Where Are Windows Blue Screen Dump Files Stored?
Windows Minidump and MEMORY.DMP paths after a blue screen, and which viewer opens the .dmp files without installing an SDK.
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After a blue screen, Windows writes a small dump for that crash into C:/Windows/Minidump, named by date. A full memory image goes to C:/Windows/MEMORY.DMP when that option is enabled. Minidumps are small enough to copy and share easily.
You need admin rights to open them. Copy the .dmp file to your Documents folder first, then inspect the copy. BlueScreenView reads minidumps without the full Windows debugger install. Check Startup and Recovery settings if the folder stays empty after crashes.
Where Windows stores this, by platform
C:\Windows\Minidump
Each crash adds a .dmp file like 092606-12345-01.dmp. The full image is C:\Windows\MEMORY.DMP. Enable dumps under System > Advanced system settings > Startup and Recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Minidump folder empty after a blue screen?
Dumps may be disabled, or a cleaner wiped them. Check Startup and Recovery settings for Small memory dump, and look for MEMORY.DMP at C:\Windows as a fallback.
How do I read a .dmp file?
Copy it out of the system folder, then open with BlueScreenView for a quick driver list or WinDbg for full stacks. The bug check code at the top points at the failing driver.
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