KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE — Causes & Fix
Windows Stop code 0x00000139 (KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE) means the kernel detected that a critical data structure was corrupted and failed a security check — usually a driver, sometimes RAM or disk.
- Applies to
- Any Windows PC
- Time to fix
- 30 minutes – 2 hours
What it means
Causes include an incompatible/outdated driver, corrupt system files, faulty RAM, or disk corruption. This is a Windows Stop error (a "bugcheck" / blue screen) documented by Microsoft. The blue screen shows this code; more detail sits in the crash dump (%SystemRoot%\Minidump), which usually names the specific driver or component at fault — a free tool like BlueScreenView or WinDbg can read it.
Symptoms
- Blue screen citing KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE
- Crashes after a driver/Windows update
How to fix it
- 1
Update or roll back drivers
1. Update all drivers; roll back any changed just before the crashes.
- 2
Repair files and test RAM/disk
1. Run SFC/DISM and chkdsk. 2. Test memory with MemTest86.
Frequently asked questions
What causes 0x139?
A corrupted kernel data structure — most often a bad driver, but corrupt files, RAM, or disk can cause it too. Update drivers and repair system files.
Last updated July 20, 2026
Guidance only — always consult a qualified professional or the official service manual before carrying out repairs.