 Education, Windows 11 24H2 Enterprise:
sc config DXGKrnl start= boot
sc start DXGKrnl

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The DXGKrnl service is using the dxgkrnl.sys file that is located in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 11 installation media.