How To Fix a Black Desktop Screen On Windows 10

Plus, we’ll tell you why it can happen

Each time you boot up your Windows PC, you expect it to work. It’s not every day that it starts up the exact same way though, especially if there’s an underlying fault you didn’t know about and have no clue how to solve it.

Among these faults is the dreaded black screen. There are several reasons why it crops up in Windows 10, which we’ll look at next, so follow along to find out how you can fix black desktop screen issues.

Causes Of Black Desktop Screen Problems In Windows 10

You’ve probably heard of theblack screen of death, which is common across operating systems. This usually happens when you turn on your computer and get a blank black screen back.

The main culprits of black desktop screen Windows 10 problems are a malfunctioning screen, a bad video card or a bad connection.

Other causes include a corrupted system file, which manifests with a blinking prompt and a blank screen, a faulty display adapter, or your computer just crashed due to a motherboard failure.

How To Fix a Black Desktop Screen On Windows 10

A black desktop screen can be caused by loose connections in your computer’s circuit board or various cords. Check the adapter plug to ensure it is fastened securely to the monitor and plugged into the power source for proper electricity flow.

Make sure the videocable connectionsare secure at the back of your computer and monitor, and that the graphics card is well placed in the motherboard with all the cables and wires securely and properly connected.

If you don’t see a standby light when youconnect your monitorto the power outlet, it could be an issue with the monitor or power cable. You can also try using a different cable or other connection if you see the standby light but no signal from your computer.

Disconnect any external devices like your mouse, hard drive or keyboard and restart the computer. If the black screen goes away, plug in each of these peripherals one at a time to find out the culprit among them, and update its drivers.

Not all black desktop screen issues in Windows 10 indicate a serious problem with the hardware or other components. It could be that your display isn’t detected by Windows 10, in which case you can use your keyboard keys to force the display to wake up.

To do this, hit theWindows key+CTRL+SHIFT+Bkeys at the same time. This will restart your computer’s graphics drivers and resolve some underlying issues.

Alternatively, pressCTRL+ALT+DELon your keyboard, click the power button at the lower right side of the screen and clickRestartto reboot the computer. Your computer willrestart without the black screen.

The black desktop screen issue may have been brought about by aWindows 10 updateissue, so using the key combination above can help you get out of different states, including the black screen.

You can also check that thecomputer’s display brightness levelsare up, and whether the device turned down the display to save on power.

The main causes of faulty video cards are manufacturer defects or damage, but you can check whether yours is at fault or needs replacement by trying it on a different monitor and check for a display. If the second monitor has a normal display, then your current one has failed.

Your video card may be working perfectly fine, but the motherboard may not.Everything within your computer’s casingconnects to this large circuit motherboard that lets them interact and communicate properly. If there’s a short circuit in the motherboard from a power surge or spill, it may not be able to read and use the attached cards or components, and eventually malfunctions.

Examine it for any damage and try a different video card to see if the display comes up again. If not, replace the entire board.

A black desktop screen may also indicate that it has reached its end-of-life span due to factors like moisture or high levels of humidity, or failed electronics within the monitor. If you connect to a different computer and it doesn’t work, the monitor is faulty and needs to be replaced.

Safe Mode starts Windows 10 with the very basic and essential apps and programs so that you can know whether there’s something else causing the black desktop screen.

To enter Safe Mode while your screen is black, press the power button on the computer and reboot the machine. Repeat this process three times to trigger the Automatic Repair function orDiagnostics Mode.

Next, clickAdvancedstartup menu and click on theTroubleshootoption.

In theAdvancedoptions screen, clickStartup Settings.

Press4on your keyboard to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode.

Next, sign in and pressWin+X, selectDevice Managerand then click to expand theDisplay Adaptersection.

Right click your display driver from the list and selectDisable device.

Reboot your computer to complete the setup and check whether you can see your desktop. If you can, check for the latest driver from Windows Update or the manufacturer’s website.

To do this, you need to boot into Safe Mode using the steps above, pressWin+X, and then selectDevice Manager.

In the Device Manager window, click onDisplay Adapters, right-click your video card and selectUninstall. PressOKto complete the uninstallation.

When your computer boots up again, Windows will automatically reinstall the video card driver, and you can check if you encounter the black screen again.

Wrapping Up

Sometimes a black desktop screen can be resolved by waiting it out for up to six hours if your PC is slow so that Windows can sort itself out. It’s worth trying this and the other solutions above.

We’d love to hear your experience with fixing the black screen issue in Windows 10. Tell us which of these solutions worked, or if you have a specific issue, share it in a comment below.

Elsie is a technology writer and editor with a special focus on Windows, Android and iOS. She writes about software, electronics and other tech subjects, her ultimate goal being to help people out with useful solutions to their daily tech issues in a simple, straightforward and unbiased style. She has a BCom degree in Marketing and currently pursuing her Masters in Communications and New Media.Read Elsie’s Full Bio

Welcome to Help Desk Geek- a blog full of tech tips from trusted tech experts. We have thousands of articles and guides to help you troubleshoot any issue. Our articles have been read over 150 million times since we launched in 2008.

HomeAbout UsEditorial StandardsContact UsTerms of Use

Copyright © 2008-2024 Help Desk Geek.com, LLC All Rights Reserved