Fix the Pink Screen of Death Error on Windows 10/11

Are you suddenly getting a pink screen of death on Windows or when booting up the PC? Then follow these suggestions to fix hardware, software, and driver issues on your Windows PC to fix the problem.

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Page Table of Contents

Updated By

Cedric

Written By

Jaden

Updated on

19 September 2024

Min Reading

9 Min

What Is Pink Screen of Death on Windows

When Windows suddenly freezes and crashes during the boot process, users will see a pink version of the Blue Screen of Death error. When the Pink Screen of Death appears on your Windows 10 0r 11 PC, it means it did not start up correctly and displays a pink screen.

The pink screen issue can have various origins because there are no known precise reasons for it. Here are some examples of possible reasons that could result in a pink screen of death on your Windows PC:

  • 💿Running Outdated Drivers: An outdated or corrupt display driver or graphics card might result in odd colors on the PC screen, including a pink tint.
  • 🌡️Overheating: When a computer component, such as the graphics card, starts overheating, it can result in an error. Additionally, check the temperatures of your CPU and GPU and if your PC is overclocked
  • ⚔️Software conflict: Recently installed programs, virus problems, or system file corruption can lead to the pink screen of death on Windows 10 or 11.
  • 🖥️Damaged cables: The PC's display has a black screen, and a pink screen of death may appear if the monitor or its cable is damaged.
  • ⚙️Failure of a hardware component: The motherboard, memory modules, and power supply are some examples of hardware components that may exhibit a pink screen of death problem.

Cleaning your computer's fans is one of the most straightforward approaches to resolve the pink screen of death issues on your Windows PC, as blocked fan blades can cause overheating of the graphics card.

What Is Pink Screen of Death on Windows

Recover Lost Data While the PC Has a Pink Screen

Some users report that their Windows PCs face the pink screen of death issue, forcing users to reinstall their system. Thus, reinstalling your Windows PC may result in data loss. So, a specialized data recovery tool for the user's data security can be pretty helpful.

So, users can download and install the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro, a powerful data recovery program created to aid in the recovery of data lost as a result of a file system malfunction, system crashes, and unintended file deletion. Even novice users can recover files quickly because of the software's user-friendly interface.

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Some of the main functions of the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro are listed below:

  • Recovery of deleted files
  • Restore data from formatted disks
  • Supports the NTFS/NTFS5 and FAT 12/16/32 file systems
  • Support for flash drives, memory cards, RAID arrays, and other media
  • It has the option to define what types of files should be retrieved

The EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro allows you to recover only the required file types, supports FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, and NTFS5 file systems, and can automatically skip the broken disk sectors during scanning. In the event of disk formatting, damage to the file system, unintentional file deletion, computer malfunctions, and virus infections, this tool will help you recover data from crashed Windows 10.

Step 1. Create a bootable disk

Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, choose "Crashed PC" and click "Go to Recover".

choose crashed pc recovery

Select an empty USB to create the bootable drive and click "Create".

⚠️Warning: When you create a bootable disk, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard will erase all data saved in the USB drive. Back up important data beforehand. 

create bootable USB

Step 2. Boot your computer from the bootable USB

Connect the bootable disk to the PC that won't boot and change your computer boot sequence in BIOS. For most users, it works well when they restart their computer and press F2 simultaneously to enter BIOS.

Set to boot the PC from "Removable Devices" (bootable USB disk) beyond Hard Drive. Press "F10" to save and exit.

restart from bootable USB

Step 3. Recover data from a crashed system/PC

After booting from EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard bootable disk, select the drive you want to scan to find all your lost files. Preview and recover the files you need to a safe location.

💡Tip: You can restore data on the local disks, external hard drives, and also the cloud storage.

recover lost files

Many Windows 10/11 users have proved the efficacy of the tool. If you are interested in resolving the data loss, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms!

 

8 Fixes to Pink Screen of Death on Windows 10/11

Now, let us move on to the methods to fix and prevent the pink screen of death on Windows. Before you are going to fix the pink screen of death, watch this video first. It provides you with more details.

  • 00:11 - Intro
  • 00:34 - Update Windows
  • 01:32 - Run Sfc Scan
  • 03:09 - Chkdsk Check
  • 03:44 - Restart Computer
  • 03:57 - Run Chkdsk Scan

Ensure you have safeguarded your data's security so you can proceed with the fixes below to solve the problem.

🔓Reverse Any Overclocking Reversing any overclocking that has been done can help resolve the pink screen of death issue by restoring the system to its original settings.
🔌Disconnect All Peripherals Disconnecting all peripherals can help identify if any external devices are causing conflicts with the system, leading to the pink screen of death.
🔙Roll Back Graphics Card Drivers Rolling back to the previous version of graphics card drivers can address compatibility issues and resolve the pink screen of death problem caused by incompatible or faulty drivers.
⚒️Uninstall Any New Programs Uninstalling any new programs that have been recently installed can help eliminate potential conflicts and resolve the pink screen of death issue.
🔎Check Software Incompatibility Checking for third-party software incompatibility can help identify and remove any conflicting programs that may be causing the pink screen of death.
Update GPU Drivers Updating GPU drivers can fix bugs, address compatibility issues, and improve performance, potentially resolving the pink screen of death problem.
🆕Update Windows Driver Updating Windows to the latest version can provide bug fixes, security patches, and improvements that may help resolve the pink screen of death issue.
⌨️Windows Memory Diagnostic Running the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool can help identify and fix any memory-related problems, such as faulty RAM, which could be causing the pink screen of death.

If you are a Mac user, you can read the linked page for reference to fix the Pink screen death error on your MacBook.

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Fix 1. Reverse Any Overclocking You Have Performed

Overclocking refers to changing system components, like the processor and memory, to enhance their speeds past the limits set by the manufacturer. If you have overclocked your computer, be aware that doing so may cause a Pink Screen of Death error by overloading the hardware.

Numerous tools are available for overclocking computers, and fortunately, most have a Reset button to reverse the modifications. The reset option can be found in the program's options or on the main screen if you use it as an overclocking utility. Remember to restart your Windows 11 after choosing the reset option to reverse the overclocking.

While overclocking gives a modest performance gain, it can increase system temperature and harm system components if done incorrectly. So, to avoid further issues, you must stop overclocking or undo such modifications.

Fix 2. Disconnect All Peripherals

If you experience the Pink Screen of Death, shut down your computer and disconnect all the peripherals connected to your PC. The cause of the issue might be an incorrect connection between your PC and one of the peripherals. Also, check that there are no imperfections or dust in the cables and connection ports.

After arranging and cleaning the peripherals, connect only the mouse, keyboard, and monitor, and turn on your computer. Check if the pink screen of death error appears again. If it does not, you can conclude that one of the peripherals was the source of the issue, and cleaning and reconnecting resolved the problem.

Fix 3. Roll Back to the Previous Version of Graphics Card Drivers

If you are experiencing the pink screen of death, there might be issues with your current graphics card. Rolling back to the previous graphics card version may resolve the issue. Here is how you roll back to the previous version of the graphics card driver:

Step 1. Open Device Manager and expand "Display adapters". Next, right-click the graphics card driver and click "Properties" from the context menu.

Open Display unit properties

Step 2. In the Properties windows, click the "Driver" tab and the "Roll Back Driver" button.

Choose to Roll Back the Driver

Step 3. In the Driver Package rollback window, click any radio buttons next to why you are rolling back the driver and click "Yes". Your screen will be blank for the changes to take effect. Restart your PC.

Reason to Rolback Driver

Fix 4. Uninstall Any New Programs

Newly installed programs occasionally cause issues and trigger Windows 11's Pink Screen of Death error. The operating system's incompatibility with these apps or any corrupted files might be the cause.

So, you must uninstall these programs to check if the pink screen of the death error disappears. Given below are the step-by-step methods to uninstall newly installed programs:

Step 1. Open Settings and navigate to "Apps" > "Apps & features".

Go to Apps and Features

Step 2. Under App's list, you will find a list of installed apps. You can search for the recently installed apps through the App's list search bar or click the "Sort by" option and select "Install date" from the context menu so that the recently installed apps will appear on top of the list.

Sort apps by installed date

Step 3. Click the three-dots menu next to the app you want to uninstall and select "Uninstall".

Uninstall the recently installed apps.

Wait for the application to uninstall from your PC. Repeat the same procedures for other newly installed apps. Restart your PC and check whether the pink screen of death appears.

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Fix 5. Check the Third-Party Software Incompatibility

Incompatible third-party software on your Windows PC might cause the pink screen of death. So, you can perform a compatibility troubleshooter to check whether the application is compatible with your PC. Here is how you check for software incompatibility:

Step 1. Search for the third-party application you want to check the compatibility via the Windows search bar. Next, right-click on it and select "Open file location".

Open File Location of App

Step 2. When the file location window opens, right-click the third-party app and select "Properties".

Open Properties

Step 3. In the application's Properties window, click the "Compatibility" tab. Next, click the "Run compatibility troubleshooter" button.

Run Compatibility, Troubleshooter

Step 4. It will start detecting issues. Next, follow the on-screen instructions to check for compatibility issues.

Troubleshoot with recommended settings

If the application is incompatible with your current Windows version, uninstall the application, restart your PC, and check whether the pink screen of death appears.

Fix 6. Update GPU Drivers

The GPU driver is the most crucial part of Windows since it enables the connection between the operating system and your graphics card and enables them to function in harmony. The GPU driver allows you to run and view different Windows apps and games on your computer.

Issues like a Pink Screen of Death can occur if your computer uses an outdated GPU driver. So, updating the driver is the best way to keep a graphics card stable. This guarantees your system has the most recent features and security updates.

Most of the OEMs, like NVIDIA, offer driver updater software. It ensures to notify you about any update available. You can launch it and then choose to update the driver.

Fix 7. Update Windows

Any problems with the operating system usually get fixed through Windows updates, and your computer's speed and performance will improve. To ensure that the most recent Windows version is installed on your PC, follow the steps given below:

Step 1. Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open Settings. Next, click "Windows Update" on the left pane.

Step 2. Click the "Check for updates" button under Windows Update.

Check for Windows Update

You will be asked to download and install a new update if any are available. If you find the Windows update not working, try the fixes in the linked page.

Fix 8. Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

The Memory Diagnostic is a valuable Windows tool for locating and resolving RAM-related issues. This can help you understand if there are any potential memory issues, as well as ensure that your system is operating as it should. So, using the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool is advised if you frequently get pink screen issues.

This is how you run the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool to check for memory errors:

Step 1. Type Windows Memory Diagnostic into the Windows search bar and click the result to open it.

Step 2. Click the "Restart now and check for problems (recommended)" option. Your computer will restart, and this utility will check for problems in the RAM.

Run WindowsMemory Diagnostics

Your PC will automatically reboot back into Windows after the process is done. This procedure will automatically check for and notify you of any memory stick issues. You might need to switch your memory sticks if there are issues.

The Bottom Line

The Pink Screen of Death on Windows 10 or 11 can occur due to overclocking, outdated graphics card drivers, problematic external peripherals, and damaged graphics cards. Therefore, you can attempt to reverse overclocking, disconnect all peripherals, roll back to the previous version of Graphics Card Drivers, uninstall any new programs, check the third-party software incompatibility, update GPU Drivers, update Windows, and run the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool to resolve the problems.

If none of these methods work, you must contact a repair shop to consult an expert. Also, remember to use data recovery software like the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Pro to restore lost files.

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Pink Screen of Death on Windows FAQs

Do you have more questions about the pink screen of death on Windows? Check out the frequently asked questions and their answers given below:

1. How do I get rid of the pink screen of death?

You can eliminate the pink screen of death by checking hardware issues such as a damaged motherboard, malfunctioning RAM or memory sticks, overheating of the graphics card, or even unsecured computer wires.

2. How do I fix the pink screen on my computer?

You can fix the pink screen of death by attempting to remove external peripherals, check GPU temperature, update the Graphics Driver, update to latest drivers, use an old Graphics Card Driver, uninstall recently installed software, etc.

3. Why is my PC screen turning pink?

A pink screen of error rarely occurs, but if it occurs, there might be a few reasons behind it. Running outdated drivers, overheating computer components, damaged cables, software conflict, failure of a hardware component, etc., are some of the reasons.

4. Is there a pink screen of death?

Yes. When the Windows operating system fails to boot or Windows software causes the computer to freeze and display a bright pink screen, this condition is known as the Pink Screen of Death (PSOD).

  • Updated by

    Cedric Grantham is a senior editor and data recovery specialist of EaseUS. He mainly writes articles and how-to tips about data recovery on PC and Mac. He has handled 10,000+ data recovery cases and is good at data recovery of NTFS, FAT (FAT32 and ExFAT) file systems, and RAID structure reorganization. …
  • Written by

    Jaden is one of the editors of EaseUS, who focuses on topics concerning PCs and Mac data recovery. Jaden is committed to enhancing professional IT knowledge and writing abilities. She is always keen on new and intelligent products.…
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