A fatal error is a type of error that forces a computer program to close or the entire operating system to suddenly shut down. This type of error is often associated with the blue screen of death in Windows, but less serious fatal exception errors only cause a single program to close.

In some cases, fatal errors are spontaneous and temporary, and you can safely continue using your computer without any additional problems. If fatal errors persist, and especially if they recur when using the same program or performing the same task, there may be a problem with the hardware or software on your computer.

Fatal error messages usually appear when a program suddenly closes due to a malfunction, or when a Windows computer suddenly displays the blue screen before shutting down, or when a macOS or Linux computer experiences a kernel panic.

When a fatal error occurs, a message like the following appears: