There can be plenty of reasons behind the black screen issue on Windows 11, from improper wired connections to issues with the graphics drivers. Thankfully, fixing it shouldn’t take long once you try out the methods below. So, let’s check them out.
1. Check Connections
If you face a black screen issue on your desktop, you start by checking the wired connections going from your PC to the monitor. Unplug the HDMI cable and leave the computer idle for a few minutes. Reconnect the HDMI cable to the monitor. While you’re at it, check out the monitor’s connection to the power outlet. Also, if you have a spare monitor, try connecting it to your PC to see if the black screen issue is related to the monitor itself.
2. Restart Your PC
Sometimes, Windows or one of its components can fail to start correctly. So, before trying out other solutions on this list, you can restart your PC. Press and hold the power button until the computer is turned off. Wait for some time and press the power button on your PC to turn it on. Once done, check if the Windows 11 black screen issue is fixed.
3. Check Projection Settings
Another reason why you might be faced with a black screen is if you’ve selected the wrong projection settings on Windows. To fix that, you can press Windows + P keyboard shortcut to launch the projection settings. If the screen is blank, use the arrow keys to scroll through the list. Once the screen appears, press Enter to select PC screen only. Since you can’t see anything, it may take a few attempts before you get this right.
4. Reset Graphics Adapter
The Graphics driver on your PC is responsible for connecting Windows to your PC’s hardware. So, if the graphics driver is acting out, you might see the black screen issue on Windows 11. To remedy that, you can use the Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B shortcut to reset the graphics driver on your PC quickly. Once you press those keys, you will hear a slight beep followed by a flash on the screen. After that, the screen should appear again.
5. Update Graphics Driver
If resetting the graphics driver works, you can try updating the graphics driver on your PC. If the graphics driver on your PC is corrupted or outdated, you might face similar screen issues on Windows 11 from time to time. Follow the steps below to update the graphics driver on your PC. Step 1: Press Windows key + S to open Windows Search, type in device manager, and press Enter. Step 2: In the Device Manager window, expand Display adapters, and right-click on your graphics card to select the Update driver option. From there, follow the on-screen instructions to update it. Alternatively, you can also update the drivers manually by downloading and installing them from the manufacturer’s website. Here’s how. Step 1: First, you need to know what graphics hardware you currently have. For that, press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog. Type in dxdiag and press Enter. Step 2: Go to the Display tab and note down the name of the driver used for your display. Step 3: Next, head over to the manufacturer’s website and fill in the OEM, Model no, etc., to download the latest compatible display driver for your PC. Download Intel HD Graphics Driver Download NVIDIA GeForce Drivers Download AMD Graphics Driver Once downloaded, open the installer file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the drivers. After that, restart your PC for changes to take effect.
6. Update Windows 11
Such black screen issues can also occur due to a bug in the software. Thankfully, it does not take long before such issues are detected and fixed over the following updates. Thus, you should always keep your Windows updated to clear such bugs. Press Windows key + I to open Settings to check for software updates. Navigate to the Windows Update tab and click on Check for updates button at the top.
Live Life in Color
While such screen-related issues can make you feel helpless, there are plenty of things you can do to overcome them. Hopefully, the above solutions have brought your screen to life, and you’re back to enjoying the best of Windows 11. The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.