A black screen at kicking is bad news. It'southward tough to diagnose a trouble without any information on the screen. If you've got a blackness screen on boot, diverse things tin can cause the problem on Windows 10 and Windows eleven.

We're going to detail ways to try to resolve a blackness screen on a Windows x or Windows xi computer, from simple hardware checks to reinstalling your display commuter.

1. Check If Windows Is Responsive

Information technology's important to check that your reckoner and Windows are actually booting. To do this, press Windows primal + Ctrl + Shift + B. This command actually restarts your graphics driver—which might itself fix the black screen—but besides emits a beep.

If you hear a beep, so Windows is responsive. However, if yous don't hear anything, it could suggest that your computer isn't booting. If that's the case, see our guides on repairing a PC that won't boot and how to fix a black screen of death.

2. Bank check Your Monitor and Cables

Ultrawide Monitor 144Hz

If yous have a black screen from boot, a key footstep is to check the display connection. It might sound simple, but it's where many blackness screen issues arise.

Remove all your monitor cables and plug them back in to ensure they are all firmly connected. Then brand sure your monitor is really turned on.

If you can, use some other monitor connection. For instance, move from HDMI to DisplayPort. Alternatively, use a new cable. This volition assistance you lot determine whether the upshot lies with the monitor port or the cable.

If possible, connect your monitor to a different calculator. If it has a blackness screen there too, it's a sign the monitor is faulty, so you should contact the manufacturer. You can also try using another monitor on your calculator.

iii. Unplug Your External Devices

Turn your calculator off and disconnect all of your external devices. This includes your mouse, keyboard, external hard bulldoze, and and so on. Restart your computer and come across if yous still get the black screen. If yous don't, plug each device in 1 at a time until you detect what's causing the problem.

With the problematic device identified, effort updating its drivers. See our guide on how to observe and replace drivers if you need a hand with that. No luck? Browse through the device manufacturer's support site and contact them for further help.

4. Arrange Projection Settings

It may be that your system's projection settings are prepare incorrectly. For example, your display might be set to project on a second screen that doesn't exist, thus causing your monitor to evidence a black screen.

windows 11 projection settings

Printing Windows primal + P to bring up the Projection bill of fare. From top to bottom, the options are: PC screen only, Duplicate, Extend, and Second screen merely. While the first is the default, yours might non be set to information technology.

Press P to highlight the adjacent pick and Enter to select. Repeat this four times to become dorsum to the original setting, though hopefully one of the settings forth the way will bring your display back.

5. Reinstall Brandish Drivers

To reinstall display drivers, you'll need to boot into safe mode. The method yous need depends on various factors, so follow the appropriate steps below so keep reading to discover how to reinstall your display drivers.

windows 10 advanced options

A. Yous Tin See the Login Screen

  1. Restart your estimator.
  2. At the login screen, agree Shift, select the Ability icon, and click Restart.
  3. In one case restarted, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Start-up settings > Restart. Again, your system will restart and nowadays you with different options.
  4. Once restarted, printing F5 to select Safety Manner with Networking. If that doesn't work, follow the prior steps simply select F3.

B. You Can't Come across Anything and Take a Recovery Bulldoze

If you already created a recovery drive earlier this problem occurred, good job!

  1. Shut downward your system and then connect the recovery drive.
  2. On the Cull an choice screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Showtime-up Settings > Restart.
  3. Once restarted, press F5 to select Rubber Fashion with Networking. If that doesn't work, follow the prior steps but select F3.

C. Yous Can't See Anything and Don't Have a Recovery Drive

Y'all need access to a working reckoner then that you can create Windows 10/11 installation media. Download Windows ten or Windows eleven from Microsoft so utilise this to create installation media. If you lot need assist on that, see our guide on making a bootable ISO.

You then need to set the kick order in the BIOS to read your installation media first. Over again, if you demand a hand, see our guide on how to change the kick order.

So, on the installation screen:

  1. Select Repair your computer.
  2. Select Troubleshoot > Avant-garde Options > Get-go-up Settings > Restart.
  3. One time restarted, press F5 to select Safety Fashion with Networking. If that doesn't work, follow the prior steps but select F3.

How to Reinstall Your Display Drivers

Now you're in Safe Mode and signed in to your computer:

  1. Press Windows key + Ten and click Device Managing director.
  2. Double-click the Display adapters category.
  3. Right-click your graphics bill of fare and select Properties. Go to the Driver tab.

If available, click Roll Back Driver, select a reason, and click Aye. This will take you back to the previously installed driver.

If this doesn't work or isn't an option, select Uninstall to remove the commuter completely. So, become to the manufacturer's website (probable AMD, NVIDIA, or Intel) and install an older driver or contact them for support.

6. Clean Inside Your Computer Case

Your calculator may be overheating, which can result in a black screen. It'due south very important that you keep your PC cool because it extends the lifespan of your components.

Turn your computer off, unplug everything, and open it up. As a first step, grab a microfiber fabric and air blower and apply this to clean out all dust and dirt inside your computer, particularly from the fans. Information technology's best to do this outside if you tin can, since it volition kick up a lot of dust. Try not to let it settle back within the computer.

For more tips, see our guide on how to continue your PC cool.

7. Appraise Your Internal Hardware

graphic card

Turn your computer off, unplug everything, and open it up. Look over all your components for signs of damage. Remove each component and reseat it, ensuring it's firmly secured.

Have you recently upgraded something inside your estimator, like the graphics carte or RAM? If so, this is a prime culprit for causing a blackness screen. If y'all've verified the component is installed correctly, contact the manufacturer as the role may exist faulty.

Alternatively, your ability supply unit of measurement (PSU) may not supply enough ability to support the new parts, which causes the computer to black screen and close down. Use an online power supply computer to ensure that your PSU is suitable.

Return From the Dark Side

Hopefully, working through these steps has solved your black screen problems. While it tin can be scary, it doesn't mean that your data has vanished, and then keep calm.

If you don't have a blackness screen, but instead one that'due south constantly flashing, you should withal try some of these steps as it'southward often caused by the same outcome.

How to Ready Screen Flickering and Flashing on Windows ten and 11

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About The Writer

Joe Keeley (902 Articles Published)

Joe was built-in with a keyboard in his hands and immediately started writing nearly technology. He has a BA (Hons) in Business and is now a full-fourth dimension freelance writer who enjoys making tech simple for everyone.

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