BSOD Microsoft
BSOD Microsoft
Microsoft is making changes to the familiar "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD) in Windows 11 version 24H2, replacing it with a "Black Screen of Death." The new design has a black background instead of the traditional blue, which has been used since the feature's introduction in Windows 3.0 in 1990, as reported by Windows Report.
The updated Black Screen of Death simplifies the error message, saying, "Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart," without any technical details that were previously shown:
Black screen of death
Credit: Microsoft/Windows Report
The screen also no longer has the classic frowning face emoji and the QR code that users could scan to look up error information online. The screen is now easier to read, but there is no information available for troubleshooting.
The redesign also looks quite similar to the Windows Update restart screen. Both screens now have black backgrounds and progress indicators, which could confuse users who might mistake an error for a routine update.
Right now, the new Black Screen of Death is available only to testers in the Windows Insider Program using version 24H2 or newer. For these users, the error screen is green instead of black. This change makes it easier to tell Insider builds apart from regular versions. The update will be available to all users in the next few weeks.
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Microsoft Windows 11