Microsoft is officially retiring the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Starting later this summer, Windows 11 will feature a new Black Screen of Death as part of a system update.
Early this year, the company started previewing a revamped error screen as part of a broader effort to refine Windows for a cleaner, more efficient experience for users.
The BSOD appears when Windows crashes due to system errors or faulty drivers. In the new version, the screen will turn black instead of blue, matching the look of other Windows 11 screens like updates and shutdowns. The frowning face emoji and QR code are also being removed.
While the color is changing, the screen will still show important information like stop codes and error messages. These details help users and IT teams find out what caused the crash, whether it’s a problem with Windows or a third-party app or driver.
Microsoft says the goal is to make error messages easier to read and understand. The cleaner design should help users troubleshoot issues faster and reduce confusion during system failures.
The original BSOD first appeared in Windows NT 3.1 back in 1993. Over the years, it evolved, with Microsoft introducing the frowning face in Windows 8 to make the message less ominous.
Alongside the new BSOD, Microsoft is also adding a feature to help recover systems that won’t start. This update comes after major incidents like the 2024 CrowdStrike outage, which caused widespread crashes and BSODs.
The Black Screen of Death will roll out in a Windows 11 update later this summer.
