The black screen in Windows 10 is much more annoying and worse than the blue screen. Most of the Windows 10 users know that the blue screen comes with error codes and messages, informing them why the Windows system is behaving weirdly. However, Windows 10 black screen is blank without any error codes, leaving it on the user to figure out possible issues and fixes.

Solutions to Fix Windows 10 Black Screen

You may end up with a Windows 10 black screen after login, restart, Windows update, or randomly in the middle of nowhere. It could be because of a temporary glitch, newly installed apps, antivirus, or a graphics driver problem. With the solutions mentioned below, you can fix it conveniently.

Also, if the issue is just because of glitch, a normal restart may fix it. We recommend going through the initial check before going through the fixes if you are doing a Windows update. If the black screen issue is not because of the Windows update, then you can proceed with the solutions.

Initial Check if you are in Middle of the Windows Update

If you are experiencing a Windows 10 black screen during the update, it may be because it is still in process, and you have some large personal data that needs to be processed.

You can check this with the help of LED light that shows the hard drive activity on your system; if it is blinking, it means the process is on, and you may need to wait. And if the LED is not blinking, it means the update is stuck, and you need some solutions to fix Windows 10 black screen.

1. Restart your Windows 10 System

Restarting can be a tough job when you have a Windows 10 black screen and cannot see anything on your computer. However, you can still restart your system by shortcut keys. To do so, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and then click on the Power button in the bottom right corner of your screen. Next, click on Restart to restart your computer.

Restart to fox Windows 10 black screen
Restart your computer

After the restart, if you are still experiencing a black screen or cannot restart using this way, you can check out the next solution.

2. Forcibly Shutdown and Start your Computer

If shortcut keys are not working for you, then you need to shut down your computer manually to fix Windows 10 black screen. In the case of laptops, you can press the power button for some time, until the power indicating light goes off. And then, press the power button again to restart it.

If you are using a desktop, you need to press the power button on the CPU for some time to shut it down. Press the same power button again to turn the computer on. Your system may be regular after the restart if the issue is because of a temporary glitch. However, if you still see Windows 10 black screen, check out other solutions from the list.

3. Check if Peripherals are Connected Properly

You can land up into the Windows 10 black screen problem if your computer isn’t receiving any input or has a low battery. Check if the keyboard and mouse are correctly connected to your system and confirm if they are working fine. There are fewer chances of a keyboard and mouse to stop working at the same time, but it is better to confirm once and then perform the other solutions.

You can also connect your laptop to the charging point, so there is no low battery problem. Many times while using the desktop, if the connection of the monitor to the power source is loose, it can cause a blank screen. So make sure your monitor is connected correctly to the power outlet, and the cable is also not damaged.

Even after confirming all of the above, if you are still stuck with a full black screen, you may need to check and perform the solutions mentioned below.

4. Unplug External Devices Temporarily

Sometimes, a USB or flash drive can interrupt the normal functioning of your Windows 10 system. If you are experiencing a black screen in Windows 10 after plugging in some external device, then you must unplug it temporarily.

After plugging it out, restart your computer with any of the ways mentioned above and check if the black screen error is resolved.

5. Press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B

It is another hotkey combination that can help you get rid of the Windows 10 black screen. The issues with screen display are sometimes due to the graphics driver. Then, when you press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B simultaneously, the graphic drivers in Windows restart.

If there is a temporary problem, then restarting graphics drivers can be of some help. After you press these buttons, the Windows screen will flicker or dim as the display drivers are restarted. Post the restart; your display should be normal and there should be no Windows 10 black screen.

6. Restart Windows Explorer To Fix Windows 10 Black Screen

If restarting graphics drivers didn’t work for you, then you should try restarting Windows Explorer. As restarting windows explorer fixes many issues with the start menu and taskbar, so it can probably fix the glitch with your system display.

To do so, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys together and click on Task Manager. If the Task Manager doesn’t show up after pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously to open Task Manager.

Once the Task Manager opens, search for Windows Explorer or explorer.exe under the Processes tab and right-click on it. Now, from the context menu, click on Restart.

Restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager to fix windows 10 black screen
Restart Windows Explorer from Task Manager

If you didn’t find Windows Explorer in Task Manager, go to File in the top left corner and click on Run new task. When the ‘Create new task’ window opens, type explorer.exe and hit Enter or click on OK.

Create explorer.exe task in Task Manager
Create explorer.exe task in Task Manager

This should clear the Windows 10 black screen error for you.

7. Check Graphics Card Compatibility

If you are experiencing the Windows 10 black screen after changing the graphics card on your PC, then the problem is incompatibility with the new graphics card. You can visit the official manufacturer site of the graphics card and check if it is compatible with your Windows 10 computer. If it is not consistent, you can change it and install a compatible one.

And if a graphics card is compatible with your PC, but then also the black screen problem is annoying you, then you need to check out other solutions from the list to get it resolved.

8. Uninstall Recent Windows 10 Update

Have you recently installed Windows 10 update? If yes, then that can be causing issues with your screen display. You can uninstall recent updates from your system by entering safe mode in Windows 10.

To enter safe mode, hold the power button to turn off the computer and then turn it on again. When you see the start screen, press the power button again to turn it off. Repeat this process for 3 times or until you see ‘Preparing Automatic Repair’ on your screen.

Next, on the Automatic Repair screen, click on Advanced options. You need to then navigate to go to ‘Troubleshoot’ ➜ ‘Advanced options’ ➜ ‘Startup Settings.’

In the Startup Settings, click on Restart, and when the next window appears, press F4.

When you enter safe mode, go to Settings by pressing Windows key + I and click on Update & Security. Now, go to Windows Update from the left panel and then click on View update history.

On the next window, click on Uninstall updates.

Uninstall recent windows update to fix windows 10 black screen
Click on Uninstall updates

When the next window opens, find the recent update based on ‘Installed On’ date and right-click on it. Click on Uninstall to remove that update.

Uninstall Windows update to fix windows 10 black screen
Uninstall the recent update

You don’t need to worry about the uninstalled update; it will get reinstalled with the next update. After uninstalling the update, restart your system normally to check if the Windows 10 black screen has been fixed.

9. Remove Antivirus Software

Sometimes, antivirus software creates issues with the screen display, and you end up seeing the Windows 10 black screen. You can uninstall the antivirus software and check if that was a troublemaker. To do so, you need to enter safe mode, as mentioned in the above solution.

Once you enter the safe mode in Windows 10, open Settings and go to Apps.

Now, click on ‘Apps & features’ from the left panel.

Next, search for your antivirus software in the search box present there, and when the antivirus software comes up, click on it. The Uninstall option will be visible now; you need to click on it to uninstall the antivirus software.

Uninstall antivirus software to fix windows 10 black screen
Uninstall antivirus software

Restart your system in normal mode. If you cannot see the black screen anymore, the issue is with your antivirus. You can speak to antivirus customer care and let them know about the issue so that they can guide you accordingly. There is also an option to switch to another antivirus or malware remover software if you feel your current antivirus is not up to the mark.

10. Perform a Clean Boot

Windows usually start with many programs and software. If some software is causing the Windows 10 black screen issue, then performing a clean boot can help you find the problem.

You need to enter safe mode by following the steps mentioned in solution number 8. When you successfully enter safe mode, type msconfig in the search box of the start menu and click on System Configuration to open it.

Next, go to the Services tab and check the checkbox next to Hide all Microsoft services. And then click on ‘Disable all’ to disable all other services except Microsoft.

Disable all services except Microsoft
Disable all services except Microsoft

Now, go to the Startup tab and click on the Open Task Manager. In Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, click on unwanted programs one by one, and then on Disable to disable them.

Disable apps on startup to fix windows 10 black screen
Disable program on startup

Restart your system and check if the black screen disappears. If it does, then you need to uninstall the programs which are recently installed or updated. Once you find the culprit, restart your system normally using the below-mentioned instructions.

Go to System Configuration as mentioned above, and navigate to the General tab. Click on Normal startup and then on OK.

Normal startup
Click Ok after selecting normal startup

Now, when you restart the system, it will restart in normal mode.

11. Roll Back Display Drivers

The updated device drivers can sometimes cause issues with your system, mostly when the update is incompatible or buggy. In the case of display or graphics drivers, also known as video cards, you may experience Windows 10 black screen as well. If you recently updated your device driver, you could roll back it to the previous version via Device Manager to fix the issue.

To roll back the driver, you will need to enter safe mode. Now, search for the Device Manager and open it from the start menu. In the Device Manager, expand Display adapters and right-click on the device drivers/video card. Click on Properties from the context menu and go to the Driver tab.

Click on ‘Roll Back Driver’ and follow the wizard on the screen to complete the rollback process. Then, restart your device normally and check if the black screen issue disappeared.

12. Uninstall Display Drivers

If you are not able to roll back the video card or even after rollback, the issue isn’t solved, then you may need to uninstall the display driver.

To uninstall the display driver, enter safe mode and go to Device Manager. In Device Manager, expand Display adapters and right-click on the graphics driver. Click on the Uninstall device from the context menu.

And then follow the wizard on your screen. You can refer to the guide on device drivers in Windows 10 to get help during the uninstallation process.

After the uninstall, restart your device and check if the issue is resolved. If not, then you need to go to the final resort mentioned below.

13. Perform System Restore

If none of the above solutions fixed the Windows 10 black screen for you, the final resort is to perform a system restore. You can restore the system to its last restore point. This won’t delete your personal files and data. Only the software and apps installed post the restore point will be removed.

To perform a system restore without entering your system, press the power button to turn off your system and turn it on again. Repeat this process thrice or till you see  ‘Preparing Automatic Repair.’

Next, click on Advanced options seen on the Automatic Repair screen and navigate to  Troubleshoot ➜ Advanced Options. In the Advanced Options, click on System Restore. Follow the instructions and wizard on the screen to complete the restore process.

Conclusion

Whenever you update the Windows version, make sure your system configuration can handle the update. Many times while updating the Windows version, it gets stuck due to incompatibility issues and leads to a black screen problem in Windows 10. With the solutions mentioned above, you can fix the Windows 10 black screen issue.

If the black screen is because of a minor glitch, the different hotkey combinations mentioned above can fix it easily for you. However, if the issue is severe, you may need to perform a system restore or uninstall display drivers. The steps mentioned above will help you perform any solution conveniently.