DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG: GPU hang in a game
What this error means
If DEVICE_REMOVED says “the GPU vanished”, DEVICE_HUNG specifies “the GPU hung on our work”. That ties this error more to the specific game and driver than to the PSU. A common scenario is a new game on a new driver: the developer and GPU vendor usually fix it within one or two updates.
Where exactly the chain breaks
Causes — most common first
Step-by-step fix: from simple to advanced
Test the game after each step — only move on if the error is still there.
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Do a clean driver reinstall medium ≈20 min
Profiles and caches left from the old driver keep failing. NVIDIA: pick custom install and tick “Perform a clean installation”. AMD: the Adrenalin installer has a “Factory Reset” option, or remove the driver with the official AMD Cleanup Utility. If the error appeared right after an update, roll back to the previous stable version from the same site instead.
If the error appeared after a driver update, install the previous version that worked. -
Return to stock clocks (overclock, XMP/EXPO, undervolt) medium ≈15 min
An overclock that passes stress tests can still fail in a specific game or shader load. Reset the profile in MSI Afterburner / Adrenalin, remove the undervolt and, to test memory, temporarily disable XMP/EXPO in BIOS. If the error disappears at stock, lower clocks or improve stability.
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Reduce the load: textures, ray tracing, upscaling easy ≈5 min
Texture quality, ray tracing and resolution have the biggest impact on memory and stability. Drop textures one notch, turn off RT and enable DLSS / FSR / XeSS in “Quality” mode. If the error disappears on low settings, the issue is lack of resources, not a “broken” game.
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Switch the API mode and turn off frame generation easy ≈3 min
If the game offers DX11/DX12/Vulkan, try another one. Temporarily turn off frame generation and async compute if such options exist.
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Verify the game files easy ≈10 min
The launcher compares files with the reference copy and re-downloads damaged or missing ones — including libraries the game keeps in its own folder. Steam: Library → right-click the game → Properties → Installed Files → “Verify integrity of game files”. Epic Games: Library → “…” → Manage → “Verify”. EA app / Ubisoft Connect / Battle.net: “Repair” or “Verify files” in the game menu. Xbox app: Manage → Files → “Verify and repair”.
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Check temperatures under load medium ≈20 min
GPU temperature is shown in Task Manager (Performance → GPU) and in the NVIDIA/AMD panels; CPU temperature — in the motherboard or CPU vendor’s utility. If after 10–20 minutes of play the values hit the limit (GPU and CPU start throttling, a laptop runs fans at maximum), clean the cooling, check the fans and do not put a laptop on soft surfaces.
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Check the power supply advanced ≈20 min
If the PC shuts down, reboots or the GPU “drops out” only under load, the power supply is the first suspect: not enough wattage, an aged unit, adapters instead of native PCIe cables, a 12VHPWR plug not fully seated. Compare your PSU wattage with the calculated need for your GPU and make sure each GPU power connector has its own cable.
Diagnostics for your PC
Enter your GPU, RAM and game — we will compare them with the requirements and point out what matters for your PC. If you are signed in and saved a PC, it is filled in automatically.
This is a hint based on specs, not a measurement. Browsers cannot see your driver version or power supply model: the FPSHQ app for Windows shows your driver version and real FPS.
Key figures
Unique FPSHQ metrics from this page's data
How long each step takes
Time estimate from the guide: 7 steps, about 93 minutes. Steps go from simple to complex — the error usually disappears on the first ones.
DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG: GPU hang in a game
DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG (0x887A0006) means the GPU could not complete the game’s commands and hung — Windows reset the driver. Microsoft classifies it as “badly formed commands” from the app, but for players the usual triggers are an unstable overclock or undervolt, a problematic driver version and heavy settings. Roll back or clean-install the driver, return to stock clocks, lower settings and watch for a game patch.
- steps in the guide
- 7
- minutes for all steps
- 93 min
- guide verified
- Oct 2, 2026
FAQ
Does this mean my GPU is dying?
Usually not. If the error occurs in one game and disappears at stock clocks or with another driver, the hardware is fine. Suspect the card when failures happen everywhere, even in light games, on all driver versions.
How is DEVICE_HUNG different from DEVICE_REMOVED?
DEVICE_HUNG means the GPU failed to finish commands in time and Windows reset it (TDR). DEVICE_REMOVED means the device “disappeared” for the app, often after the same reset or a power glitch. Causes and steps largely overlap: driver, overclock, temperature, power.
Does lowering graphics settings help?
Sometimes: lower load reduces peak power draw and frame time, so resets happen less often. But if the error appears on low settings, the cause is more likely the driver, an overclock or hardware rather than load.
Does a factory overclock matter?
It can. Factory-overclocked cards are sometimes unstable in specific games; lower the core clock by 50–100 MHz in Afterburner or switch the card’s BIOS to “silent” mode if available — this does not harm the GPU.
🧭 Nothing helped?
Write down the exact error text and the faulting module from Event Viewer (Windows Logs → Application) and contact the game developer’s support — attach the crash report if the game created one. Also check our related errors.
Related errors
Official sources
Facts and links checked: 2026-10-02