Blue Screen of Death returning to Windows 11

Microsoft plans to switch the Black Screen of Death to the original blue screen color on Windows 11.

BSOD QR code on Windows 10
  • Windows 11 update will revert Black Screen of Death back to Blue.
  • The change is already implemented on build 22000.346.
  • Microsoft didn’t explain the reason.

Windows 11 is expected to get the original Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) instead of the new Black Screen of Death (BSoD). If you upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and the device encountered a critical error, you probably noticed that the known blue screen was changed to a black color scheme. This is because Microsoft updated the experience to match the new shut down and logon design.

However, the next monthly update (build 22000.346) for the original release of Windows 11 will change the color back to blue (via Windows Central), but the company isn’t detailing the reason. The official notes read: “Changed the screen color to blue when a device stops working or a stop error occurs as in previous versions of Windows.”

The Blue Screen of Death usually appears when the system comes across an error that it cannot handle. When an error occurs, the screen turns blue, the system creates a dump file and shows an error code that network administrators can use to troubleshoot and fix software and hardware problems.

The blue screen error (also known as bugcheck) made its first appearance during the 90s with the introduction of Windows 3.0, and even though it has evolved over the years, Microsoft always kept it blue. However, it was then updated to black to Windows 11, and now, it will be once again blue.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.