Microsoft is retiring the infamous “blue screen of death” that has troubled Windows users for decades. In an announcement highlighted in a blog post, the company plans to replace the notorious feature with a streamlined black screen during unexpected restarts. This change is set to roll out later this summer for all Windows 11 devices operating on the 24H2 software.
The new black screen is designed to simplify the restart experience, with updates promising to reduce reboot times to approximately two seconds for most users. The “blue screen of death” has been a part of Windows since the early 1990s, starting as the “blue screen of unhappiness” in Windows 3.1 when the control-alt-delete shortcut was introduced. The term evolved into the “blue screen of death” in 1993 with the advent of Windows NT, indicating severe system failures.
Raymond Chen, a Microsoft employee, notes that a version of the black screen was initially introduced to Windows 11 users in 2021, albeit with different dialogue. This update seems to reflect Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to enhance user experience, especially following widespread service disruptions, such as the major outage last July caused by CrowdStrike, which left many devices showcasing the dreaded blue screen.
By moving forward with this transition, Microsoft appears committed to improving the reliability and user-friendliness of its operating systems. This change not only simplifies the process of recovering from system errors but also signals a modern approach to managing technical interruptions.