ErrorFindly
0x00000018BSODCritical

0x00000018 — Reference by Pointer | Blue Screen Fix Guide

REFERENCE_BY_POINTER

Windows 10Windows 11

What Does 0x00000018 Mean?

An object's reference count was found to be illegal for its current state. The object's reference count is corrupted.

Real-World Causes

  1. 1Corrupted object reference count
  2. 2Driver double-freeing an object
  3. 3Memory corruption
  4. 4Faulty third-party software

Symptoms

  • ⚠Blue screen with stop code REFERENCE_BY_POINTER
  • ⚠System reboots unexpectedly
  • ⚠Possible data loss from unsaved work

DIY Fix

Beginner-friendly steps you can try at home

  1. 1Restart your computer
  2. 2Run System File Checker (sfc /scannow)
  3. 3Check Windows Update
  4. 4Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Advanced Fix

For experienced users and IT professionals

  1. 1Analyze minidump with WinDbg
  2. 2Check Event Viewer for correlated errors
  3. 3Use Process Monitor to trace system activity
  4. 4Perform clean boot to isolate the cause

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes REFERENCE_BY_POINTER?
An object's reference count was found to be illegal for its current state. The object's reference count is corrupted.
Can I fix Reference by Pointer myself?
In many cases yes. Start with basic troubleshooting like restarting, updating drivers, and running System File Checker. If the issue persists, advanced analysis of crash dumps may be needed.

Related Error Codes

0x00000019Bad Pool Header0x0000000AIRQL not Less or Equal

About the Author

Windows Troubleshooting Team

Verified against official Microsoft documentation and real-world diagnostic data. Error behavior confirmed across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server.