The Windows 10 Red Screen of Death [What It Is and Best Fixes]

The Red Screen of Death, also known as RSOD, is similar to the Blue Screen of Death, or BSOD, which is quite popular among computer users.

Many people have encountered a red screen on their computer that won’t go away despite their best efforts.

In this article, we will discuss what the RSOD error means, the causes of this problem, and possible solutions to resolve this problem. So if you are having an RSOD error, keep reading this article to know how to solve the problem effectively.

What is red screen of Death on Windows 10?

The phrase red screen of death refers to a problem with computers where they freeze after displaying a red background. Anytime, including while using your computer to work or even while playing video games, it can occur.

A few users noted that their computers displayed an error message before the screen turned completely red.

Some users may occasionally experience the red screen, while others may find it disappears. Even worse, you might lose crucial files from the PC, and your computer might become completely useless.

What are the causes of red screen on Windows 10?

Some of the most common causes of the red screen of death error include:

Faulty drivers – If your graphics cards are incompatible or faulty, you will frequently encounter the red screen of death error.
Hardware problem – If you frequently experience the RSOD error, it could result from a faulty or incompatible hardware device.
Overclock settings – If your system is overclocked, you might experience the RSOD error frequently.
Incorrect software configuration – Incorrect configuration could cause many problems on your system, including the RSOD error.
Outdated drivers – If your PC runs on outdated drivers, you will probably encounter several problems on your system, including the RSOD error.
BIOS problem – If there is a problem with your device’s Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), you will encounter the red screen of death error.

Now that we know some of the most common causes of the red screen of death error let us look at some ways to fix this problem.

How can I fix the Windows 10 red screen of death?

1. Update your graphics driver

Hold the Windows + R buttons simultaneously, type devmgmt.msc, and hit Enter.
Double-click the Display adapters to see more options, right-click on your graphics card and choose Properties.
Click on the Driver tab, and choose the Update Driver button.
Select the Search automatically for updated driver software option.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.
Reboot your PC and check if the problem has been resolved.

2. Open your system in safe mode

In your login screen, hold down the Shift key, locate and click the power button from the bottom right corner of your screen, then choose Restart.
In the recovery environment screen, click the Troubleshoot option.
Choose Advanced options.
Select Startup Settings.
Select Restart.
Your system will reboot, and different startup options will be displayed.
Hit the number 4 on your keyboard to enter safe mode without internet access or number 5 to enter safe mode with internet access.
When safe mode is on, you should not see the RSOD error.

3. Update your BIOS

Updating BIOS is specific to your system model. For this article, we will be using HP.
Go to the HP official software download website.
Depending on the type of computer you are using, choose laptop or desktop.
Input your serial number or exact computer model.
Choose your operating system and operating system version, then click Submit.
Select the All drivers option, click the BIOS option to expand, and finally hit the Download option.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the .exe file.
Now reboot your system.
During your system startup, select Apply Update Now.

4. Modify overclock settings

Press Windows + I to open the Settings app, then click the System option.
Click the Power & sleep option and choose the Additional power settings link on the right.
Choose the Create a power plan option.
Click the HIgh performance radio button option.
Go back and select the Change plan settings option.
From the list of options, locate and expand the Processor power management option, and also, expand the Minimum processor state and Maximum processor state options.
Finally, change the values from 100% to 99%.
Choose Apply and click the OK option to save changes.
Now check to see if the problem persists.

5. Modify the settings.ini file

A known bug in some video games results in the Windows 10 red screen of death. And in these situations, the settings.Ini file is the source of the issue. If this applies to you, you must locate the settings.Ini file in the game’s specific file folder and open it in any text editor without formatting.

When you open it, you will see the text DxVersion = auto, and you must replace it with DxVersion = 9. Simply save the text file with the changes made without adding any additional formatting, and then try to launch the game. If this is the issue, it ought to function normally.

6. Remove any recently installed software

Hold the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open the Settings option and choose Apps
On the left pane, click the Apps & features option, and on the right, look for any recently installed software, click on it, and choose Uninstall.
After uninstalling all your recently installed software, check to see if the red screen error has been resolved.

7. Turn off overclocking

Disabling overclocking may help if uninstalling some programs did not resolve the Windows 10 red screen problem. Fortunately, it might work for you.

To be safe, if you are overclocking your system to get the fastest speed, you should turn it off because this increases hardware utilization and generates more heat than usual, which can result in a Red Screen of Death error.

So, if your computer is configured to overclock, change it or disable it. You must access the system BIOS to disable it. Please restore it to its default settings after you have finished overclocking.

8. Reinstall AMD drivers

Open your Device Manager by holding the Windows + X keys simultaneously.
Double-click on the Display adapters, right-click an adapter and choose Update driver.
Select Browse my computer for driver software look for the AMD drivers, and click the Next button to install it.
Restart your system and check if the problem has been fixed.

Are there other related red screen issues?

Yes, there are other related red screen Windows 10 issues. Some of them are listed below.

Startup Red Screen of death – It appears during Windows startup, possibly due to installing incorrect files and using out-of-date or incompatible drivers.
Laptop Red Screen of death – Users who have reported having this kind of problem claim that issues with the graphics card are typically to blame when it occurs on a laptop.
Red Flashes – Sometimes, you might observe red flashes on your PC. This usually occurs as a result of overclocking.
Excel Red Screen error – The infamous pop-up has occasionally been observed to appear as a conflict, once more with the graphics card or one of its drivers, when using File Explorer or opening an Excel XLS or XLSX document.
Nvidia Red Screen error – Due to a conflict with the overclocking that you performed, if you integrate graphics cards from this brand, there may be a problem that causes the red screen.
Cursor – Audio Red Screen error – In this situation, you will get this error as a result of an outdated or incompatible audio or video driver.
Loading Red Screen error – This error occurs when the computer freezes on the red screen.

In conclusion, following the steps listed in this article will definitely help you overcome the RSOD error and get your device up and running in no time.

Ensure to try as many solutions as possible till you get the one that works best for you. We would also like to hear which of these solutions worked for you in the comment section below.