Microsoft Edge Causing Irql Not Less Or Equal [Solved]

Issue	Microsoft Edge causing “IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL” BSOD
Common Causes	Incompatible GPU drivers, Hardware Acceleration, Corrupt System Files
Primary Fix	Disable Hardware Acceleration in Edge Settings
System Tool	SFC and DISM via Command Prompt

What is Microsoft Edge causing IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL?

The “IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL” error is a common Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) stop code. It occurs when a kernel-mode process or driver attempts to access a memory address without proper authorization or at an incorrect Interrupt Request Level (IRQL).

When this happens specifically while using Microsoft Edge, it usually indicates a conflict between the browser’s hardware acceleration features and your computer’s graphics drivers. It can also be triggered by faulty network drivers or corrupted browser installation files.

Essentially, Edge is asking the hardware to perform a task that the driver cannot handle safely, leading to a total system crash to prevent data loss.

Step-by-Step Solutions

1. Disable Hardware Acceleration in Edge

This is the most frequent culprit. Edge uses your GPU to speed up rendering, but if the driver is unstable, it triggers a BSOD.

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three dots (…) in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Navigate to System and performance in the left sidebar.
4. Toggle off Use hardware acceleration when available.
5. Click the Restart button that appears to apply changes.

2. Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

Since Edge interacts heavily with your GPU, outdated video drivers often cause memory access violations.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Display adapters.
3. Right-click your graphics card and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers.
5. If the error persists, visit the manufacturer’s site (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) to download the latest version manually.

3. Run System File Checker (SFC)

Corrupted Windows system files can interfere with how Edge interacts with the system memory.

sfc /scannow

To run this, search for “cmd” in the Start menu, right-click it, and select Run as Administrator. Paste the code above and press Enter. After it finishes, run the following command to repair the system image:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

4. Repair Microsoft Edge

If the browser installation itself is damaged, Windows provides a built-in repair tool.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Installed apps.
3. Find Microsoft Edge in the list.
4. Click the three dots and select Modify.
5. Click Repair (requires an internet connection).