Even if you don't frequently use a PC, you are likely familiar with the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). This iconic error screen has been a fundamental aspect of the Windows operating system since its initial version, albeit in a form that resembled something out of The Matrix. Encountering the BSOD is certainly not an experience users desire, especially during a presentation by tech luminaries like Bill Gates, as it signifies that some component has crashed, requiring the system to restart.
Recently, Microsoft unveiled a significant redesign of the BSOD through a post on the Windows Insider blog. The Windows Insider program allows software testers to experience new Windows features prior to their public release. Along with a myriad of other enhancements, this redesigned BSOD has been introduced, which Microsoft claims is more streamlined and better aligns with the design principles of Windows 11. Despite the changes, it still retains the same essential technical information that users expect from the traditional blue screen.
Interestingly, the new Blue Screen of Death isn’t even blue. During the testing phase, it appears green, but plans are in place for the final public rollout to feature a black screen. Fortunately, the acronym BSOD will still hold its relevance. The text appearing on the new screen has also undergone changes; the familiar emoticon of a frowny face, which has been part of the BSOD since Windows 8, has been removed. Instead, users will see a straightforward message stating, “Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart,” along with a percentage indicating the progress of the restart.
At the bottom of the new error screen, users can find the stop code and details on what specifically failed. This redesign isn't Microsoft's first overhaul of the BSOD; tech enthusiast Martin Nobel has documented a timeline of these changes, starting from the original Matrix-like screen in Windows 1.0 to the more familiar warning screens that users from the 90s and 2000s remember. Over the years, the color scheme of the BSOD has varied, with Microsoft experimenting with black screens in Windows NT, Windows 8, Windows 10, and even earlier iterations of Windows 11.
While we hope you don’t encounter a BSOD frequently, if you are keen to experience the new error screen during your next system crash, you will need to enroll your PC in the Windows Insider program. This program allows users to test new Windows versions before they are released to the general public, but there is an inherent risk of bugs and other issues. It is vital to back up any important data before you proceed with the enrollment process.
If you are willing to take on these risks, you can follow our detailed guide to enroll your PC. The new BSOD is being rolled out to the Canary, Dev, and Beta Channels, but not to the Release Preview Channel. To access the new BSOD, you must enroll in one of these three channels. For those looking to minimize risks, the Beta channel is advisable, as it features builds that Microsoft has already tested, meaning many issues have likely been identified and resolved. Although it is not entirely risk-free, it offers a better balance compared to the Dev channel, which introduces the newest Windows features that may not have undergone thorough testing yet.
