How to fix black screen problems on Windows 10

Throughout the life of your Windows 10 device, you'll come across many problems, but none of them may be as annoying as the black screen because you won't get an error code or message giving you a hint of where to start troubleshooting.

On Windows 10, a black screen can happen for a number of reasons. It could be related to an issue with a recent graphics driver update or physical connection between the display and video adapter. Also, you may experience this behavior while upgrading to a new feature update or applying a new cumulative update. Or it can just happen out of the blue.

Whatever the reason it may be, there are several ways in which you can determine the cause and solve this problem whether you have access to the desktop or not.

How to fix black screen troubleshooting connection problems on Windows 10

When you come across a black screen, there could be a lot of reasons, including problems with hardware, software, or a combination of both. In the instructions outlined below, you'll find troubleshooting steps to help you resolve this issue.

Checking connection issues

If your device is experiencing a black screen before you can even sign into your account, then it could be a connection problem between the display and your computer.

In this situation, re-check the connection and make sure both ends of the signal cable are connected correctly, the monitor is receiving power, and it's using the correct input. (You can check your manufacturer support website for more specific details.)

If you have multiple video outputs, try to switch the connection to a different port. A lot of times a driver update could include changes that for unknown reasons can send the video signal to the wrong port (DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI, Thunderbolt, VGA).

Also, if you're working with a system that includes a discrete and integrated graphics card, you can switch to the integrated video processor to confirm whether the problem is with the discrete card.

Another troubleshooting step that you can try includes connecting the monitor to a different computer to see if you're dealing with a broken display.

Detecting display

In many cases, you'll see a black screen on your device, because Windows 10 lost its connection to the display. When this happens, you can use the Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B keyboard shortcut, which restarts the video driver and refreshes the connection with the monitor.

On tablets (such as the Surface Pro or Surface Go), you can wake up the screen pressing the volume up and volume down buttons simultaneously three times.

Alternatively, you can use the Windows key + P keyboard shortcut to bring up the "Project" menu, then hit the P key, and hit the Enter key to switch between the different display modes to see if the black screen disappears. Repeat the steps four times to allow cycling through all the settings.

Disconnecting non-essential devices

Peripherals connected to your device could be the reason of a black screen or a black screen with the spinning dots during startup.

If you're experiencing something similar, disconnect all the peripherals (such as printers, cameras, removable drives, Bluetooth, and other USB devices) from your computer.

Start your computer one more time, and if everything works normally, then you have a problem with one of your peripherals. You can find out which one is causing the problem by reconnecting one peripheral at a time until you stumble upon the one causing the conflict.

Once you know the device causing the issue, disconnect it, restart your computer, and then do a search online to see if there's a fix, or contact your device manufacturer for assistance.

How to fix black screen with desktop access on Windows 10

If you see a black screen after signing into your account, and you're still able to use the mouse pointer, then it could be a problem with the Windows Explorer experience.

To resolve Windows Explorer process issues, use these steps:

• Use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut to open Task Manager.
• Click the More details button (if using the compact mode).
• Click the Processes tab.
• Right-click the Windows Explorer service, and select the Restart option.

1. After completing the steps, you should be able to access the desktop again.

   Terminating and restarting explorer.exe

   Alternatively, if the above steps didn't work, you can terminate and start the process again using these steps:
• Use the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keyboard shortcut to open Task Manager.
• Click the More details button (if using the compact mode).
• Right-click the Windows Explorer service, and select the End task option (if available).
• Click the File menu.
• Select the Run new task option.
• Type the following command and click the OK button.
• 
  
  explorer.exe
2. Once you've completed the steps, you should be able to use your device normally.

   How to fix black screen using safe mode on Windows 10

   In the case that there's a software related issue, and you don't have access to the desktop, you will need to boot your computer in safe mode to troubleshoot and fix the black screen problem.

   Accessing Advanced startup using three-fail boot method

   To launch the Advanced startup settings, use these steps:
   • Power on your computer.
   • As soon as the Windows logo appears on your screen, press the power button to interrupt the boot sequence.
   1. 1. Repeat above two more times.
      After the third interruption, Windows 10 will open into the Advanced Startup environment, and then you can continue with the steps below to boot in safe mode.

      Accessing Advanced startup using bootable media

      Alternatively, you can use a USB installation media to get to the Advanced startup settings environment using these steps:
      1. Start your computer using a USB installation media.
         • Quick Tip: If your device isn't starting from the USB flash drive, you'll need to change your system's BIOS settings to make sure it can boot from USB. Usually, you can access the BIOS by powering up your device and pressing one of the functions, Delete, or ESC keys, but make sure to check your manufacturer's support website for more specific details.
      2. Click the Next button.
      3. Click the Repair your computer link in the bottom-right corner.
      4. Once you've completed the steps, continue with the safe mode instructions.

         Booting in safe mode

         To boot Windows 10 in safe mode, use these steps:
      1. Click the Troubleshoot option.
      2. Click the Advanced options button.
      3. Click the Startup Settings option.
      4. Click the Restart button.
      5. While in the "Startup Settings," press the 5 or F5 key to select the Safe Mode with Networking option.
      6. After your device is in safe mode, there are several troubleshooting steps that can help you to fix the black screen problem, such as reinstalling the graphics driver, removing buggy updates, changing system settings, and more (as shown below).

         Perform clean boot

         When your device starts normally, Windows 10 loads many services, drivers, and applications, which remain running in the background, if one or more them is causing issues, it's possible that you will come across a black screen.
         Using a clean boot allows you to instruct Windows 10 to start only with a minimal set of services, drivers, and apps, which can help you to figure out if something running in the background is the cause of the screen going completely black.
         A clean boot is similar to safe mode, but it allows you to re-enable one service or software at a time, which can help to pinpoint the problem more accurately.
         To perform a clean boot, use these steps:
         1. Open Start.
         2. Search for msconfig, click the System Configuration result to open the experience.
         3. Click the Services tab.
         4. Check the Hide all Microsoft services option.
         5. Click the Disable all button.
         6. 1. Click the Apply button.
            2. Click the Startup tab.
            3. Click the Open Task Manager option.
            4. Click the Startup tab.
            5. Select each application, and click the Disable button in the bottom-right corner.
            6. 1. Close Task Manager.
               2. Click the OK button in the "System Configuration" experience.
               3. Restart your computer.
               While this process won't fix the problem, it'll give you an idea of where to start looking to resolve the issue.
               If after restarting your computer, you no longer see a black screen, you'll now know that there's a problem with a background process.

               Troubleshooting black screen using clean boot

               In this case, use these steps to re-enable the items (one-by-one), and restart your device to see which one is causing the black screen:
               1. Open Start.
               2. Search for msconfig, click the System Configuration result to open the experience.
               3. Click the Services tab.
               4. Check the Hide all Microsoft services option.
               5. Check one of the services.
               6. 1. Click the Apply button.
                  2. Click the OK button.
                  3. Restart your computer.
                  Once you've completed the steps, repeat the steps again for every item until you can determine the item that's causing the problem.
                  If none of the services seem to be the issue, use these steps to re-enable startup items:
               1. Open Start.
               2. Search for Task Manager.
               3. Click the Startup tab.
               4. Select an app, and click the Enable button in the bottom-right corner.
               5. 1. Close Task Manager.
                  2. Restart your computer.
                  After completing the steps, repeat the steps for every item until figuring out the app that's causing the black screen.
                  If you want to revert the changes, you can use the same instructions outlined above, but on step No. 5, make sure to click the Enable all button, and on step No. 10, click the Enablebutton for each application that was previously enabled.

                  Reinstalling or rolling back graphics driver

                  Usually, a computer may experience a black screen due to a buggy or compatibility issue with a graphics driver, which might you have installed manually or through Windows Update.
                  Other times, the video driver update may not be the problem, but the one installed on your device may be corrupted, and as a result, you could be seeing a black screen.
                  To reinstall the graphics driver, while in safe mode, you can remove it and then allow Windows 10 to reinstall it automatically using these steps:
               1. Open Start.
               2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the experience.
               3. Expand the Display Adapters branch.
               4. Right-click the video adapter and select the Uninstall device option.
               6. Quick Tip: Alternatively, you can also select the Delete the driver software for this deviceoption to remove the driver from your device. Sometimes, this is recommended, but if Windows 10 can't find the driver online, you'll need to download the driver from your manufacturer support website manually.
               7. Click the OK button.
               8. Restart your computer.
               Once your device restarts, Windows 10 should automatically reinstall the graphics driver, and hopefully, the black screen will disappear.
               If you see a black screen after upgrading to a new version of Windows, you may need to download the compatible the latest driver from your device or graphics from your manufacturer's support website to resolve the issue.

               Rolling back graphics driver

               Alternatively, if you recently installed an update, it may be possible to rollback to the previous version using these steps:
               To roll back a device driver to an earlier version on Windows 10, use these steps:
               1. Open Start.
               2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the experience.
               3. Expand the Display Adapters branch.
               4. Right-click the graphics card, and select the Properties option.
               9. Click the Driver tab.
               10. Click the Roll Back Driver button.
               11. Select a reason why you're rolling back (select any option).
               7. Click the Yes button to confirm.
               8. Restart your computer.
               After completing the steps, Windows 10 will uninstall the driver, and the previous driver will be restored.
               If the Roll Back Driver button isn't available, then Windows 10 doesn't have any previous driver to roll back. If you know that an earlier driver was working without splashing a black screen, you may be able to find and download an older version of the driver from your manufacturer's support website, and use their instructions to install the controller.
               Try all the above methods it will surely fix your problem.