How to fix a black screen in Windows 10

Windows 10 is a widely used operating system all over the world and is designed from the ground up to be user-friendly and easy to get along with. However, this certainly doesn’t mean it’s perfect. There are several issues that can crop up in Windows 10 and we’re going to show you how to resolve one of the more dreaded ones – the black screen.

If you're looking to speed up your Windows 10 then look no further than our quick guide, and if you're looking to keep yourself safe online then make sure you get yourself a VPN too.

How to fix a black screen in Windows 10 during installation

If you run across a black screen during the installation process of Windows 10, then depending on your hardware, this could still mean that the installation is progressing in the background.

The first thing to do in this situation is to leave the black screen for up to 6 hours if your computer is particularly slow. The better your hardware, the faster the process will take, but giving Windows a chance to sort itself out is always worth trying.

If after this time nothing has happened then hold down the power button on your machine for 10 seconds to force it to shut down. Unplug everything that is non-essential (everything apart from your keyboard, mouse and main display) and try to boot your machine up again and restart the installation process.

If you’re still having trouble, then try and install Windows from a bootable USB drive.

Check your monitor’s connections

It sounds silly, but the most obvious solution is usually the correct one. Make sure you check the connections between your PC and your monitor, and your monitor’s power cable.

If your monitor doesn’t display a standby light when you connect it to power, it could well be an issue with the power cable or even the monitor itself.

If you are getting a standby power light but you can’t get a signal from your machine, then try using another connection or another cable.

Force your display to wake up

It could also be possible that Windows 10 just isn’t detecting your display. Use your keyboard to hit your Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B which will forcibly wake up your display.

Boot into safe mode to troubleshoot the black screen issue

Booting into safe mode starts Windows 10 with only the essential programs and applications running, so if this works you’ll know it’s something running on your computer that is the root of the problem.

At your sign in screen when you fire up your PC, hold down your Shift key and click the power button at the bottom right of your screen, then select restart.

If you can’t see anything because your screen is already black, then press the power button and reboot your machine again. Do this three times and you will trigger the Windows 10 automatic repair function. Follow the directions below.

• Click the advanced start up menu, and then hit Troubleshoot.
• Click advanced options.
• Head into Startup Settings.
• Click the Restart button.
• On the startup settings, hit 5 or F5 to enter Safe mode with Networking.

How to reinstall your video driver

An issue with your screen could well be your video driver causing trouble, so it’s a good idea to try reinstalling it.

• Hit your Windows Key + X and head into your Device Manager.
• Expand your display adapters, right click your display adapter and select Uninstall.
• Hit OK to confirm and then uninstall your computer.

Windows will then automatically reinstall the display driver when it boots up again, so if there was a problem it should now be fixed.

Overheating Can Cause Windows Black Screen Errors

All computers generate heat. This heat must be removed to keep the system running; high temperatures can cause components to lock-up and become damaged. Fortunately, computers are built to shut down before that occurs.

This will usually result in a featureless black screen, which may or may not be followed by a restart.

In many cases, overheating is caused by the video card or the processor. As noted, you should suspect the video card if you receive a black screen when the computer otherwise appears to be working (the fans are on, the hard drive light active, etc).

If the processor has overheated, the black screen will usually prompt a reboot or automatic shutdown of the PC.

Overheating can often be solved by opening your PC and cleaning out the cobwebs. Use a vacuum to suck up obvious dust (avoiding internal cables, of course) and use a can of compressed air to dislodge stubborn dirt. Also, check that all fans are still working and replace any that aren’t. If the problem persists after these steps, you may have a faulty cooler or flawed video card and/or processor.