All fixes / Any game, Windows

Game crash: DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED / DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG (0x887A0005)

DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_REMOVED DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG 0x887A0005 0x887A0006

The game lost contact with your graphics card and crashed. It doesn't mean the card was physically removed. It's usually an unstable overclock, a driver problem, or the GPU not getting enough power.

Why it happens

DirectX reports 'device removed' when the graphics card stops responding and Windows has to reset it. To the game, that looks like the card disappeared. The most common triggers are GPU or memory overclocks (including factory ones), driver bugs, overheating, and power delivery problems under heavy load.

How to fix it

1. Reset your GPU to stock clocks in MSI Afterburner (or your tuning tool), or close the tool completely, and test again.
2. Do a clean driver install with DDU in Safe Mode. If the crash started after a driver update, try the previous version.
3. Turn off XMP/EXPO in the BIOS for a test session to rule out memory instability.
4. Check that the GPU power cables are fully seated, using separate cables for each connector if your card needs more than one.
5. Watch your GPU temperature with HWiNFO while playing, and clean dust from the card and fans.
6. Turn off overlays (Steam, Discord, NVIDIA App) and verify the game files in your launcher.

Still broken?

If it only happens in one game, check that game's known issues and try a different graphics API in its settings (DirectX 11, DirectX 12, or Vulkan). If it happens in every game at stock settings, test the GPU in another system or book a session with us.

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