A black screen issue on a laptop or PC is usually caused by display driver problems, boot configuration errors, hardware connection issues, or corrupted system files. You can fix it by restarting display drivers, booting into Safe Mode, updating or reinstalling graphics drivers, and repairing Windows startup.
The black screen problem occurs when your laptop or PC powers on, but nothing appears on the screen. Sometimes the system is running in the background—you may hear fans or startup sounds—but the display remains completely black.
This issue can appear after a Windows update, driver installation, sudden power loss, or malware infection. It affects both desktops and laptops and can occur before or after login.
The good news is that in most cases, the black screen problem is software-related and can be fixed without replacing hardware.
Before applying fixes, it’s important to understand which type of black screen you’re facing:
Always start with basic checks before diving into advanced fixes.
If an external display works, the laptop screen or display cable may be faulty.
Sometimes Windows loads correctly, but the display driver crashes, causing a black screen.
This restarts the graphics driver instantly and often fixes black screen issues.
Safe Mode starts Windows with minimal drivers and services, making it easier to diagnose display and startup issues.
If your PC works fine in Safe Mode, the issue is almost certainly driver or software-related.
Faulty or incompatible display drivers are one of the most common causes of black screen issues.
Windows will reinstall a fresh driver automatically.
Fast Startup can sometimes conflict with drivers and cause black screen problems.
Corrupt system or boot files can prevent Windows from loading the display correctly.
Malware can corrupt system processes and cause black screen issues.
Remove detected threats and restart the system.
If the black screen started after a recent update or installation, System Restore can help.
If none of the software fixes work, the issue may involve:
Professional repair is recommended in these cases.
Yes. Incompatible or corrupted graphics drivers are a leading cause.
This usually indicates a display, boot, or driver issue rather than power failure.
Yes. Safe Mode helps isolate driver and software conflicts.
Last updated: January 2026 • Techfix&Guides