Windows is getting rid of the Blue Screen of Death after 40 years | The VergeSkip to main contentHamburger Navigation ButtonHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandReviewsExpandScienceExpandEntertainmentExpandCarsExpandVideosExpandPodcastsExpandNewslettersExpandSubscribeWindows is getting rid of the Blue Screen of Death after 40 yearsComments DrawerWindows is getting rid of the Blue Screen of Death after 40 yearsMicrosoft is saying hello to the Black Screen of Death error message instead.Microsoft is saying hello to the Black Screen of Death error message instead.by Jun 26, 2025, 3:46 PM UTCLinkFacebookThreadsBloomberg via Getty ImagesTom Warren is a senior editor and author of , who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years.The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) has held strong in Windows for nearly 40 years, but that’s about to change. Microsoft revealed earlier this year that it was error message in Windows 11, and the company has now confirmed that it will soon be known as the Black Screen of Death. The new design drops the traditional blue color, frowning face, and QR code in favor of a simplified black screen.The simplified BSOD looks a lot more like the black screen you’d see during a Windows update. But it will list the stop code and faulty system driver that you wouldn’t always see during a crash dump. IT admins shouldn’t need to pull crash dumps off PCs and analyze them with tools like WinDbg just to find out what could be causing issues.The new BSOD in Windows 11. Image: Microsoft“This is really an attempt on clarity and providing better information and allowing us and customers to really get to what the core of the issue is so we can fix it faster,” says David Weston, vice president of enterprise and OS security at Microsoft, in an interview with The Verge. “Part of it just cleaner information on what exactly went wrong, where it’s Windows versus a component.”Microsoft says it will roll out this new BSOD design in an update to Windows 11 “later this summer,” alongside its new feature, which is designed to quickly restore machines that can’t boot. The changes to the BSOD are part of a to improve the resiliency of Windows in the wake of last year’s CrowdStrike incident, which left millions of Windows machines booting to a BSOD.See More: Most PopularMost PopularInstallerA weekly newsletter by David Pierce designed to tell you everything you need to download, watch, read, listen to, and explore that fits in The Verge’s universe.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our and . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply.More in The Xbox 360 dashboard just got updated... to advertise newer XboxesComcast is simplifying its Xfinity internet plans and dropping data capsGemini is getting ready to replace Google Assistant on AndroidThe creator of the Delta emulator made a Game Boy Camera-style app for your iPhoneThe pharma CEOs aren’t safe in new trailer for Yorgos Lanthimos’ BugoniaYouTube search gets its own version of Google’s AI OverviewsThe Xbox 360 dashboard just got updated... to advertise newer XboxesAndrew LiszewskiJun 26CommentsComment Icon BubbleComcast is simplifying its Xfinity internet plans and dropping data capsJay PetersJun 26CommentsComment Icon BubbleGemini is getting ready to replace Google Assistant on AndroidJess WeatherbedJun 26CommentsComment Icon BubbleThe creator of the Delta emulator made a Game Boy Camera-style app for your iPhoneAndrew LiszewskiJun 26CommentsComment Icon BubbleThe pharma CEOs aren’t safe in new trailer for Yorgos Lanthimos’ BugoniaCharles Pulliam-MooreJun 26CommentsComment Icon BubbleYouTube search gets its own version of Google’s AI OverviewsJay PetersJun 26CommentsComment Icon BubbleTop StoriesJun 26What is an Xbox?Jun 26AI is ruining houseplant communities onlineJun 26Bose SoundLink Plus review: here’s your new beach speakerJun 26Dell’s new Premium laptops are here, for the XPS rebrand nobody asked forJun 25The Trump Phone no longer promises it’s made in America5 minutes agoMeta says it’s winning the talent war with OpenAIContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2025 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved, The redesigned screen stands out by featuring lots of blank space and a smaller font, perhaps to soften the sense of panic. Microsoft has also scrubbed the frowny face from the alert, along with , Tom Warren is a senior editor and author of Notepad, who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years. The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) has held strong in Windows for .