How to Find BSoD Logs in Windows 11 & 10

This tutorial teaches you where and how to find the BSoD logs in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

While BSoD (Blue Screen of Death) events are rare in Windows, they do happen under extreme circumstances such as corrupted drivers, memory issues, critical system errors, and corrupted system files. When a BSoD happens, the system displays the error code and gives you a few seconds to note down the error for further troubleshooting. However, if you missed that or you want an in-depth look at the BSoD error, you need the BSoD logs.

That is where this tutorial comes into play. It shows you two methods to find the BSoD logs. These methods work in both Windows 11 and Windows 10. Let’s get started.

Find BSoD Log Files in the Minidump Folder

Note: Administrator rights are required to open the minidump folder.

Whenever a BSoD error happens, it is logged, and saved to the Minidump folder. Here’s how to find it.

1. Open the File Explorer by pressing the “Windows key + E” shortcut.
2. Go to the “C:\Windows\Minidump” folder.
3. When prompted, click “Continue“.
4. You will find the BSoD log files in the Minidump folder.
5. You can open the dump file (.dmp) using WinDbg or WhoCrashed software.

Find BSoD Logs Using Event Viewer

Windows logs almost every event, which can be viewed using the built-in Event Viewer application. While there isn’t a specific “BSoD error” entry, information about Blue Screen of Death events is recorded in the System log under specific Event IDs (such as 41 and 1001), which can be used to identify these occurrences. Here’s how to do it.

1. Right-click on the “Windows” icon on the taskbar.
2. Select the “Event Viewer” option.
3. Right-click the “Custom Views” folder on the left sidebar.
4. Select “Create Custom View“.
5. Go to the “Filter” tab.
6. Select “Anytime” from the “Logged” dropdown.
7. Select “Critical“, “Warning“, and “Error” checkboxes.
8. Select the “By log” radio option.
9. Click the “Event logs” dropdown menu and select “Windows logs“.
10. Type “41,1001” in the “Event IDs” field.
11. Click “OK“.
12. Type “BSoD Logs” in the “Name” field and click “OK“.
13. Select “Custom Views” > “BSoD Logs” on the left sidebar.
14. You will see the BSoD logs in the middle panel.
15. Select a log and go to the “Details” tab in the bottom panel to see BSoD details.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

First step, we must open the Event Viewer. To do that, right-click the “Windows” icon on the taskbar or press the “Windows key + X” shortcut and select the “Event Viewer” option.

In the Event Viewer window, right-click the “Custom Views” folder on the left panel and select the “Create Custom View” option. This is how we create a custom view that makes it easy to filter out the BSoD logs.

The above action opens the “Create Custom View” dialog. Here, configure the options as shown below:

• Logged: Any time.
• Error level: Select Critical, Warning, and Error checkboxes.
• By log: Click the “Event logs” dropdown and select the “Windows logs” checkbox.
• Event IDs: Type “41,1001” (without quotes) in the blank field.

Click “OK” to save the changes.

Now, type “BSoD Logs” in the “Name” field and click “OK“.

That is it. You’ve created the custom view. In the Event Viewer, expand the “Custom Views” folder on the left sidebar and select the “BSoD Logs” view.

It displays all the events that match the custom view criteria. i.e., the BSoD logs. To view a log, select it in the top middle panel. In the bottom middle panel, you will see the log details. For more details, go to the “Details” tab.

One thing you should keep in mind is that you won’t see a literal BSoD error. Instead, you will other details such as the bug check code, error events, etc., that can help you troubleshoot the BSoD error. To help you, Microsoft has a great Bug Check Code Reference page. Take a look at it.

Wrapping Up — Finding BSoD Logs in Windows 11 and 10

As you can see, you have two ways to access Blue Screen of Death logs. You can analyze the dump files located in the Minidump folder using specialized software like WinDbg or WhoCrashed. Alternatively, you can use the Event Viewer by filtering for Event IDs 41 and 1001, which typically indicate a system crash and BSoD errors. Remember that while both methods help identify BSOD occurrences, you might need to conduct further research and troubleshooting using the provided bug check codes to pinpoint the root cause.

If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.

Update: This tutorial is updated to add the dump file method (first) and update the event viewer method to be more specific when filtering the logs.