Fake Blue Screen of Death
A realistic crash screen that is really just a web page. Choose a style, press Fullscreen and step away from the computer. Press Esc to bring everything back.
Tip: double-click the blue screen to go full screen. In full screen the toolbar and mouse pointer are hidden. Esc exits.
How to set up the blue screen prank
- Pick a style. Modern blue has the large sad face and percentage counter. Classic text is the older white-on-blue wall of text look. Black suits newer systems that show crash screens on a black background.
- Set a stop code if you like. Leave it alone for a believable one, or type something that gives the game away slowly, such as
COFFEE_NOT_FOUND. - Press Fullscreen. The toolbar disappears and the page fills the display.
- Walk away. The counter climbs to 100%, pauses, then starts again, so the screen never looks frozen.
- Reveal it. Press Esc and the desktop is exactly as it was.
Is it safe?
Yes. A real blue screen means the operating system has stopped. This page is only coloured text in a browser tab. It does not crash, restart or change anything on the computer, and closing the tab removes it completely. Nothing is installed and no files are touched.
The design is our own simplified crash screen with no logos, and the stop code is invented, so it cannot be mistaken for a genuine fault report by anyone who looks it up.
Keep the prank kind
- Use it on people who will laugh, and be nearby to reveal it. Someone who thinks their computer has died may hold the power button and lose unsaved work.
- Avoid it during exams, deadlines and presentations.
- Do not use it to convince anyone to call a "support" number or pay for a repair. That is a scam, not a prank.
For a slower burn, try the fake update screen. For a different kind of joke, the hacker typer prank shows a fake hack with your friend's name in it.
Fake blue screen FAQ
How do I exit the fake blue screen?
Press Esc to leave full screen, or F11 if you used the browser's own full-screen mode. Then close the tab.
Will the fake blue screen damage my computer?
No. It is a web page that shows text on a coloured background. It cannot crash or restart the computer.
Does it work on Mac, Chromebook and phones?
Yes, it works in any modern browser. It is most convincing on a Windows laptop or desktop, since that is where people expect to see a blue crash screen.
Can I change the error code?
Yes. Type any text in the Stop code box and it appears on the screen in capital letters with underscores.
More tools
- Fake Update ScreenWindows, Mac and more: an update that never finishes.
- Broken ScreenA fake cracked display. Click to add more cracks.
- No Signal ScreenTV colour bars, static or blue with your own message.
- Radar ScreenA rotating radar sweep with flashing contacts.
- Hacker TyperThe classic: mash any key, get lines of kernel code.
- Hacker SimulatorA full fake hacking dashboard with one click.
- Matrix RainFalling green code with colour, speed and size controls.
- White ScreenPure white for light, tracing and pixel checks.