Microsoft is currently working on redesigning the iconic Windows BSOD, which traditionally displays in blue with a sad face.
We’d rather not see the dreaded Windows ‘blue screen of death’ appear on our screens. Nevertheless, Windows fans have a strong connection to the traditional blue design, which has been around since Windows 8. Microsoft now announces that it’s considering a redesign of the BSOD. This new design would no longer include the traditional blue color, the sad face, and the QR code.
The design would more closely resemble the simplified screen you get during a Windows update, which is black. According to The Verge, the screen might turn black, but this hasn’t been officially confirmed by Microsoft.
Blue, green, black
“We’re previewing a new, more streamlined user interface for unexpected restarts that better aligns with Windows 11 design principles and supports our goal of getting users back to productivity as quickly as possible. We’ve simplified your experience while maintaining the technical information on the screen,” the company stated in a blog post.
For Windows Insiders, the screen currently still appears green in the test versions. This new look is being rolled out to Windows Insiders on Windows 11, version 24H2 and higher in the Beta, Dev, and Canary channels. This color change is the first major alteration since Microsoft added a sad face in Windows 8.
Microsoft attempted to change the blue screen to black a few years ago, but this received a lot of pushback from Windows fans. In 2021, the screen changed back to the familiar blue color.