Fix: Kernel Security Check Failure in Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is indeed one of the best photo editing apps worldwide and has millions of active users. But lately, as per a lot of Windows users, the “Kernel security check failure” error in Photoshop has been affecting their work and keeping them from using the application in general.

How to Fix the “Kernel security check failure” Error in Photoshop?

According to several Windows 10 users, when they launch the Adobe Photoshop application, they experience the Kernel security check failure error. There are several reasons behind its occurrence; however, equal fixes as well. Hence if you are also one of the suffered users, have a look at the list of fixes below:

FIX 1: Start Photoshop in Safe Mode:

For resolving the “Kernel security check failure” error in Photoshop, the first method you can try is starting Photoshop in Safe mode. For doing so, follow the steps given below:

Firstly, launch the Settings app by pressing Windows + I altogether.
Now on the Settings window, navigate to Update & Security.
On the left-pane menu, click on the option Recovery, and then on the right-pane menu, click on the Restart now tab.
Further navigate to Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Startup Settings. After that, click on the Restart button.
Once the system restarts, it will display the following options:

Press the appropriate key to choose Safe Mode.

You can use any version of Safe Mode for this process.

Finally, when you enter the Safe Mode, try using Photoshop. The said error would not appear now.

FIX 2: Rollback your Nvidia drivers:

Photoshop uses the graphic card for processing, and if you see the Kernel security check failure error, it means there are some issues with the latest Nvidia drivers. Thus, if you are an Nvidia drivers user, you can roll back the driver and check whether it helps. For doing so, follow the steps given below:

Firstly, open the Power User Menu by pressing Windows + X altogether.
Now select and open the Device Manager window.
On the Device Manager window, locate your Display Adapter, right-click over it and select the option Properties.
Now on the Properties window, navigate to the Driver tab from the vertical menu and then click on the Roll Back Driver tab.
Once the Roll Back process is done, restart your computer and check whether the issue got resolved or not.

FIX 3: Either delete or move Sniffer.exe:

The Sniffer.exe file in Photoshop is designed to use your system’s Graphic card and if you see the Kernel security check failure error, then deleting or moving the Sniffer.exe file is one ultimate solution. For doing so, follow the steps given below:

Note: Deleting or moving the Sniffer.exe file will also disable GPU processing in Photoshop. Hence if your work is highly dependent upon GPU processing, consider avoiding this fix.

Firstly, navigate to the Photoshop installation directory. The directory is usually C:Program > Files> Adobe> Adobe Photoshop CC. It might differentiate a little depending upon the Photoshop version.
Now in the Photoshop directory, locate the file sniffer.exe or sniffer_gpu.exe. You can now either delete it permanently or move it to some other folder or your desktop.

Once you perform the required, relaunch Photoshop and check whether the said error issue got resolved or not.

FIX 4: Use your dedicated Nvidia card with Photoshop:

If you have your own dedicated Nvidia card, you can consider using it with Photoshop in order to avoid the “Kernel security check failure” error. For doing so, follow the steps given below:

Firstly, open the Nvidia Control Panel and then navigate to the option Manage 3D settings.
Here click on the Program Settings tab and further choose the option Photoshop from the list of applications.
After that, set a High-performance Nvidia processor as the preferred graphics processor for Photoshop.
Lastly, click on Apply to make the changes applied.
Once done, re-run Photoshop and check whether the said issue got resolved or if it persists.

As per a few of the suffered users, enabling Triple Buffering feature for Photoshop in Nvidia Control Panel has helped them to get rid of the Kernel security check failure error. You can also try the same and check whether it helps or not.

FIX 5: Disable your graphic card:

Disabling dedicated Graphic Card can help in resolving the Kernel security check failure error. However, you would require to disable it every time you want to start Photoshop. For doing so, follow the steps given below:

Right-click on the Window icon given at the bottom left corner of your desktop screen and then choose the option Device Manager from the context menu.
Now on the Device Manager window, expand the option Display adapters and right-click over your dedicated Graphic card.
Further, choose the option Disable device from the sub-menu.
Once you are done, re-run Photoshop and check whether the issue got resolved or not.

FIX 6: Update your graphic card driver:

As per a lot of suffered users, updating the Graphic card driver might resolve the “Kernel security check failure” error. If you are an Nvidia card user, consider visiting Nvidia’s official website and download the latest version from there. However, if you are using the Integrated Graphic card driver, you can update it from the Device Manager window. For doing so, follow the same steps as FIX 5, and in place of selecting the option Disable driver, select the option Update Driver.

If not manually, you can also use dedicated driver updating tools available online.

FIX 7: Upgrade your graphics card:

At times, in case if Photoshop cannot detect your Graphic card, then you might keep seeing the “Kernel security check failure” error every time you launch the application. It is possible that the Graphic card you are using is not compatible with Photoshop, and thus it is advisable to replace it with any upgraded version.

FIX 8: Switch to the 32-bit version:

As per reports, the “Kernel security check failure” error is only hitting the 64-bit versions of Photoshop but not the 32-bit version. Thus, if you are using 64-bit versions, it is advisable to switch to 32-bit version and check whether the issue still persists.

For switching to the 32-bit version, it is advisable to remove the 64-bit version completely from your system. Though keep in mind that the 32-bit version is slightly slow and might affect the performance.

FIX 9: Get the latest version of Adobe Photoshop:

If nothing else worked for you, it is advisable to get the latest version of Adobe Photoshop. Users who were facing the “Kernel security check failure” error issue reportedly claimed that after updating to a newer version, the said error automatically got resolved, and the application began to run smoothly after that.

These were some of the tried and tested fixes for the “Kernel security check failure” error in Photoshop. Adobe Photoshop is indeed one of the helpful applications, and any error can create a setback influencing your work.

Any one of the fixes mentioned in the article above will help you go through the said error. Most commonly, the issue is related to Graphic card; thus, it is advisable to check the fixes related to the same. We hope you will find the above information helpful and relevant. If you have any queries or feedback, please write down the comment in the below comment box.