How to Fix Windows 11 BSOD: A Complete Guide for 2023

How to Fix the Blue Screen of Death in Windows 11: Causes, Solutions, and Prevention Tips

The blue screen of death (BSOD) is a dreaded error that can occur on Windows computers when something goes wrong with the system. It usually displays a stop code and a message that indicates the cause of the problem, such as “CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED” or “SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION”. The BSOD can be triggered by various factors, such as hardware issues, software conflicts, driver errors, malware infections, or system updates.

The BSOD is not only frustrating but also potentially harmful to your data and device. It can cause data loss, system corruption, or hardware damage if not resolved properly. Therefore, it is important to know how to fix the blue screen of death in Windows 11, the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system that was released in October 2023.

In this blog post, we will explain the common causes of the BSOD in Windows 11, how to troubleshoot and fix them, and how to prevent them from happening again. We will also share some best practices and tips to optimize your Windows 11 performance and security. By following these steps, you can hopefully avoid the blue screen of death and enjoy a smooth and stable computing experience.

What Causes the Blue Screen of Death in Windows 11?

There are many possible causes of the BSOD in Windows 11, but some of the most common ones are:

Hardware issues: Faulty or incompatible hardware components, such as RAM, CPU, GPU, hard drive, or motherboard, can cause the BSOD. Hardware issues can result from physical damage, overheating, power surges, or manufacturing defects.

Software issues: Corrupted or incompatible software programs, such as antivirus, firewall, VPN, or third-party applications, can cause the BSOD. Software issues can result from improper installation, uninstallation, configuration, or update.

Driver issues: Outdated or incompatible device drivers, such as graphics cards, sound cards, network adapters, or printer drivers, can cause the BSOD. Driver issues can result from missing, corrupted, or conflicting drivers.

Malware issues: Malicious software programs, such as viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, or spyware, can cause the BSOD. Malware issues can result from downloading unsafe files, visiting malicious websites, or opening phishing emails.

Update issues: Faulty or incompatible system updates, such as Windows 11 updates or BIOS updates, can cause the BSOD. Update issues can result from incomplete installation, interruption during the installation process, or bugs in the update itself.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix the Blue Screen of Death in Windows 11?

Depending on the cause of the BSOD in Windows 11, there are different solutions that you can try to fix. Here are some general steps that you can follow to troubleshoot and fix the blue screen of death in Windows 11:

Restart your computer: The first and simplest step to fix the BSOD is to restart your computer. Sometimes, the BSOD may be a temporary glitch that can be resolved by a simple reboot. To restart your computer,

Press and hold the power button for a few seconds until your computer shuts down.
Wait for a few seconds and then press the power button again to turn on your computer.

Allow your computer to boot up normally and check if the BSOD still appears.

Enter Safe Mode: Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode of Windows that allows you to start your computer with only essential drivers and services. This can help you isolate the cause of the BSOD and fix it without interference from other programs. To enter Safe Mode,

Press and hold the Shift key while clicking on Restart from the Start menu or the power icon on the login screen.

This will take you to the Advanced Startup Options menu.
Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
After your computer restarts, press F4 to select Enable Safe Mode.

Once you are in Safe Mode, you can proceed with the following troubleshooting steps.

Update your drivers: Outdated or incompatible drivers are one of the most common causes of the BSOD in Windows 11. Therefore, it is essential to update your drivers regularly to ensure compatibility and stability. To update your drivers,

Open Device Manager by pressing Windows + X keys and selecting Device Manager from the menu.

Expand each category of devices and look for any devices with a yellow exclamation mark next to them.

Right-click on each device with a yellow exclamation mark and select Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for updated driver software and follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest driver.
Alternatively, you can also visit the manufacturer’s website of your device and download the latest driver manually.

Repeat this process for all devices with a yellow exclamation mark and restart your computer.

Uninstall problematic software: Corrupted or incompatible software programs can also cause the BSOD in Windows 11. Therefore, it is advisable to uninstall any software that you suspect may be causing the problem. To uninstall problematic software,

Open Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys and select Apps from the menu.

Select Apps & features from the left pane and look for any software you recently installed or updated before the BSOD occurred.

Click on each software and select Uninstall.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.

Repeat this process for all software that you suspect may be causing the problem and restart your computer.

Scan for malware: Malicious software programs can also cause the BSOD in Windows 11 by infecting or damaging your system files. Therefore, it is important to scan your computer for malware regularly and remove any threats that are detected. To scan for malware,

Open Windows Security by pressing the Windows + S keys and typing Windows Security in the search box.
Select Virus & Threat Protection from the left pane and click on Scan options.
Choose Full Scan and click on Scan Now.
Wait for the scan to complete and follow the on-screen instructions to remove any malware that is found.
Restart your computer after the scan is finished.

Undo recent changes: Sometimes, the BSOD in Windows 11 may be caused by recent changes that you made to your system, such as installing a new update, changing a setting, or modifying a registry entry. Therefore, it may help to undo these changes and restore your system to a previous state. To undo recent changes,

Open Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys and select Update & Security from the menu.
Select Recovery from the left pane and click on Restart now under Advanced Startup.
This will take you to the Advanced Startup Options menu.
Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.
Choose a restore point that was created before the BSOD occurred and click on Next.

Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your system to that restore point.

Restart your computer after the restoration is completed.

How to Prevent the Blue Screen of Death in Windows 11?

While there is no guarantee that you can completely avoid the BSOD in Windows 11, there are some preventive measures that you can take to reduce the chances of encountering it. Here are some tips to prevent the blue screen of death in Windows 11:

Keep your system updated: One of the best ways to prevent the BSOD in Windows 11 is to keep your system updated with the latest patches and fixes from Microsoft. These updates can improve your system performance, security, and stability, and fix any bugs or errors that may cause the BSOD. To keep your system updated,

Open Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys and select Update & Security from the menu.
Select Windows Update from the left pane and click on Check for updates.
If there are any available updates, click on Download and install them.
Restart your computer after the updates are installed.

Keep your hardware clean: Another way to prevent the BSOD in Windows 11 is to keep your hardware clean and well-maintained. Dust, dirt, or debris can clog your fans, vents, or ports, and cause overheating or short circuits that may lead to the BSOD. To keep your hardware clean,

Please turn off your computer and unplug it from the power source.

Use a soft cloth or a compressed air can to gently wipe or blow away any dust or dirt from your keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, or other peripherals.

Use a screwdriver to open your computer case and carefully remove any dust or dirt from your motherboard, CPU, GPU, RAM, hard drive, or other components with a soft cloth or a compressed air can.

Make sure that all cables and connectors are securely attached and not loose or damaged.

Close your computer case and plug it back into the power source.

Keep your software optimized: The last way to prevent the BSOD in Windows 11 is to keep your software optimized and free of clutter. Unnecessary files, programs, or settings can slow down your system, consume resources, or cause conflicts that may lead to the BSOD. To keep your software optimized,

Open Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys and select System from the menu.
Select Storage from the left pane and click on Temporary files under Storage Sense.

Check all the boxes for files that you want to delete, such as Recycle Bin, Downloads, Thumbnails, etc., and click on Remove files.

Go back to Storage Sense and click on Configure

Conclusion:

The blue screen of death in Windows 11 is a serious error that can affect your data and device. However, by following the steps in this blog post, you can troubleshoot and fix the BSOD in Windows 11 and prevent it from happening again. You can also optimize your system performance and security by keeping your system updated, your hardware clean, and your software optimized. If you still encounter the BSOD in Windows 11 after trying these solutions, you may need to contact a professional technician or Microsoft support for further assistance. We hope this blog post was helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!

Sources

Causes of the Blue Screen of Death in Windows 11

Microsoft Learn: Stop error, bug check, or blue screen error troubleshooting: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/performance/stop-error-or-blue-screen-error-troubleshooting

Beebom: Common causes of Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors in Windows 11: https://www.itpro.com/operating-systems/microsoft-windows/361713/how-to-fix-blue-screen-error-bsod-windows-11)

Troubleshooting and Fixing the Blue Screen of Death in Windows 11

Microsoft Support: Troubleshoot blue screen errors: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/performance/stop-error-or-blue-screen-error-troubleshooting

TechNet Wiki: How to troubleshoot Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors in Windows 11: https://www.itpro.com/operating-systems/microsoft-windows/361713/how-to-fix-blue-screen-error-bsod-windows-11)

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