Microsoft is saying goodbye to one of the most recognisable (and dreaded) features of the Windows operating system, the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).

An upcoming Windows 11 update will swap out the classic error screen for a new version dubbed the Black Screen of Death.

The new crash screen ditches the classic blue background, sad face, and QR code, opting instead for a minimalist black display.

While it still alerts users to system failures, it now includes clearer technical details like stop codes and the responsible system driver. This is to help IT professionals resolve issues faster.

The redesign arrives as part of broader reliability improvements following last year’s CrowdStrike incident, which caused more than 8 million Windows machines to crash, which severely impacted banks, airlines, and corporations globally.

Alongside the new BSOD, Microsoft is also rolling out a “Quick Machine Recovery” tool aimed at reviving PCs that fail to boot.

The update is set to launch later this summer.