Microsoft is reworking Windows 11’s Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), making some tangible changes to its look.
Gone are the blue background, the sad face, and the QR code that users could read to troubleshoot. Instead, Windows 11’s new BSOD resembles the black screen that shows up when Windows is updating itself.
At present, on test builds of Windows 11, the BSOD is shown as a green screen to Windows Insiders testing the Beta, Dev, and Canary Channels.
But when the final version arrives, Microsoft could switch it to black rather than blue. It has not been officially confirmed whether the black will be permanent or not.
As Microsoft says, this new design fits the modern appearance of Windows 11 and is meant to let people grasp mistakes instantly and resume their work.
The error message still provides key technical data, like the error code or the malfunctioning driver, but in a less complex way.
This is among the largest modifications to the BSOD since Microsoft added the sad face emoji with Windows 8.
In 2021, Microsoft temporarily tested a black BSOD in initial Windows 11 builds but subsequently went back to the traditional blue screen.
With Windows 11 version 24H2 now, it looks like the company is trying its luck once more at modifying the BSOD, perhaps for good.
Stay tuned for updates as Microsoft finalizes these changes, and stay in touch for more exciting news and tech developments!