How to Fix the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) on Windows

Estimated Time to Fix: 10 minutes

Applies to: Windows 11, Windows 10
Article Type: Troubleshooting
Last Updated: 2026-07-20

Summary

This article guides you through troubleshooting and fixing a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error on a Windows computer.

Symptoms

• Your computer suddenly displays a blue screen with a sad face :(.
• The screen shows an error message like "Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart."
• The computer restarts automatically, interrupting your work.

Prerequisites

• None required.

Instructions

1. Identify the Error Code

1. When the blue screen appears, look for the Stop code near the bottom of the screen (e.g., CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED or IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL).
2. Write this code down or take a picture of the screen with your phone.

2. Disconnect External Devices

1. Unplug any recently connected USB devices, external hard drives, or printers.
2. Restart your computer to see if the issue is resolved.

3. Uninstall Recent Windows Updates

1. Click the Start button and type Settings, then press Enter.
2. Navigate to Windows Update > Update history.
3. Scroll down and click Uninstall updates.
4. Click Uninstall next to the most recent update.
5. Restart your computer.

4. Verify Success

1. Use your computer as you normally would. If the blue screen does not return, the issue is fixed.

Troubleshooting

WARNING

If your computer cannot start normally, you may need to boot into Safe Mode to perform these steps. If you are unable to reach the login screen, the issue requires admin access — here's how to submit a ticket.

Symptom / Error	Potential Cause	Solution
Computer keeps restarting in a loop	Critical system failure	How to Submit an Effective IT Support Ticket
BSOD occurs only when using a specific app	Incompatible software	Update or uninstall the problematic application.

Related Articles

• How to Submit an Effective IT Support Ticket

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