Microsoft changes the famous Blue Screen of Death
If you’ve ever used a Windows computer, you’ve probably seen the famous “Blue Screen of Death” (BSOD). It had a bright blue background, a sad face emoji, and the message “An error has occurred.” This screen showed up when the computer crashed and couldn’t continue working. Now, Microsoft is changing it. In the test version of Windows 11 24H2, the screen is no longer blue, it’s black.
But it’s not just the color that’s different, other things are gone too. The sad face is no longer there, and the QR code that helped users find more info about the error has been removed. The QR code has been part of the BSOD since Windows 10.
The message on the screen has also changed. It now says, “Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart.” This message is shorter and easier to understand. It also says “device” instead of “PC,” which includes laptops, tablets, and other Windows devices. The error code is still there, but it’s written in small letters at the bottom of the screen.
Microsoft may have planned this change earlier, during the first versions of Windows 11, but it wasn’t added until now.

IMG source: Microsoft.com
So, why is Microsoft changing the BSOD? They haven’t said for sure. Maybe they want to move away from the bad image that the blue screen has. It’s often seen as a sign of problems and frustration. A black screen might feel more modern or calm. Still, some users may not like the change. The new black screen looks very plain, and some people say it feels like a digital “funeral.” Even though the blue screen wasn’t fun, many Windows users are used to it since it’s been around for a long time.
We don’t know exactly when this black screen will appear in the full version of Windows 11. But it may come soon in a future update, possibly during one of Microsoft’s regular “Patch Tuesday” releases.