Blue Screen of Death Windows 11: How to Fix It

Quick Fix

Boot into Safe Mode and uninstall recent updates or drivers. Restart your PC, hold Shift while clicking Restart, then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Safe Mode. From there, uninstall any recent Windows updates or roll back your graphics driver.

Nothing kills productivity like a blue screen. Your Windows 11 PC suddenly crashes, shows a sad face with an error code, and restarts. Sometimes it happens once and never again. Other times, it keeps happening until you want to throw your computer out the window.

Blue screens (officially called “Stop Errors”) mean Windows hit a problem it couldn’t recover from. The good news is most causes are fixable without reinstalling Windows or buying a new PC.

Common Causes of Blue Screen in Windows 11

Blue screens happen for several reasons:

• Faulty drivers – Graphics, audio, or network drivers crashing (most common)
• Bad Windows updates – Microsoft sometimes releases buggy updates
• Hardware problems – Failing RAM, overheating, or dying hard drive
• Corrupted system files – Windows files got damaged
• Incompatible software – Antivirus or system tools conflicting with Windows
• Overclocking – Unstable CPU or RAM settings
• Malware – Some viruses cause system instability

The error code on the blue screen tells you what went wrong. Common ones include DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, KERNEL_SECURITY_CHECK_FAILURE, and CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED.

How to Fix Blue Screen of Death in Windows 11

1. Note the Error Code

Before doing anything, write down the error code shown on the blue screen. It looks something like:

• DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
• SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
• KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR
• PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

If your PC restarts too fast to read it, Windows saves the info. After restarting, search “Reliability Monitor” in the Start menu – it logs all crashes with details.

2. Boot Into Safe Mode

If Windows keeps crashing before you can do anything, boot into Safe Mode first.

Method 1 – From restart:

1. On the login screen, hold Shift and click the Power icon
2. While still holding Shift, click Restart
3. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings
4. Click Restart
5. Press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode (or 5/F5 for Safe Mode with Networking)

Method 2 – Force it:

1. Turn on your PC
2. When you see the Windows logo, hold the power button to force shutdown
3. Repeat this 3 times
4. Windows will boot into Recovery Mode automatically
5. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Safe Mode

3. Uninstall Recent Windows Updates

If blue screens started after a Windows update, that update is probably the culprit.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Go to Windows Update > Update history
3. Scroll down and click Uninstall updates
4. Find the most recent update and click Uninstall
5. Restart your PC

If you can’t boot normally, do this from Safe Mode or Recovery Mode (Advanced Options > Uninstall Updates).

4. Update or Roll Back Drivers

Driver problems cause most blue screens. Graphics drivers are the usual suspect.

To roll back a driver:

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager
2. Expand Display adapters
3. Right-click your graphics card and select Properties
4. Go to the Driver tab
5. Click Roll Back Driver (if available)
6. Restart your PC

To update drivers:

1. In Device Manager, right-click the device
2. Select Update driver > Search automatically
3. Or download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel)

Pay special attention to graphics, network, and chipset drivers.

5. Run System File Checker

Corrupted Windows files can cause random crashes. SFC scans and repairs them.

1. Press Windows key, type cmd
2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator
3. Type and press Enter:

sfc /scannow

4. Wait for the scan (10-15 minutes)
5. If it finds and fixes issues, restart and test

If SFC reports issues it couldn’t fix, run DISM next:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Then run SFC again.

6. Check Your RAM

Faulty RAM causes unpredictable crashes. Windows has a built-in memory test.

1. Press Windows + R, type mdsched.exe, press Enter
2. Click Restart now and check for problems
3. Your PC will restart and test the RAM
4. Results appear after Windows boots (check Event Viewer if you miss them)

If errors are found, you likely have a bad RAM stick. Try removing one stick at a time to identify which one is faulty.

7. Check for Overheating

Overheating can cause blue screens, especially under load (gaming, video editing).

Signs of overheating:

• Crashes happen during intensive tasks
• PC feels very hot
• Fans are constantly loud
• Crashes stop when PC cools down

Fixes:

• Clean dust from fans and vents with compressed air
• Make sure vents aren’t blocked
• Replace thermal paste if your PC is old (requires opening it up)
• Use a laptop cooling pad
• Check CPU/GPU temperatures with HWMonitor or Core Temp

CPU temperatures above 90°C under load are concerning. Above 100°C is dangerous.

8. Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup can cause issues on some systems, including blue screens.

1. Press Windows + R, type powercfg.cpl, press Enter
2. Click Choose what the power buttons do
3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable
4. Uncheck Turn on fast startup
5. Click Save changes

9. Uninstall Problematic Software

Some software conflicts with Windows 11, especially:

• Third-party antivirus (try uninstalling temporarily)
• System optimization tools (CCleaner, etc.)
• Overclocking software
• Old programs not compatible with Windows 11

If crashes started after installing something new, uninstall it and see if the problem stops.

10. Reset Overclocking Settings

If you’ve overclocked your CPU, GPU, or RAM, reset everything to default.

1. Enter BIOS (press Del or F2 during startup)
2. Look for “Load Optimized Defaults” or similar
3. Save and exit

Even “stable” overclocks can become unstable over time, especially as components age.

11. Run a Malware Scan

Some malware causes system instability.

1. Run a full scan with Windows Security
2. Download and run Malwarebytes (free version)
3. Consider running Windows Defender Offline Scan for deeper cleaning

12. Check Your Hard Drive

A failing hard drive or SSD can cause blue screens, especially errors like KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Run:

chkdsk C: /f /r

3. Type Y to schedule the check on next restart
4. Restart your PC and let it run (can take an hour or more)

If CHKDSK finds and fixes errors repeatedly, your drive might be dying. Back up your data.

If Nothing Works

Still getting blue screens? Try these last resorts:

• System Restore – Roll back to a point before the crashes started (search “Create a restore point” in Start menu)
• Reset Windows – Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC (choose “Keep my files”)
• Clean install – Back up everything and reinstall Windows 11 from scratch
• Hardware diagnosis – If crashes persist after a clean install, you likely have a hardware problem (bad RAM, failing drive, or motherboard issue)

FAQ

Is blue screen a virus?

Usually no. Blue screens are typically caused by driver or hardware issues, not viruses. However, some malware can cause system instability that leads to crashes. Run a malware scan to be safe, but don’t assume a virus is the cause.

Why does my PC blue screen only when gaming?

Gaming puts heavy load on your GPU and CPU. This usually points to overheating, unstable graphics drivers, or insufficient power supply. Check temperatures, update GPU drivers, and make sure your PSU is adequate for your hardware.

Can a blue screen damage my computer?

The blue screen itself doesn’t cause damage – it’s Windows protecting your system by stopping when something goes wrong. However, the underlying cause (like overheating) could potentially cause damage if not addressed.

Why do I get blue screens after Windows updates?

Microsoft sometimes releases updates with bugs or driver incompatibilities. Uninstall the recent update, and either wait for a fixed version or use Windows Update settings to pause updates temporarily.

Wrapping Up

Blue screens are scary but usually fixable. Start by noting the error code – it often points directly to the problem. Driver issues and bad Windows updates cause most crashes, so try rolling back drivers and uninstalling recent updates first.

If software fixes don’t help, look at hardware – test your RAM, check temperatures, and scan your hard drive. A clean Windows install that still crashes means you’ve got a hardware problem that needs professional diagnosis.