Windows BSOD Error 0x00000093 — INVALID_KERNEL_HANDLE Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 0x00000093 means a program or driver tried to use a handle that is invalid or has already been closed. A handle is like a numbered ticket Windows gives out when a program opens a file, process, or device. If a program tries to use a ticket that has already been returned or was never issued, Windows catches this as a serious error and crashes. This usually points to a buggy driver or corrupted kernel-level software.

Affected Models

Windows 10
Windows 11
Windows 8.1
Windows 7
Windows Server

Common Causes

A device driver is using a kernel handle after it has already been released or closed
A corrupted system driver is generating or referencing invalid handles
Faulty RAM is corrupting the handle table that Windows uses to track open resources
Malware or a rootkit is manipulating kernel handles to evade detection
A recently installed application installed a kernel-mode component with a bug

How to Fix It

Note the driver file named in the blue screen message. Write down the .sys filename shown on the crash screen. Open Device Manager after restarting and find the corresponding device.

The filename on the blue screen directly identifies the driver responsible. For example, if you see 'ntfs.sys,' the file system driver is involved.
Update or uninstall the identified driver. Right-click the device in Device Manager, choose Properties, then go to the Driver tab. Try Update Driver first, then Roll Back Driver if the problem started after a recent update.

If the driver belongs to a third-party device (printer, scanner, USB device), check the manufacturer's website for an updated driver.
Test your RAM. Search for Windows Memory Diagnostic in the Start menu, run it, and let it complete. Restart and check results in the notification area.

Corrupt kernel handle tables are a known symptom of bad RAM. Test memory before assuming the problem is software.
Scan for malware and rootkits. Run Windows Defender Full Scan plus Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit (free download). Restart and run the scan before other software loads.

Kernel-level malware that manipulates handles will not show up in a normal scan. Use a dedicated anti-rootkit tool.
Repair Windows system files. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run: sfc /scannow — followed by: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth — restart after both complete.

Corrupted system drivers or kernel files can cause invalid handle errors. These tools restore them to known-good versions.

When to Call a Professional

If updating drivers and repairing system files does not stop the crashes, and RAM tests are clean, consider consulting a technician. Rootkits that manipulate kernel handles are difficult to remove without specialized tools and expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a kernel handle?

When a program or driver opens something — a file, a process, a device, a piece of memory — Windows returns a handle. A handle is essentially a reference number that points to the actual resource inside the kernel. The program uses that handle every time it wants to interact with that resource. When it is done, it closes the handle to free the resource. If a driver tries to use a handle that was already closed or was never valid, Windows detects the error immediately.

How do I find out which driver caused the crash?

The blue screen usually shows a filename ending in .sys just below the stop code. You can also open the Event Viewer (search for it in the Start menu) and look under Windows Logs > System for critical events around the time of the crash. Another option is to download WhoCrashed (free) — it reads the Windows crash dump file and names the responsible driver in plain English.

This happens randomly with no obvious pattern. What should I do?

Random crashes with no pattern often point to hardware — especially RAM or a failing drive. Run a full Memtest86+ overnight test to catch intermittent RAM errors. Also check your drive health with CrystalDiskInfo. If hardware tests come back clean, consider enabling Driver Verifier in Windows to stress-test all drivers and identify the faulty one.