6 Ways to Fix White Screen of Death on Windows

Quick Tips

• A failure in the hardware is the major cause of the White Screen of Death.
• There are also instances where software issues can result in the problem.
• Most times, force-restarting your computer can fix the issue. But sometimes, you must do much more to clear the White Screen of Death.

Try These Fixes First

• Force restart your computer: An application or program suddenly stopped working can cause a White Screen of Death (WSOD). To fix a frozen application, hold down the power button on your computer for a forced shutdown. Give it about 10 seconds, then press the power button again to restart it.
• Refresh the graphics driver: The problem could also be related to your graphics driver. To fix this, press the Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B keys together. Your screen will flicker for a moment and go black, but then the problem should be resolved.
• Unplug external devices: You might see a white screen because of an external device connected to your computer. To rule out this possibility, disconnect all non-essential external devices and restart your computer.

Fix 1: Update Graphic Drivers

The majority of the time, the WSOD happens due to an issue with the display drivers. If there’s an outdated or incompatible graphic driver, the likelihood of facing the white screen is prevalent. Follow these steps to update your drivers.

Step 1: Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows + I keys together. Then, choose Windows Update from the sidebar and click Advanced options on the right.

Step 2: Select Optional updates. In the following window, you’ll see updates for different drivers installed on your computer. Download the graphics driver update and check to see if the problem is fixed.

Fix 2: Boot System in Safe Mode

Operating your system with the basic functions could help resolve the White Screen of Death. This is because booting your Windows in safe mode ensures minimum applications are running on your device. Safe mode also temporarily disables third-party applications and runs your system with default settings.

To open your system in safe mode, follow these steps.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box. Then, type msconfig and press Enter.

Step 2: In the System Configuration window, select the Boot tab and check the Safe boot box. If you want to use a network connection during safe mode, check the box for the Network option.

Step 3: You can then complete the process by pressing Apply > OK to update the changes.

Step 4: Reboot your system, and your computer will launch in safe mode.

Fix 3: Update Windows

Updating your Windows will ensure you are running on the latest features and bug fixes. By keeping the Windows OS updated, you can fix the potential bugs. To update Windows, open the Settings app > select Windows Update from the sidebar > click Check for updates on the right.

Your computer will now look for any OS updates and download them automatically without much user input.

Fix 4: Disable Overclocking

If you have an overclocked CPU, you’re likely to face the issue. To fix this, here’s how to disable overclocking.

Step 1: Open the Start menu > type Edit power plan in the search bar > hit Enter.

Step 2: Choose Change advanced power settings.

Step 3: In the Power Options window, expand Processor power management by clicking the plus sign next to it. Then, double-click Maximum processor state. Change the setting to 99% for On battery and Plugged in.

Step 4: Click Apply and OK to save the changes.

After that, uninstall any overclocking software on your computer and see if the issue persists. Alternatively, disable overclocking through the BIOS.

Fix 5: Run SFC Scan

Step 1: Open the Start menu > type Command Prompt in the search bar > choose Run as administrator.

Step 2: Type sfc /scannow in the elevated Command Prompt window and hit Enter.

Command Prompt will take some time to execute the command. Once it’s complete, restart your computer and check for the issue.

Fix 6: Uninstall a Recent Window’s update

If you discover that the WSOD started appearing after a recent Windows update, revert to the old version to fix the issue. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open the Settings app > choose Windows Update from the sidebar > click Update history on the right.

Step 2: Click Uninstall updates to view the list of installed applications.

Step 3: Check the installed dates to confirm recently updated applications. Click the Uninstall button next to the most recent update > select Uninstall again to confirm.

Also Read: How to manually cause BSOD in Windows