Why blue screen

It's a frustrating problem, as it's often tough to troubleshoot and can pop up out of nowhere. We'll walk you through some basic tips on how to fix a blue screen on Windows 10, as well as providing resources for specific blue screen error codes.

In case you're not sure what a blue screen problem even is, let's first review this important Windows term. What's commonly called a "blue screen of death" in Windows 10 is technically known as a stop error or fatal system error.

This occurs when the operating system crashes, meaning that it ran into some issue that prevented it from running safely. When this happens, Windows displays a blue screen with some information about the problem and then restarts.

Blue screens can happen for many reasons, which we'll dig into below. Common BSOD causes include bad drivers, problems with hardware, and operating system errors. Newer versions of Windows, like Windows 10, are more stable than earlier versions, so you hopefully won't run into blue screens too often.

You should also know that a blue screen occurring one time isn't necessarily an issue. Thus, you should only need to dig into the following blue screen error fixes if you continually hit a blue screen. It's tough to talk about how to resolve blue screen errors without knowing the specific error you're hitting. Thus, the best place to start with fixing blue screens is noting the actual problem.

Below this, you'll see a link to Microsoft's blue screen troubleshooting page , a QR code, and a Stop Code field. If you want, you can scan the QR code with your phone's camera to jump to a Microsoft support page. The most important part is to note the stop code listed on the page, which will help you narrow your troubleshooting. If you miss the code initially, follow our guide to retrieving stop codes in Windows Now that you know what your specific issue is, you can move towards appropriate blue screen fixes.

We've written articles on some of these:. These aren't the only blue screen errors you'll come across, but they're some of the most common. In case you can't determine your exact error code, or the troubleshooting in those guides didn't solve your issues, move onto the below more general blue screen error solutions.

Many times, you'll start seeing blue screen errors after making a change to your system. Such changes can introduce problematic elements into an otherwise stable environment. Identifying this can help your troubleshooting. For example, if you just installed a new printer, try unplugging it from your computer to see if the blue screen persists. On the next page with the list, click Uninstall updates at the top and remove the most recent update to see if that solves the problem.

The same goes for software. If you started noticing the blue screens after installing a new program, try removing the app and see if that fixes your issues. Browse All Mac Articles Do I need one? Browse All Android Articles Browse All Smart Home Articles Customize the Taskbar in Windows Browse All Microsoft Office Articles What Is svchost. Browse All Privacy and Security Articles Browse All Linux Articles Browse All Buying Guides. Best Portable Monitors. Best Gaming Keyboards. Best Drones.

Best 4K TVs. Best iPhone 13 Cases. Best Tech Gifts for Kids Aged Best 8K TVs. Best VR Headsets. Best iPad Mini Cases. Best Gifts for Cutting the Cord. Best Bluetooth Speakers. Awesome PC Accessories. Best Linux Laptops. Best Gaming Monitors. Best iPads. Best iPhones. Best External Hard Drives.

Still, the blue screen is often a sign that there is a deeper issue with your PC that needs to be repaired. Here is what you need to know about the blue screen, why it happens, how to troubleshoot the problem, and what can be done to prevent it from happening.

The blue screen happens when Windows encounters a critical error that stops the operating system from running. These critical errors can be the result of faulty hardware, faulty or low level hardware drivers, or faulty or low level apps that run within the Windows kernel.

With Windows 10, the blue screen usually occurs just before the computer restarts itself. But why does the computer get a blue screen in the first place? When your screen goes blue, Windows is trying to stop its processes and restart the system, while also gathering data about the critical failure so that this information can be relayed to Microsoft for future troubleshooting and support features.

Once the computer reboots, it is usually once again functioning, and it may work as though nothing ever happened. The worst thing about getting a blue screen in Windows 10 is that you could lose your unsaved work. Because the operating system is encountering a critical error, none of the software applications you were running at the time will be able to save and close properly. The important thing to remember when you get the blue screen is that you need to determine why the blue screen happened so that you can prevent it from happening again.

If you continue to run the same drivers, software, and hardware without making adjustments, the problem is unlikely to go away on its own. Troubleshooting the Blue Screen of Death Troubleshooting the blue screen is easier today than it has ever been before.

When Windows encounters a critical failure, it automatically gathers data about the failure and restarts the computer. Depending on the version of Windows that you have, the blue screen may give you detailed information about what caused the error. If you have Windows 10, the screen may display an error name or description. If the blue screen goes by too fast for you to write down the information, you can still access these error logs in the Action Center found in the Control Panel.

If you follow the troubleshooting steps in the Action Center but you still keep getting the blue screen, there are some additional troubleshooting steps that you can take to discover the problem.