Windows 11: The blue screen of death is making a triumphant return

BSOD
(Image credit: Future)

Microsoft has reversed course regarding its decision to change the color of its notorious error screen from blue to black in Windows 11.

The blue screen of death error screen has been an unwelcome sight for users of the software giant's operating system since it was first introduced in Windows 3.0 all the way back in 1990. This error screen only appears on your PC when it has encountered a serious problem and needs to restart which is why Windows users dread seeing it so much.

While Microsoft has changed the blue screen of death over the years to include additional information on errors to help its users troubleshoot problems, the color of the error screen has always remained blue from Windows 3.0 up until Windows 10.

However, back in July, it appeared as if the company would change the color of the iconic error screen from blue to black with the release of Windows 11. Perhaps Microsoft wanted to do this to make Windows 11 stand out from its predecessors and give the new version of its operating system a distinctive style

From black back to blue

Although Microsoft never provided a proper explanation regarding its decision to change the blue screen of death to black, it now appears as if the company has changed its mind.

As reported by ZDNet and first spotted by Ars Technica, the software giant is rolling back its color change in a new Windows 11 preview released to its Beta and Release Preview Channels.

At the bottom of a blog post detailing all of the improvements in Windows 11 preview Build 22000.346, there is a bullet point which reads: We changed the screen color to blue when a device stops working or a stop error occurs as in previous versions of Windows”.

While you'll hopefully never have to encounter this dreaded error screen yourself, at least now when you do, you'll know exactly what you're in for thanks to the color change back to blue.

Looking to upgrade for Windows 11? Check out our roundup of the best business computers as well as our lists of the best business laptops, best workstations and best mobile workstations

Via ZDNet

TOPICS
Anthony Spadafora

After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home. 

Read more
Young woman using laptop, looking annoyed
Microsoft embarrasses itself with Windows 10 pop-up that hogs the desktop urging an upgrade to Windows 11 – then promptly crashes
A woman standing by a desk with a desktop computer setup with a monitor and mouse. She is holding the keyboard as if ready to swing it at the monitor.
Gamers beware: Windows 11 24H2 update could wreck your colors and crash your games
Windows 11 forced onto old hardware
Windows 11 is still my favorite OS, ads and all
Microsoft Store logo on a blurred background
There's finally a fix for an annoying Microsoft Store bug that's older than Windows 11
Windows 11 update with Task Manager menu
Microsoft is fixing Windows 11 Task Manager’s quirky reporting of CPU usage, and a much-wanted change for the lock screen is coming, too
A man getting angry with his laptop.
Windows 11 bug deletes Copilot from the OS – is this the first glitch ever some users will be happy to encounter?
Latest in Pro
Collaboration in an office.
Trends driving IT decision-makers in 2025
Nvidia GR00T N1 humanoid robot
Nvidia is dreaming of trillion-dollar datacentres with millions of GPUs and I can't wait to live in the Omniverse
Nvidia Isaac GROOT N1
“The age of generalist robotics is here" - Nvidia's latest GROOT AI model just took us another step closer to fully humanoid robots
A computer file surrounded by red laser beams
Free online file converters could infect your PC with malware, FBI warns
Nvidia Earth-2 weather models
Nvidia has updated its virtual recreation of the entire planet - and it could mean better weather forecasts for everyone
Nvidia DGX Station
Nvidia’s DGX Station brings 800Gbps LAN, the most powerful chip ever launched in a desktop workstation PC
Latest in News
Volvo Gaussian Splatting
Volvo is using AI-generated worlds to make its cars safer and it’s all thanks to something called Gaussian splatting
Image of Asus ROG Ally running Bazzite/SteamOS
This SteamOS update promises a new future for non-Steam Deck handheld PCs – and I can’t wait
Perplexity Squid Game Ad
New ad declares Squid Game's real winner is Perplexity AI
Pedro Pascal in Apple's Someday ad promoting the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.
Pedro Pascal cures his heartbreak thanks to AirPods 4 (and the power of dance) in this new ad
Frank Grimes confronts Homer Simpson in The Simpsons' Homer's Enemy episode
Disney+ adds a new continuous Simpsons stream, so you no longer have to spend ages choosing an episode
Helly and Mark standing on an artificial hill surrounded by goats in Severance season 2 episode 3
New Apple teaser for Severance season 2 finale suggests we might finally find out what Lumon is doing with those goats, and I don't think it's anything good