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Fix WerFault.exe Application Error in Windows 11

Geeksdigit Team

May 22, 2026

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The WerFault.exe Application Error is a common Windows 11 problem that can appear when launching applications, shutting down the computer, starting Windows, or running resource-intensive programs. The error usually appears with messages such as:

• WerFault.exe – Application Error
• The instruction at referenced memory could not be read
• WerFault.exe has stopped working
• Application Error 0xc0000005
• Windows Problem Reporting stopped working

WerFault.exe stands for Windows Error Reporting Fault. It is a legitimate Microsoft process responsible for collecting crash information whenever an application or system component fails. When WerFault.exe itself becomes corrupted or encounters problems, Windows may repeatedly display application errors, high CPU usage, system freezes, startup issues, or unexpected crashes.

The good news is that the problem is usually caused by corrupted system files, faulty drivers, damaged user profiles, problematic startup applications, disk errors, memory issues, or outdated Windows components. In most situations, the error can be fixed without reinstalling Windows.

This guide explains the most effective methods to fix WerFault.exe Application Error in Windows 11.

What Causes WerFault.exe Application Error?

Before applying fixes, it is useful to understand the possible causes:

• Corrupted Windows system files
• Damaged Windows Error Reporting service
• Faulty Windows updates
• Corrupted user account profile
• Driver conflicts
• Memory (RAM) problems
• Hard drive errors
• Malware infections
• Third-party software conflicts
• Startup application issues
• Registry corruption
• Disk file system corruption

Since multiple factors can trigger the error, it is recommended to follow the solutions in the order presented below.

Restart Your Computer First

Temporary glitches can sometimes trigger WerFault.exe errors.

To restart Windows 11:

1. Click Start.
2. Select Power.
3. Click Restart.

After the restart, check whether the error message appears again.

If the problem persists, continue with the next solutions.

Run System File Checker (SFC)

Corrupted system files are one of the most common reasons behind WerFault.exe errors.

Steps to Run SFC Scan

1. Open Start Menu.
2. Type Command Prompt.
3. Select Run as administrator.
4. Enter:

sfc /scannow

5. Press Enter.
6. Wait for the scan to complete.

The process may take several minutes.

Possible results include:

• Windows found no integrity violations.
• Windows repaired corrupted files.
• Windows found corruption but could not repair some files.

Restart the PC after the scan finishes and verify whether the issue is resolved.

Repair Windows Image Using DISM

If SFC cannot repair damaged files, use DISM.

Run DISM Commands

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and execute the following commands one by one:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Wait for each command to complete before running the next one.

After DISM finishes:

1. Restart the computer.
2. Run:

sfc /scannow

again.

This combination repairs many Windows component corruption issues that cause WerFault.exe failures.

Check Windows Error Reporting Service

Because WerFault.exe is directly connected to the Windows Error Reporting Service, service problems can generate application errors.

Verify the Service Status

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

services.msc

3. Press Enter.
4. Locate Windows Error Reporting Service.
5. Double-click it.
6. Set Startup Type to Manual or Automatic.
7. Click Start if the service is stopped.
8. Select Apply.
9. Click OK.

Restart Windows and test again.

Disable and Re-enable Windows Error Reporting

Sometimes resetting the service configuration helps remove persistent errors.

Disable the Service

1. Open Services.
2. Find Windows Error Reporting Service.
3. Double-click it.
4. Set Startup Type to Disabled.
5. Click Stop.
6. Select Apply and OK.

Restart the PC.

Re-enable the Service

1. Return to Services.
2. Open Windows Error Reporting Service.
3. Set Startup Type to Manual.
4. Click Start.
5. Save the changes.

Check whether the problem is fixed.

Install Pending Windows Updates

Microsoft frequently releases patches that resolve application crashes and system component errors.

Update Windows 11

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Windows Update.
3. Click Check for updates.
4. Download all available updates.
5. Restart the computer.

Many WerFault.exe issues disappear after installing cumulative updates and servicing stack updates.

Uninstall Recent Windows Updates

If the error started immediately after a Windows update, removing the problematic update may solve the issue.

Remove a Recent Update

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Windows Update.
3. Select Update History.
4. Click Uninstall Updates.
5. Choose the recently installed update.
6. Click Uninstall.

Restart the PC and test the system.

Perform a Clean Boot

Third-party programs often interfere with Windows components.

A Clean Boot starts Windows with only essential Microsoft services.

Steps

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

msconfig

3. Press Enter.
4. Open the Services tab.
5. Check Hide all Microsoft services.
6. Click Disable All.
7. Open the Startup tab.
8. Select Open Task Manager.
9. Disable all startup items.
10. Restart the computer.

If the error disappears, one of the disabled applications is responsible.

Re-enable items gradually until the problematic software is identified.

Check for Faulty Drivers

Corrupted or outdated drivers can cause application crashes that trigger WerFault.exe.

Update Drivers

1. Right-click Start.
2. Open Device Manager.
3. Expand device categories.
4. Right-click a device.
5. Select Update Driver.
6. Choose Search automatically for drivers.

Pay particular attention to:

• Graphics drivers
• Chipset drivers
• Audio drivers
• Network drivers
• Storage controller drivers

Restart the system after updates.

Reinstall Graphics Driver

Graphics driver corruption frequently causes WerFault.exe crashes during gaming and multimedia usage.

Reinstall the Driver

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Display Adapters.
3. Right-click the graphics card.
4. Choose Uninstall Device.
5. Enable Delete driver software if available.
6. Restart Windows.

Windows will automatically reinstall a compatible driver.

You can also install the latest driver directly from your graphics manufacturer.

Run Windows Memory Diagnostic

Faulty RAM can produce application errors and memory access violations.

Test System Memory

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

mdsched.exe

3. Press Enter.
4. Select Restart now and check for problems.

The computer will restart and test the memory.

If memory errors appear, the RAM module may require replacement.

Check Hard Drive for Errors

File system corruption can damage Windows reporting components.

Run CHKDSK

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and enter:

chkdsk C: /f /r

Press Enter.

Type:

Y

when prompted.

Restart the PC.

Windows will scan and repair disk problems automatically.

Large drives may require considerable time to complete the scan.

Scan for Malware

Although WerFault.exe is a legitimate Windows process, malware sometimes disguises itself using the same name.

Run Microsoft Defender Scan

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Select Virus & Threat Protection.
3. Click Scan Options.
4. Choose Full Scan.
5. Start the scan.

Remove any detected threats and restart the computer.

Verify WerFault.exe File Location

The legitimate file should be stored inside the Windows system directory.

Check the File Location

1. Open Task Manager.
2. Locate WerFault.exe.
3. Right-click it.
4. Select Open File Location.

The correct location is usually:

C:\Windows\System32

or

C:\Windows\SysWOW64

If the file is running from another folder, perform a thorough malware scan immediately.

Increase Virtual Memory

Insufficient virtual memory may generate application crashes on systems with heavy workloads.

Adjust Paging File Settings

1. Open System Properties.
2. Select Advanced System Settings.
3. Open Performance Settings.
4. Click the Advanced tab.
5. Select Virtual Memory.
6. Click Change.
7. Enable:

Automatically manage paging file size for all drives

8. Save the settings.
9. Restart Windows.

Remove Corrupted Temporary Files

Damaged temporary files occasionally trigger Windows reporting errors.

Delete Temporary Files

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

%temp%

3. Press Enter.
4. Delete all possible files.

Repeat using:

temp

and

prefetch

Restart the computer afterward.

Check Event Viewer Logs

Event Viewer can identify the exact source of WerFault.exe failures.

Open Event Viewer

1. Right-click Start.
2. Select Event Viewer.
3. Expand Windows Logs.
4. Open Application.
5. Look for recent error entries.
6. Review details of:
   • Faulting application
   • Faulting module
   • Exception code

The information often reveals the specific program causing the crash.

Create a New User Account

A corrupted user profile can trigger repeated application errors.

Create a New Account

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Accounts.
3. Click Other Users.
4. Choose Add Account.
5. Create a new local account.
6. Sign in using the new profile.

If the error disappears, the original profile may be damaged.

Transfer files to the new account and continue using it.

Restore Windows Using System Restore

If the issue began recently, restoring Windows to a previous state may fix it.

Use System Restore

1. Search for Create a Restore Point.
2. Open System Protection.
3. Click System Restore.
4. Select a restore point created before the problem appeared.
5. Follow the restoration wizard.
6. Restart the computer.

System Restore does not affect personal files.

Repair Windows with an In-Place Upgrade

If severe Windows corruption exists, performing an in-place repair upgrade can restore all system files without deleting personal data.

Steps

1. Download the latest Windows 11 installation media.
2. Mount the ISO file.
3. Run Setup.exe.
4. Choose:
   • Keep personal files
   • Keep installed apps
5. Continue the installation.

The repair process replaces damaged Windows files while preserving user data.

This method resolves many persistent WerFault.exe problems that survive SFC and DISM repairs.

Reset Windows 11

If every troubleshooting method fails, resetting Windows may be necessary.

Reset Procedure

1. Open Settings.
2. Select System.
3. Click Recovery.
4. Choose Reset This PC.
5. Select:
   • Keep My Files

or

• Remove Everything

6. Follow on-screen instructions.

A reset installs a fresh Windows environment and eliminates deep software corruption.

Preventing Future WerFault.exe Errors

To reduce the chances of future errors:

• Keep Windows updated.
• Install drivers from trusted sources.
• Avoid registry cleaners.
• Maintain sufficient free disk space.
• Scan regularly for malware.
• Create restore points before major changes.
• Remove unused startup programs.
• Shut down Windows properly.
• Monitor disk health.
• Replace failing RAM promptly.

Following these practices helps maintain overall system stability and prevents Windows reporting failures.

Final Thoughts

WerFault.exe Application Error in Windows 11 is usually linked to corrupted system files, damaged Windows components, driver conflicts, memory issues, disk errors, malware infections, or problematic third-party software. In most cases, running SFC, DISM, CHKDSK, updating Windows, checking the Windows Error Reporting Service, and performing a Clean Boot are enough to eliminate the problem.

If the error continues, deeper solutions such as creating a new user account, using System Restore, performing an in-place repair upgrade, or resetting Windows can restore full system functionality. By following the troubleshooting methods outlined in this guide, you can identify the root cause and permanently fix WerFault.exe Application Error on Windows 11.