Microsoft is retiring the infamous 'blue screen of death'

Microsoft is retiring the notorious “blue screen of death” for Windows users. The feature, long dreaded, will be replaced by a new black-colored screen in upcoming months. This change aims to “streamline the unexpected restart experience.” The simpler screen will appear during unexpected restarts and be available on all Windows 11 devices using 24H2 software. The transition is expected to reduce reboot times “to about two seconds for most users.”

The blue screen's variations have existed since the early 1990s, initially introduced as the “blue screen of unhappiness.” It famously became part of user frustration during significant outages, including one in July 2024.