What is the black screen of death?

It is a nickname for a computer that boots or crashes to a black screen with only a blinking cursor. This page imitates that look in your browser without touching the real system.

Is it harmful to the computer?

No. It is an ordinary web page shown in full screen. Press Esc or click and everything is exactly as it was.

How do I make the prank more believable?

Start full screen with F11 or the Fullscreen button, move the mouse pointer to the edge, and lower the brightness a little so the cursor looks like it is waiting on a frozen machine.

Black Screen of Death

The newer, even more confusing relative of the BSOD. Almost no text, just a blinking cursor — perfect for the briefest, most alarming silence.

Pranks

Click anywhere or press Esc to exit

Used for

How to use it

Set the scene

Open this page on their computer and press Fullscreen (or F11). The screen fills edge to edge.
Walk away

Push the mouse pointer to a screen edge, leave the room, and let the scene do the work.
Reveal it

Click anywhere or press Esc to exit. Nothing was installed or changed on the computer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the black screen of death?: It is a nickname for a computer that boots or crashes to a black screen with only a blinking cursor. This page imitates that look in your browser without touching the real system.
Is it harmful to the computer?: No. It is an ordinary web page shown in full screen. Press Esc or click and everything is exactly as it was.
How do I make the prank more believable?: Start full screen with F11 or the Fullscreen button, move the mouse pointer to the edge, and lower the brightness a little so the cursor looks like it is waiting on a frozen machine.

Broken screen

Pranks

A web of convincing cracks rendered right on the glass. Great for short videos, photo composites, or a really mean April Fool's.

Prank

Blue Screen of Death

Pranks

A pixel-perfect Windows Blue Screen of Death. Set it up before you walk away from a friend's laptop. Click anywhere to escape — they don't need to know that.

Prank

Hacker screen

Pranks

A green-on-black terminal that pours out code as fast as you can mash the keyboard. Look like a movie hacker, or leave it running on a friend's screen.