Windows Blue screen error: How the Microsoft global outage is affecting everyone

If you woke up today only to find your Windows PC or laptop restarting unexpectedly (and continuously), you’re definitely not the only one. Millions of Windows users are currently facing an outage, also known as the ‘Blue Screen of Death’, which followed a recent CrowdStrike update by Microsoft. Here’s everything you need to know:

What is Microsoft's Blue Screen of Death error?

The Blue Screen of Death error (BSOD) typically refers to a cryptic error message that shows up along with a blue screen. The message pops up almost unexpectedly and is also referred to as a ‘stop error‘, ‘fatal’ or ‘critical’ error. This screen usually shows up when your system comes across a severe issue that prevents it from operating safely.

While several factors could contribute to BSOD, the most common ones include hardware malfunctions, driver problems, or the unexpected termination of essential processes or threads. 

That said, several users today took to X (formerly Twitter) to complain about an unusual error popping up on their screens, following which their laptop or PC seems to be getting stuck on a restart loop.

Why are Windows users facing a Blue Screen of Death error?

According to Microsoft, the update comes after a major outage at CrowdStrike, a leading cyber security platform. The issue has gained widespread attention and the bug has currently affected several companies such as banks and airlines across the US, Australia and even India.

In a more recent report, the Windows error has also contributed to affecting several airlines, has grounded planes as well as disrupted flight operations at various airports.

What is Microsoft doing to resolve this?

In a post on X, Microsoft 365 Status mentioned that the brand is currently “investigating the issue impacting users’ ability to access various Microsoft 365 apps and services.” 

It also states how it is actively working on rerouting the impacted traffic to alternate systems and “alleviate impact in a more expedient fashion.”

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CrowdStrike, in an automated reply, stated how: “CrowdStrike is aware of reports of crashes on Windows hosts related to the Falcon Sensor.” 

Further, it writes, “Our Engineering teams are actively working to resolve this issue.” The company additionally mentions that its symptoms include users experiencing a bug check or a ‘blue screen error’ related to the Falcon Sensor.

What should you keep in mind while facing a Windows Blue Screen of Death?

In the case of this error, it is advisable not to troubleshoot the issue by yourself. It is also best to avoid working on a restarting system to avoid losing important work or critical files.

While there seems to be no timeline as to when the issue may be resolved, Microsoft is providing timely updates on its social media platforms.