How to fix Error 14 on Windows 11

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Why This Error Happens

Error 14 (ERROR_OUTOFMEMORY) occurs when Windows cannot allocate the memory required for a process, even if physical RAM appears available. This is frequently caused by a fragmented or undersized paging file, memory leaks from background applications, corrupted system files, or outdated/faulty drivers that improperly reserve memory. In some cases, third-party antivirus or disk utilities interfere with memory allocation calls at the kernel level.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

  1. Increase the Virtual Memory (Paging File) Size
  • Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.
  • Go to Advanced tab → click Settings under Performance → Advanced tab → Change under Virtual Memory.
  • Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
  • Select your system drive (usually C:), choose Custom size, and set Initial size to 1.5x your RAM (in MB) and Maximum size to 3x your RAM.
  • Click Set, then OK, and restart your PC.
  1. Run System File Checker and DISM
  • Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  • Run: sfc /scannow
  • Once complete, run: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • Restart your computer after both commands finish.
  1. Update or Roll Back Drivers
  • Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
  • Check Display adapters, Storage controllers, and Network adapters for warning icons.
  • Right-click each device → Update driver. If the issue started after a recent update, use Roll Back Driver instead (under Properties → Driver tab).
  1. Check for Memory Leaks via Task Manager
  • Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) → Processes tab.
  • Sort by Memory and identify any app consuming abnormally high resources.
  • End the process temporarily and check if the error recurs; uninstall or update that application if it’s the culprit.
  1. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic
  • Press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter.
  • Choose Restart now and check for problems.
  • Windows will scan your RAM on reboot and report any hardware-level errors.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • After applying the fixes, reopen the application that triggered Error 14 and monitor Task Manager’s memory usage to confirm it stabilizes without spikes.
  • If the error persists, boot into Safe Mode and attempt the same task—if it works fine there, a third-party startup program or driver is likely the root cause, and a clean boot troubleshooting process should be performed.