What Is BSOD
BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) is a blue error interface displayed in Windows when the system encounters a serious system error. Its appearance means that the system cannot continue to run safely and must be forced to stop to prevent data corruption or hardware damage.
The core meaning of BSOD is Windows’ protection mechanism. It is triggered when the system detects an unrecoverable error. An error code (such as 0x0000007E) and a brief description (such as MEMORY_MANAGEMENT) are also here.
How to Troubleshoot Blue Screen Error Windows 11
In many cases, a blue screen of death is not just a one-time crash. It can happen repeatedly during startup, preventing you from accessing the desktop. This makes normal troubleshooting nearly impossible.
The following content tells you how to fix blue screen error in Windows 11. First, try some basic methods.
Fix 1: Restart your computer
A blue screen (BSOD) indicates that a fatal error has occurred in the core of the system and that it cannot continue to run stably. Restarting is a straightforward way to reinitialize the system.
Fix 2: Disconnect unnecessary devices
The external device may be conflicting with the system or driver, causing a blue screen. Disconnecting unnecessary devices is a quick way to diagnose and troubleshoot troubleshoot Windows 11 blue screen error.
Check if You Can Enter Safe Mode
If restarting your computer and removing external devices didn’t help, and the blue screen keeps appearing, try booting into Safe Mode. Safe mode starts Windows with only basic drivers and services. So, you can access your system and troubleshoot Windows 11 blue screen error.
Step 1: Restart the computer 2 or 3 times (force shutdown each time a blue screen or freeze occurs)
Turn on your computer, and then long-press the Power button to shut down. Repeat this process 2 to 3 times, and the system will automatically enter Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
Step 2: Enter the safe mode
On the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings, and then click Restart. Press F4 to enter safe mode from the list of options.
After successfully entering the safe mode, you can carry out the following methods.
Way 1: Uninstall Third-party Software
Third-party software may be one of the causes when the system displays a blue screen. Uninstalling them can help determine if there are any incompatible, conflicting, or damaged programs.
Step 1: Open Control Panel
Press the Win + R keys, type Control, and press Enter.
Step 2: Find the third-party software
Click Uninstall a program under the Programs tab, or change the view to Large icons and choose Programs and Features.
Step 3: Uninstall the software
Right-click the target software and select Uninstall.
Way 2: Uninstall the Recent Update
The latest update may cause a blue screen due to compatibility issues. Uninstall it to see if it helps troubleshoot Windows 11 blue screen error.
Step 1: Open Control Panel
Search for Control Panel in the Windows search bar and press Enter.
Step 2: Enter the Update Management interface
Select Programs and Features and click View installed updates on the left.
Step 3: Uninstall recent updates
Check the installation date, find the latest update, right-click it, and select Uninstall.
Way 3: Rebuild MBR
Rebuilding the MBR (Master Boot Record) can help you fix certain boot failures.
Step 1: Enter Windows Recovery Environment
Click the Windows logo button > Power. Then click Restart while holding the Shift key to enter the Windows Recovery Environment.
Step 2: Open Command Prompt
Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt in the Choose an option window.
Step 3: Run the command
Type the following commands and press Enter after each one:
- bootrec /Fixmbr
- bootrec /FixBoot
- bootrec /ScanOs
- bootrec /RebuildBcd
Now, execute exit to close the Command Prompt window and then restart your computer.
Alternatively, you can try MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable Edition to rebuild the MBR. Use it to create a bootable USB drive, and start your PC from it.
On the main interface of this tool, select the system disk which is suffering MBR damage and click Rebuild MBR from the left panel.
Finally, click Apply to apply the change.
What if your computer keeps getting stuck on the blue screen, and data cannot be accessed? Then, you need to recover data first to avoid file loss, and then reinstall Windows.
Recover Data From a Non-bootable Windows 11
MiniTool Power Data Recovery is a data recovery tool that supports extracting data from damaged or inaccessible Windows systems.
When Windows cannot boot, this software allows you to create a bootable disk (usually a USB drive). You can then boot the computer from this disk and access the drives in the original system for data recovery.
It is compatible with multiple file systems, including NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, and Ext2/3/4. And, it supports recovering documents, pictures, videos, and so on.
Even in the WinPE environment, this tool offers a user-friendly interface and simple operations.
Note that the free edition does not support this.
Process 1: Create a bootable disk
Step 1: Download and install MiniTool Power Data Recovery Free on another working computer.
MiniTool Power Data Recovery FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
Step 2: Launch the software. In the main interface, switch to the Utility section and click Download to get the bootable edition. Then launch it.
Step 3: Connect a blank USB flash drive to the computer. Click the disc icon in the upper-right corner to open MiniTool Bootable Media Builder. Then follow the on-screen instructions to create a bootable disk.
Step 4: When this process ends, click Finish and remove the disk.
Process 2: Boot your computer from the bootable disk
Step 1: Connect the disk to your unbootable Windows 11 computer.
Step 2: Restart your Windows 11 computer and press F2 or F8 during startup to enter BIOS.
Step 3: Switch to the Boot tab and change the boot order to boot from the bootable USB disk. Then wait for the MiniTool data restore tool to launch.
Process 3: Scan the partition and save files
Step 1: When MiniTool Power Data Recovery is launched, choose the partition from which you need to recover files and click Scan.
Since a clean installation of Windows usually affects the files in the system drive, I choose the system drive to scan.
Step 2: When the scan process ends, use Type, Filter, and Search to locate your target files.
Step 3: Select a file and click Preview to check its content.
Step 4: After confirming, tick them all and click Save.
Step 5: Select an external drive to store the recovered files and click OK.
Way 4. Perform a Clean Installation
What if Windows keeps getting stuck on blue screen? You can try performing a clean installation.
Step 1: Create installation media on a working PC
In the Download Windows 11 site, under Create Windows 11 Installation Media, select Download Now. After that, run MediaCreationTool.exe. The Media Creation Tool guides you through creating the installation media.
Step 2: Boot from the Windows installation media
Connect the installation media to your non-bootable computer. When booting, press the startup shortcut key continuously to enter BIOS, set the USB drive as the first startup item, and press F10.
Step 3: Enter the installation interface
Select the language, time format, and keyboard layout, and click Next. In the Choose installation options window, select Install Windows 11 > I agree that everything will be removed, including files, apps, and settings, and then choose Next.
Step 4: Delete partitions and install Windows 11
In the Select location to install Windows 11 window, delete all partitions on Disk 0 that are not listed as Unallocated Space. Select Disk 0 Unallocated Space, and then select Next.
In the Ready to Install window, select Install. The Windows reinstallation begins. The device restarts several times during the reinstallation.
What Causes Windows 11 Blue Screen Error
Now let’s take a look at the common causes of the Windows 11 blue screen error.
- Driver problems: expired, conflicting, or incompatible drivers
- Hardware failures: memory damage, hard disk bad sectors, overheating, etc.
- System file damage: update failure or accidental deletion of key system files
- Viruses or malware: interference with normal operation or modification of system files
- Power and BIOS issues: overclocking failures and voltage instability
How to Avoid a Blue Screen
Now, refer to the following methods to prevent a blue screen in the future.
Way 1: Scan for Viruses
Viruses and malware can affect your computer’s stability, causing a blue screen. Scanning for them is a prevention.
Step 1: Open Settings
Right-click the Windows button and choose Settings.
Step 2: Locate scan options
Click Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.
Step 3: Start the scan process
Choose the scan option in Quick, Full, Custom, and Microsoft Defender Offline scans and click Scan now.
Way 2: Run Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
Running the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool can detect whether there are problems with your computer’s memory (RAM). It is critical to system stability and performance.
Step 1: Open Windows Memory Diagnostics
Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box, enter mdsched.exe, and press Enter.
Step 2: Select the restart option
You will see a prompt window. If you want to check immediately, select Restart now and check for problems (recommended). If you want to check later, select Check for problems at the next time I start my computer.
Step 3: The system will restart and automatically detect memory
The diagnosis process may take several minutes. After the detection is completed, the system will automatically restart and return to Windows.
Step 4: View the test results
After logging into the system, press the Win + X keys and select Event Viewer. Select Windows Log > System, click Filter Current Log on the right, and then select MemoryDiagnostics-Results. The log will show whether memory errors are found.
If errors are found, consider replacing the RAM to prevent system instability.
Way 3: Update Drivers Regularly
Regular driver updates can avoid device conflicts, crashes, blue screens, and other issues.
Step 1: Launch Device Manager
Press the Win + X keys and select Device Manager.
Step 2: Find the target device
Find the device you want to update, such as Display Adapter or Network Adapter.
Step 3: Update the driver
Right-click the target device and choose Update driver. Select Search automatically for drivers, and Windows will try to find and install the latest version.
Way 4: Check Hard Drive for Errors
Some users said they frequently experienced blue screens, and eventually found that the hard drive had bad sectors. After using the error-checking tool or the CHKDSK command to repair them, the problem disappeared immediately.
Option 1: Use the built-in check tool
Step 1: Open Explorer and find the disk
Press the Win + E keys to open File Explorer and find the disk you want to check.
Step 2: Perform the error checking operation
Right-click the target disk and select Properties. Switch to the Tools tab and click Check under Error Checking.
If the system detects errors, it will prompt you to repair them.
Option 2: Use Command Prompt (more powerful)
Step 1: Open Command Prompt as administrator
Click the search box, enter cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator. When prompted by UAC, click Yes.
Step 2: Run the command
Enter the following command and press Enter:
chkdsk C: /f /r
To make you better understand this command, here is the meaning explanation:
- C: is the name of the disk partition you want to check
- /f means automatically repair errors
- /r means find bad sectors and try to recover readable information
If you are using the disk, the system will prompt you to check it at the next startup. You can press Y to confirm.
Way 5: Check and Repair System Files
Checking and repairing corrupted system files can also prevent your Windows from getting a blue screen.
Step 1: Open Command Prompt as administrator
Type cmd in the Windows search box and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys.
Step 2: Run the command
Type the following commands and press Enter after each one:
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Keep typing sfc /scannow and press Enter. The system will automatically scan and repair tampered or lost system files.
Way 6: Back up System and Files
The BSOD often occurs without warning and may cause data loss or system failure to boot. Backing up the system and files can effectively reduce the risk of this error.
MiniTool ShadowMaker is recommended for you to back up files. It can create an entire system image and quickly restore the system to its original state after a crash or virus infection.
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Step 1: Set up the system backup task
Click Backup on the left menu bar. In the Source area, the system partition (usually the C drive) will be selected by default, but you can also change it manually. In the Destination area, select the location to save the backup file.
Step 2: Configure backup options (optional)
Click Options to set backup schedule (daily, weekly, monthly), and select the backup scheme.
Step 3: Start backup
After the settings are completed, click Back Up Now to start the immediate backup.
Final Words
In short, to troubleshoot Windows 11 blue screen error, enter safe mode first and try the above methods. After successfully solving it, do some operations to prevent the blue screen problem in the future.
If you have any confusion while using MiniTool products, you can contact us via [email protected].
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Chelsea graduated from university with a major in English. She has a strong interest in English writing. It is this passion for writing that led her to become an English editor. Her articles mainly foucus on data recovery and other computer industry news. As an energetic and outgoing girl, Chelsea enjoys listening to music, singing, riding bikes, and eating in her spare time.
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