How to Fix Blank White Screen of Death on Windows 11/10?

Summary: The Windows 11 white screen error is unlike regular “White Screen of Death” errors. It leaves you with a completely blank screen and a cursor, but nothing else. The easiest solution is to use the task manager. However, you may lose data during the white screen itself, which is where professional software like Stellar Data Recovery For Windows should be used.

We’ve heard about the blue screen of death, the green screen of death, pink screen of death and the red screen of death.

But what about the Windows 11 white screen?

It is not like these other errors. It doesn’t come with an error code, nor does it tell you that there is an error.

As you can see, it is just a white screen, with a mouse pointer.

This error can also materialize as a Windows 11 “just a moment” white screen error. More information on the Windows 11 “just a moment” white screen error is available on the Microsoft forum.

The fixes for the two errors are identical.

This article will be a step-by-step guide on how to fix the Windows 11 white screen and Windows 10 white screen of death.

We will also cover what to do if you lose data during the Windows 11 white screen.

Table Of Contents

• Causes Of The Windows 11 White Screen Error
• 5 Easy Fixes For The Windows 11 White Screen Error
• Recover Data After The Windows 11 White Screen Error

And without any further ado, let us get right into the article.

Causes Of The Windows 11 White Screen of Death

The three most common causes of the Windows 11 white screen error are listed as follows:

1. Peripherals

If you plug in too many devices to your computer, the bus controller on the motherboard might run out of bandwidth.

As a result, you could face the Windows 11 or Windows 10 white screen of death.

2. Driver Incompatibility

Installing new hardware with outdated drivers can also lead to the Windows 10 or Windows 11 white screen of death.

Not installing drivers can also lead to this problem. 

Most new hardware (like printers, mice, and keyboards) install their own drivers upon being connected.

If this fails (say your internet cuts during installation), you could run into the Windows 11 white screen.

Not updating your system display drivers could also cause the Windows 11 white screen.

3. Missing System Files

While this is a fringe case, missing system files or a corrupted OS can cause the Windows 11 white screen issue.

It has also been noticed that after an OS reset, the Windows 11 white screen issue crops up.

5 Easy Fixes For The Windows 11 White Screen of Death

The problem can happen on Windows 10 as well, albeit the Windows 11 white screen error is more common.

The Windows 11 white screen of death and Windows 10 white screen of death have exactly the same causes.

Because they are both caused by failures at the chip level, the fixes will also be the same.

In this section, we will cover 5 easy ways to fix the Windows 11 white screen error.

1. Disconnect All Peripheral Devices

As we mentioned earlier, the Windows 11 white screen can be caused by the overloading of the USB Controller.

Disconnect all peripheral devices (whether USB or not), such as mice, keyboards, headphones, speakers, hard drives, etc.

When the computer has booted fully, plug in only essential peripherals. If you do not run into the Windows 11 white screen again, your problem is solved.

2. Power Cycle Your Computer

Power cycling a computer is more than just shutting it off. 

It can often help fix your PC white screen issue. Here is how to do it.

On Desktop PCs:

1. Power off your tower (or all-in-one desktop).
2. Unplug the computer from the wall socket.
3. If connected to a backup power supply (Like a UPS module), disconnect that as well.
4. Wait five minutes, and then power back on.
5. Check to see if your PC white screen problem has resolved itself.

For Laptops and Two-In-One PCs:

1. Power off the device.
2. Disconnect all peripheral devices.
3. Press and hold the power button until the computer turns back on.
4. Keep the power button pressed even after the computer has turned on.
5. Keep holding it until the computer powers itself off.
6. Wait five minutes, and then power back on. Check to see if your computer white screen error has gone away.

Simply restarting the computer will not work – you must power cycle it. The reason is that power-cycling a computer flushes non-volatile RAM.

Non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) can hold data even when powered off and needs a power cycle to flush itself.

We flush this NVRAM because it could be holding a program that is causing your computer white screen problems.

Note: Do not get confused between NVRAM and NVROM.

NVROM is your hard drive, SSD, etc. They will not be affected by an NVRAM flush or power cycle.

3. Use The Task Manager

This is the quickest way to get out of the Windows 11 white screen without restarting.

• First, hit Ctrl + Alt + Delete

• In the menu that pops up, click on “Task Manager.”

• Scroll Down And Search For “Windows Explorer.” It will be under “Services.”

• Right-click the Windows Explorer service in the task manager, and click “End Task.”

• Click On File, then click on “Run New Task.”

• In The pop-up dialog box, type in “explorer.exe” without the quote marks and press “OK.”

• Give the system a couple of seconds, then you should find yourself back on your desktop.

4. Update Your Device Display Drivers

• Open up your start menu by pressing the Windows key.

• Type in “Device Manager” and open the first option in the search.

• Look for and click on “Display Adapters”.

• Right-click on your Display Adapter, and click on “properties”.

• In the properties pop-up dialog box, navigate to the “Driver” tab.

• Click on “update driver.”

• Click on “Search Automatically For Drivers”.

5. Use A System Restore Point

If all else fails, you can reset your computer to a date before you first saw the white computer screen problem.

Remember, any data since the restore point will be irrecoverably lost, so backup anything you might need.

1. Hit the Windows key + “R.”

2. This will bring up the Run dialog box. Here, type in “rstrui.exe” without the quotes and click “OK.”

3. This will bring up the system restore wizard. Click “Next” to continue.

4. You will see a list of restore points, and when they were created, their exact time, and what happened. As you can see, Windows also automatically creates some points to restore to, mostly after a major update.

5. Left-click the restore point you want to return to.

6. Then, click “Next” in the bottom right-hand corner.

7. Click “Finish” in the bottom right-hand corner and let the process complete.

Also Read: Why Stellar Data Recovery should be your Preferred Choice of Data Recovery?

Recover Data After the Windows 11 White Screen of Death Error

It is common to lose data during a white computer screen error. 

As we have said, missing system files might cause a system crash, you might lose saved work, or the computer might just freeze.

If you find that you have lost data after the white screen error, worry not — it can still be recovered.

All you have to do is use professional data recovery software. 

Our product, Stellar Data Recovery for Windows, is completely free to download.

Click the download button.

It allows you to perform a deep scan of your device, and recover all types of files.

With Stellar Data Recovery for Windows, you can recover documents, photos, videos, audio files, and anything in between.

This article is an official step-by-step guide on how to use Stellar Data Recovery for Windows.

We have experience dealing with the blue screen of death, the white screen of death, the green screen of death, and many other types of errors.

Each year, we help thousands of people recover data after they have faced various Windows errors.

Also Read: Get Stellar Data Recovery Activation Key

Frequently Asked Questions- White Screen of Death

1. Can I use Stellar Data Recovery for Windows on Windows 10 as well?

Yes, the software is compatible with both Windows 11 and Windows 10 and can be used to recover lost data on either operating system. In fact, you can use Stellar Data Recovery for Windows on Windows 8 and Windows 7 as well.

Also Read: Complete Working of Stellar Data Recovery Professional Explained

2. Is the Windows 11 white screen error different from the more common blue screen of death (BSOD)?

Yes, the white screen error is distinct as it shows a blank white screen with a cursor and lacks specific error codes. BSOD, GSOD, and RSOD errors come with codes allowing you to pinpoint the root cause. White screen errors can be caused by anything from faulty pin headers to a virus.

3. Can a corrupted Windows 11 installation cause the white screen error, and how can I fix it?

Yes, a corrupted OS can lead to a white screen error. You may need to perform a system repair or reinstall Windows 11 to address this issue.

4. Can a failing hard drive be the root cause of the Windows 11 white screen error?

Yes, failing hardware, including a hard drive, can trigger system issues. This can be especially true if the hard drive is the only storage device in the computer. It can also be caused if the drive that holds the OS has been corrupted. Regularly back up data and consider hardware diagnostics if you suspect this.

5. Can outdated BIOS or firmware contribute to the white screen error on Windows 11?

Yes, outdated firmware can cause compatibility issues. In fact, corruption during BIOS updates, or incompatible BIOS settings can also cause the white screen error. Check for BIOS updates from your computer’s manufacturer and install them if available.

Note: Due to errors such as Error Code 0xc000000f in Windows 10, there may be high risk of losing your data. However, with the assistance of Stellar Data Recovery, you can recover all of your lost data.