How To Fix Blue Screen Windows 10: Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

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5 min. read

Published on October 22, 2025

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The dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), officially known as a stop error, is a Windows error screen you might encounter when your system crashes. It can be alarming, but it’s usually a sign of a software or hardware problem that Windows is struggling to handle. This guide will walk you through troubleshooting steps to identify and resolve the underlying cause of the blue screen in Windows 10.

Don’t panic! While a blue screen can seem catastrophic, it’s often fixable with a systematic approach. This step-by-step guide provides a clear path to diagnose and resolve common BSOD issues, helping you get your Windows 10 system back up and running smoothly.

What Causes a Blue Screen and How Can I Fix It?

1. Check for Recent Hardware or Software Changes

Step 1: If the blue screen started after installing new hardware, remove it.
Step 2: If the blue screen started after installing new software, uninstall it.
Step 3: If you updated drivers recently, roll them back to a previous version.
Go to Device Manager (search for it in the Start Menu).
Find the device with the recently updated driver.
Right-click the device and select “Properties.”
Go to the “Driver” tab.
If the “Roll Back Driver” button is available, click it and follow the prompts.

2. Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

Step 1: Save your work and close all open programs.
Step 2: Search for “Windows Memory Diagnostic” in the Start Menu and select it.
Step 3: Choose “Restart now and check for problems (recommended).”
Step 4: Let the tool run its tests. Your computer will restart automatically.
Step 5: After the restart, Windows will display the results of the memory test.

3. Update Your Drivers

Step 1: Open Device Manager (search for it in the Start Menu).
Step 2: Look for devices with yellow exclamation marks, as these indicate driver problems.
Step 3: Right-click on each problematic device and select “Update driver.”
Step 4: Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software.”
Step 5: Follow the on-screen instructions to install any available updates.
Step 6: Restart your computer after updating drivers.

4. Check Your Hard Drive for Errors

Step 1: Open File Explorer.
Step 2: Right-click on your system drive (usually C:) and select “Properties.”
Step 3: Go to the “Tools” tab.
Step 4: In the “Error checking” section, click “Check.”
Step 5: If prompted, schedule the disk check for the next restart.
Step 6: Restart your computer to allow the disk check to run.

5. Run System File Checker (SFC)

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as an administrator (search for “cmd” in the Start Menu, right-click, and select “Run as administrator”).
Step 2: Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Step 3: Let the scan complete. It may take some time.
Step 4: If the SFC finds and repairs errors, restart your computer.

6. Perform a Clean Boot

Step 1: Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Type msconfig and press Enter.
Step 3: In the System Configuration window, go to the “Services” tab.
Step 4: Check the “Hide all Microsoft services” box.
Step 5: Click “Disable all.”
Step 6: Go to the “Startup” tab and click “Open Task Manager.”
Step 7: In Task Manager, disable all startup items.
Step 8: Close Task Manager and click “OK” in the System Configuration window.
Step 9: Restart your computer. If the blue screen is gone, start re-enabling services and startup items one by one to identify the culprit.

7. Consider System Restore

Step 1: Search for “Create a restore point” in the Start Menu and select it.
Step 2: Click the “System Restore…” button.
Step 3: Choose a restore point from before the blue screen issues started.
Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the system restore.

8. Reinstall Windows as a Last Resort

If all other troubleshooting steps fail, reinstalling Windows might be necessary. This will erase all data on your system drive, so back up your important files first. You can reinstall Windows using a USB drive or DVD.

Tips

Note down the error code displayed on the blue screen. This code can provide valuable clues about the cause of the problem.
Keep your system updated with the latest Windows updates.
Ensure your antivirus software is up-to-date and run a full system scan.
Monitor your system’s temperature to rule out overheating issues.

Windows Stability Restored

Troubleshooting a blue screen can be frustrating, but by systematically working through these steps, you can often identify and resolve the underlying issue. Remember to back up your data regularly to minimize the impact of future system crashes.

Comparison of Common BSOD Solutions

Here’s a quick comparison of some of the solutions discussed above:

Solution	Description	Data Loss?	Complexity	Time Required
Update Drivers	Ensures hardware components are using the latest software.	No	Low	Short
Run Memory Diagnostic	Tests the system’s RAM for errors.	No	Low	Moderate
System File Checker (SFC)	Scans and repairs corrupted Windows system files.	No	Low	Moderate
System Restore	Reverts the system to a previous working state.	Potentially	Moderate	Moderate
Reinstall Windows	Erases and reinstalls the operating system.	Yes	High	Long

FAQ

What does a blue screen mean? A blue screen, or Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), indicates a critical system error that forces Windows to stop working to prevent further damage.

Can a virus cause a blue screen? Yes, malware, including viruses, can sometimes corrupt system files and cause a blue screen.

How do I find the error code on the blue screen? The error code is usually displayed prominently on the blue screen, often in the form of a STOP code or a bug check code.

Is a blue screen a hardware or software problem? A blue screen can be caused by either hardware or software issues. Troubleshooting is needed to determine the root cause.

How often should I back up my data to avoid problems from a blue screen? It’s recommended to back up your data regularly, ideally weekly or even daily for critical files.