If you are one such user who is looking for a fix for the grey screen error in Windows 11, we’d suggest you read on. We have scoured the internet and gathered some of the best fixes that you can try for the grey screen of death (GSOD) error in Windows 11. Along with the fixes, we have also explained why your Windows 11 PC or laptop might run into such issues.
What is Grey Screen of Death Error in Windows 11?
What is Grey Screen of Death Error in Windows 11?
The grey screen of death error is very similar to the infamous blue screen of death (BSOD) error and the black screen of death error in Windows 11. There is no specific reason why it happens but there are a few usual suspects. These include hardware issues, outdated graphics drivers or Windows versions, issues in system files, or a virus or malware that might be residing in your Windows 11 device. Hence, as you imagine, there is no specific fix to mitigate the grey screen error in Windows 11. When you encounter the issue on your Windows 11 device, the first thing to do is force restart your PC and get it running as usual. Then, you can move on to the fixes listed below to avoid the grey screen of death error on your Windows 11 device in the future.
Fix Grey Screen of Death Error in Windows 11
Fix Grey Screen of Death Error in Windows 11
Now, below you will find some of the best possible solutions to fix the grey screen of death error in Windows 11. However, before we move on to those, let’s understand why your Windows 11 device might face the grey screen error.
1. Check Your Hardware Connection
Now, the first thing that you should try when you encounter the grey screen error in Windows 11 is to check whether your monitor is properly connected to your PC or laptop. This is especially important for those who use multiple monitors in their setup, which are individually connected to a Windows 11 PC or laptop. Another thing that we found is that the grey screen error in Windows 11 heavily affects those who use the Samsung G7 monitor. Hence, if you are one of these users, we’d recommend you contact Samsung’s customer support and report your issue.
2. Update Graphics Driver in Windows 11
The next fix to avoid the grey screen of death in Windows 11 is to maintain the graphics drivers on your PC or laptop. You see outdated graphics drivers might cause a lot of system-level issues in Windows 11. Hence, a quick update is always a great thing for Windows drivers that could solve most of the issues on your PC or laptop. So, to update the graphics drivers on your Windows 11 device, follow the steps right below.
3. Run SFC Scan in Windows 11
The System File Checker (SFC) scan is a nifty Windows tool that can help resolve a lot of system issues in Windows 11, including the grey screen of death error. It is essentially a command-line tool that runs a thorough scan of the system files in Windows 11 and replaces the ones that have gone corrupt or missing. This eliminates a ton of system-level issues in your Windows 11 PC or laptop and brings it back to normal. So, to run an SFC scan in Windows 11:
4. Run DISM Scans in Windows 11
Much like the SFC scan, the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scans are another set of command-line tools that can fix the grey screen of death error in Windows 11. It essentially scans the system images in Windows 11 and resolves the issues that might be hindering the performance of your device or causing the grey, blue, or black screen of death error. So, to run the DISM scans on your Windows 11 device, follow the steps right below:
5. Disable Fast Startup in Windows 11
Now, many Windows 11 users have reported that the fast startup feature, which allows Windows to boot much faster after shutdown, is causing the grey screen of death error on their devices. If that is the case for your device, you can try disabling the fast startup feature in Windows 11. To do that, follow the steps right below:
6. Use Windows Security to Check for Viruses/ Malware
As mentioned before, the grey screen of death error in Windows 11 might be a result of a virus or malware that might be affecting your laptop or PC. In this day and age, a virus or malware affecting a Windows device is not an uncommon issue and they can surely cause problems such as the grey screen error in Windows 11. So, if you think that your Windows 11 laptop or PC is being affected by a virus or malware, a quick Windows Security scan might just fix the grey screen of death error. To do that, simply follow the steps right below:
7. Run the Power Troubleshooter in Windows 11
Another thing that you can try if you are still facing the grey screen of death error in Windows 11 is to run the troubleshooter for Power. Windows 11 comes with various dedicated troubleshooters built-in to help users diagnose and fix issues on their PC or laptop without third-party help. And many users have reported that running the Power troubleshooter can potentially fix the grey screen of death error in Windows 11. So, to run the Power troubleshooter in Windows 11, follow the steps below:
8. Update your Windows 11 OS
Now, if all the above methods fail, there is a high chance that you are running an outdated version of Windows 11 on your device that is causing the grey screen of death error. In this case, all you need to do is check for Windows updates in Settings and update the OS right away. To do that:
How to fix the gray screen in Windows 11?
While the gray screen is just a color filter that you can disable on your Windows 11 PC or laptop from Settings -> Accessibility -> Color filters, the grey screen of death error in Windows 11 needs advanced fixes.
Is the grey of screen of death the same as the blue screen of death in Windows 11?
The grey screen of death and the blue screen of death in Windows 11 are similar to each other and are usually caused by system-level issues like outdated graphics drivers, viruses or malware, corrupt or missing system files, and others.
My Windows 11 laptop is stuck in a grey screen. What should I do?
If your Windows 11 laptop or PC is stuck in a grey screen, the first thing you should do is force shut down/ restart your device. You can press the physical button on your laptop or PC to shut it down and wait for a couple of minutes before restarting your device.
Wrapping Up
Wrapping Up
So, these are some of the best fixes that you can try when you encounter the grey screen of death error in Windows 11. We hope one of the above methods works for you and that you are able to eliminate the GSOD error on your Windows 11 device. Do let us know in the comments if any of the fixes work for you. And if you are facing other issues with Windows 11, you can check out our in-depth guides to fix those as well.
