Windows 11 computer black screen on startup [Solved]

If Windows 11 PC is stuck in a black screen during startup, switch to Safe Mode or restart the graphics driver to get things up and running.

Windows 11, the latest release from Microsoft introduces several exciting features and improvements. And the company regularly drops Windows updates to patch bugs, improve security and performance, and occasionally add new features. However, some underlying Windows issues are still present, Windows 11 Black Screen After Update one of them. Users report, “computer black screen on startup” The led lights are blinking and fans are all spinning, but Windows 11 is just stuck in black screen during startup. Outdated graphics drivers, misconfigured projection settings or loose connections among others are the primary reasons why Windows 11 is stuck on black screen during startup. Let’s take a look at How To Fix Windows 11 Black Screen Issues or computer black screen on Startup.

Why Computer stuck black screen on startup?

The black screen on startup issue in Windows 11 can occur due to various reasons. It may be outdated, corrupted, or incompatible graphics driver conflicts during the boot process, resulting computer stuck black screen on startup.

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Again Certain software applications or services running in the background may conflict with the operating system, leading to a black screen on startup.

Faulty hardware or Loose cable connections between the monitor and CPU are also known to cause the  Windows 11 Black Screen problem.

Sometimes Malicious software or viruses can disrupt normal operation or certain bugs or glitches that can manifest as a black screen on startup.

How To Fix Windows 11 Black Screen Issues

If Windows 11 screen remains turned on but is unable to display any imagery, use the key combination Win + Ctrl + Shift + B to Restart the Graphics Driver and get things up and running.

In addition, you need to Check Connection Issues, start Windows 11 in safe mode, and update or reinstall the Graphics driver to Fix Windows 11 Black Screen Issues on your computer.

Check The Connectivity

If you are seeing a Black screen only on Monitor but the CPU led blinking and fans are all spinning there could be an issue with the connection between your device and the display.

Start by checking the power cable, monitor connection, and any other peripherals connected to your computer. Also, try Disconnect and reconnect them if necessary to ensure a proper connection.

Note – If you have External Graphics card installed, ensure the Video cable is connected to the Graphics card port instead of your motherboard.

Try to disconnect all external peripherals from your computer and restart windows to see if it resolves the issue.

Restart windows explorer

If Windows 11 is stuck with a black screen after booting up your PC Restarting Windows Explorer can often help in resolving minor software glitches or conflicts that may be causing the black screen issue.

  • Hold the Windows key + P, or CTRL Alt Del to wake the screen.

Open Task Manager using Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys or you can press Alt + Ctrl + Del and select Task Manager,

In the Processes tab, locate and select “Windows Explorer,” right-click on it select “Restart.”

Windows Explorer will close and restart automatically now Check if the Windows 11 black screen issue is resolved.

Note – if you didn’t find the Windows Explorer process, click on File, then Run new task and type explorer.exe. Press ok to start the windows explorer and probably fix the problem for you.

Update Graphics drivers

Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers one of the primary reasons for a black screen issue on Windows 11. And keeping your graphics drivers up to date is crucial for maintaining system stability, compatibility, and security, and can help prevent or resolve black screen problems.

  • Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager” from the menu.
  • Expand the “Display adapters” category, Right-click on your graphics card (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and select “Update driver.”
  • Select the option to “Search automatically for updated driver software.”

  • Follow the on-screen instructions and wait for the update process to complete. It may take a few minutes. Once done restart your computer to apply the changes.

If Windows couldn’t find an updated driver or you prefer to manually update the graphics drivers. You can visit the website of your graphics card manufacturer (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and download the latest drivers specific to your graphics card model.

Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install the updated drivers. Finally, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Rollback graphics drivers

Graphics driver is the most common reason for Windows 11 black screen problem. If the problem started after a recent driver update, or If updating the graphics drivers didn’t resolve the issue, you can try rolling back to the previous version.

Rolling back the graphics drivers restores the previous version that was working on your system.

  • Open the Device Manager using devmgmt.msc on start menu search
  • Right-click on your graphics card and select “Properties.”
  • Navigate to the “Driver” tab and click on “Roll Back Driver.”

  • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
  • Restart your computer and check if the black screen problem is fixed.

This can help resolve black screen issues that might have been introduced by a recent driver update.

Disable fast startup

The fast startup feature was introduced on Windows 11 to speed up the boot process, But it can sometimes contribute to black screen issues during startup due to driver or hardware incompatibilities, system file or configuration errors, or conflicts with third-party software. And for a few users disable fast startup help resolve issues related to black screens or other startup problems.

  • Press the Windows key + R, and type powercfg.cpl, and click ok to open power options,
  • Click on “Choose what the power buttons do” on the left side then click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable.”
  • Scroll down to the “Shutdown settings” section and Uncheck the box next to “Turn on fast startup (recommended).”
  • Click on the “Save changes” button to apply the settings and Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM commands

Again Corrupted or missing system files can lead to black screen issues by disrupting the boot process and causing display driver problems. Running the SFC and DISM commands helps identify and repair these files, potentially resolving the black screen problem by restoring system integrity and stability.

  • Press Windows key + S and type cmd, Right click on the command prompt select run as administrator,
  • If prompted by User Account Control, click “Yes” to grant administrative privileges.
  • First run the system file checker command sfc /scannow,  to scan your system files for errors and attempt to repair them if any issues are found.

  • The process may take some time depend on the file corruption level.
  • Next, run DISM command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

  • This command will check for component store corruption and attempt to restore the damaged files using Windows Update.
  • Let it complete 100%, once done restart your computer and check if the black screen issue is resolved.

Perform a system restore

If the black screen issue started after installing new software or drivers, performing a system restore can help.

Press Windows key + R, type sysdm.cpl and click ok to open system properties,

Click on “System Protection” then “System Restore” and follow the on-screen instructions to choose a restore point before the problem occurred.

 

  • Confirm your selection and wait for the restoration process to complete.

After the system restores, your computer will restart, and hopefully, the black screen issue will be resolved.

The provided steps are effective in resolving the black screen problem on Windows 11 during startup. However, if the issue persists despite following those steps, it is recommended to seek assistance from an IT professional for further troubleshooting and resolution.

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Steve Ballmer
With over 7 years of experience in the IT industry, I have experience in IT support, helpdesk, sysadmin, network admin, and cloud computing. Certified in Microsoft Technologies (MCTS and MCSA) and also Cisco Certified Professional in Routing and Switching.
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