How-To

Windows 11 Stop Code Memory Management: 7 Fixes

By Brian Burgess

Last Updated on March 8, 2022

If you’re getting a memory management error on your PC, you want to take a look at these Windows 11 stop code memory management fixes.

If your system crashes and you get a blue screen or BSOD, perhaps you’ve seen the Windows 11 stop code memory management error. It will display MEMORY_MANAGEMENT on the screen, indicating an issue with your system’s memory management.

It may (or may not) be accompanied by a stop code like 0x0000001A, for example. Sometimes you can resolve the error with a basic restart, but it often involves additional troubleshooting steps.

If you get the error on your Windows 11 PC, here are some fixes to apply and scans to run to get your system up and running again.

Restart Your PC

There are several reasons why you get the Stop Code Memory Management error. Things such as corrupt hardware drivers or operating system files can cause the issue. A worst-case scenario is hardware failure.

Before going too deep down the troubleshooting rabbit hole, start with a restart of Windows 11. That clears the system and app cache and provides a fresh session.

To restart, right-click the Start button and click Shut down or sign out > Restart.

If a basic restart doesn’t resolve the error, continue with one (or two) of the following steps to get your PC working.

Run Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

Next, try running a diagnostics scan of your installed memory or RAM. Windows has a built-in tool that will scan for errors.

To run a Windows Memory Diagnostic tool scan, use the following steps:

1. Hit the keyboard shortcut Windows key + R to launch the Run dialog, type MdSched, and hit Enter or click OK.
2. When the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool launches, click the Restart now and check for problems option at the top.
3. When your computer restarts, the tool will run a diagnostic scan of your system’s RAM.
4. Note that this test can take several minutes to run. So, you might want to grab a cup of coffee while it completes. If it doesn’t find any errors, you might want to run a second diagnostic scan using memtest86+ for a second look. Memtest86+ is free and open source.

Run DISM and SFC Scan

If your system files are corrupt, it can cause problems with memory management on your PC. Running a Deployment Image System Management DISM scan and a System File Checker SFC scan will detect corrupt files and replace them with working ones.

First, run an SFC scan by doing the following:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Windows Terminal (Admin) from the menu.
2. Next, type the following command in the terminal and hit Enter:

   sfc /scannow

   

3. If the SFC scan detects errors but cannot repair the corrupt files, run a DISM scan. It detects errors and replaces corrupt files with working files directly from Microsoft servers. Run the following command in the terminal.

   DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

   

Check for Updates

Keeping your Windows system up-to-date is essential for the security and stability of your PC. In addition, Windows Update can find hardware drivers that need updating.

To manually update Windows 11, do the following:

1. Click the Start button and choose the Settings icon. Alternately, use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + I to open it directly.
2. Click Windows Update from the sidebar on the left and click the Check for updates button.
3. Install any available updates and restart your PC if necessary.
4. If Windows is updated, another place to look for hardware updates is via the manufacturer’s update utility (if it has one). If your system doesn’t have an OEM update app, check the manufacturer’s support site to download updates.

Check Disk for Errors

If the Windows file system is sound, RAM is good, and your system is up-to-date, you might still be getting the Stop Code Memory Management error. Another place to check is your drive by running the Check Disk utility.

To run the utility to check for errors on your drive, use the following steps:

1. Open the Start menu and search for PowerShell.
2. Next, click on Run as Administrator from the right column.
3. Run the following command when the terminal opens and hit Enter.

   chkdsk /r /f

4. It will prompt you to schedule a scan the next time you reboot. Type Y and hit Enter.

Reset Your PC

If the above options don’t work, you’re going to want to use the Reset this PC option. This option allows you to keep your files, but all of your apps and settings will be removed as Windows 11 essentially reinstalls itself.

Note: Before taking this drastic action, make sure to create a complete system backup first (especially your most important files), so you can recover it if something goes awry.

To reset your PC, use the following steps:

1. Open Start > Settings > System Recovery and click the Reset PC button under the Recovery options section.
2. When the blue Choose an option menu appears, select the Keep my files option.
3. Now, it’s just a matter of following the onscreen instructions and verifying everything is correct. This process can take a while, and your PC will start a couple of times.

For the complete step-by-step instructions, please read our guide on resetting Windows 11.

After the process is complete, your system should be working successfully. However, if it’s not, you may want to look at performing a clean install of Windows 11.

Fixing Windows Stop Code Memory Error

It’s important to note that these software fixes are only good if you have working hardware. For example, the chkdsk scan might find a faulty hard drive, and you’ll need to replace it. Or, maybe the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool detects bad RAM.

In that case, you can try reseating the memory modules if you have access to them. However, the RAM could be faulty and need replacing, too.

For more on fixing Windows 11 issues, look at how to fix the Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files error or fixing 100 percent disk usage. Also, if your PC keeps crashing, check out these 11 fixes when Windows 11 keeps crashing.