How to fix the black screen of death on Windows

What is the black screen of death?

The black screen of death (BSOD) is a system error on Windows that prevents the operating system (OS) from loading properly, instead presenting an unresponsive black screen. It can be caused by various hardware or software issues, including malware infections, on desktops and laptops running Windows 10 or 11.

In some cases, simply rebooting your computer will resolve a black screen. However, it’s often a symptom of a serious problem, leaving you to troubleshoot the cause and figure out a fix.

How to fix the black screen of death on Windows 10 or 11

There are lots of potential causes of a black screen of death on Windows 10 or 11 computers, each requiring a different fix. Try checking all of your peripheral connections, updating your drivers, restoring your BIOS settings to their defaults, and using the Automatic Repair feature.

Which fix will work for you, if any, depends on what’s causing your black screen of death and whether the error happens before or after you log into your user account.

If you don’t know where to start, follow along for step-by-step black screen of death troubleshooting and repair guidance.

Before logging in

If you’re met with a black screen as soon as you boot your Windows computer, before you even log in, it may be the result of a hardware issue or fundamental software error. Common solutions include resecuring cables, unplugging unnecessary devices, and resetting your BIOS/UEFI settings.

Run each of these troubleshooting methods in order to try and resolve the problem.

Check cables and connections

Loose cables can prevent separate hardware components, like your computer and an external monitor, from communicating with each other. Test all of your wired connections by disconnecting and reconnecting the cables to resolve any cable issues.

If the problem persists and you suspect that a specific cable or monitor may be faulty, swap the potentially broken hardware out and retry the connection with a replacement you know works.

Unplug accessories

External devices and accessories like flash drives or printers can interfere with Windows’ startup process, causing a black screen. This is most likely to happen if they’re incompatible with your computer or have faulty components.

Unplug all external devices and accessories from your computer, including your mouse, keyboard, external hard drive, and printer. Then, restart your PC to see if the black screen is resolved.

If it works, the issue was probably caused by one of the accessories. You can then identify which peripheral was responsible by plugging them back in one by one, restarting your computer each time until the black screen returns.

Try a BIOS/UEFI reset

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) and UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) are built-in programs that run on startup to initialize hardware components and connect them to the OS. BIOS or UEFI errors can cause issues during the boot process, resulting in a black screen.

There are two ways to troubleshoot a black screen through BIOS/UEFI. One involves checking that your computer is booting from the right storage device. The other requires resetting your BIOS or UEFI settings to their defaults, hopefully resolving any conflicts that might be causing the system error.

Here’s how to access your BIOS or UEFI settings and check the boot order or reset to defaults on Windows 10 or 11:

1. Turn on or restart your computer.
2. Repeatedly press the designated key (typically Delete, Esc, Shift, F2, or F10) as your computer boots up until the BIOS/UEFI menu appears.
3. Find the option to select the bootable storage device, which may be called Boot priority or First boot device, and make sure the correct storage option is selected.
4. If that doesn’t work, you can try to restore your BIOS/UEFI settings to their factory defaults. Enter the menu again and look for an option called Load defaults, Optimized defaults, or Reset BIOS settings. Select it, save your new settings, and restart your computer.

Bear in mind that different computers will have different names for these settings in the BIOS or UEFI menu. Refer to your manual or contact your computer’s manufacturer for guidance if you can’t find the right option.

Launch Automatic Repair

Automatic Repair is a built-in tool that automatically scans and attempts to fix system issues that prevent Windows from booting correctly. If your computer is stuck on a black screen, accessing Automatic Repair through the Windows Recovery Environment may help you identify and resolve the underlying problem.

Here’s how to launch Automatic Repair on Windows 10 or 11:

1. Repeatedly restart your computer to trigger the Windows Startup Automatic Repair screen (this may take three attempts, and requires that you hold down the Shift key on some computers.)
2. Click Restart.
3. If there’s still a black screen when your PC reboots, restart it again to access the same Automatic Repair menu and click Troubleshoot, then Advanced options.
4. Click System Restore and select a state from any time before you started experiencing the black screen error. This can potentially resolve the issue if it was caused by software or driver changes.
5. Finally, select Next and wait for Windows to finalize the restoration.

Access Safe Mode

If none of the above options help resolve the issue, you can access Safe Mode to try additional troubleshooting methods only available through menus accessed within the OS.

Safe Mode launches your computer with just the essential functions enabled, removing factors like faulty drivers (software that enables communication between your computer and hardware) or infected programs that may be the cause of the issue.

To boot in Safe Mode, follow these steps:

1. Access the Windows Startup Automatic Repair screen by following the steps above.
2. Click Troubleshoot, Advanced options, Startup Settings, and then Restart.
3. Once your computer reboots and you reach the Startup Settings menu, choose Enable Safe Mode.

After logging in

If a black screen appears after you've logged into your computer, or you’ve failed to troubleshoot a BSOD that appears before logging in following the above steps, it may be caused by software issues like faulty drivers or malicious third-party programs.

Here are a few things you can try to resolve the issue. Note that these troubleshooting options will first require that you boot your computer in Safe Mode by following the steps above.

Optimize startup applications and processes

Disabling unnecessary programs that automatically launch when you start your computer can optimize your startup process, speeding up your computer and reducing system resource usage. This can help stop a black screen error that’s caused by resource conflicts or slow startup processes.

Here’s how to do it on Windows 10 and 11:

1. Right-click the Windows icon in your Taskbar and click to open Task Manager.
2. Click the Startup apps or Startup tab.
3. Review each application’s Start-up impact rating (None, High, Medium, or Low) looking for unnecessary applications with high impact.
4. Disable any apps you don’t want to start automatically by right-clicking them and selecting Disable.

Manually start File Explorer

File Explorer is responsible for managing files and folders; it can cause a black screen if it fails to load on startup. Manually opening the program and initiating a quick and easy reset can fix this issue.

Follow these steps to start File Explorer:

1. Right-click the Windows icon in your Taskbar and click to open Task Manager.
2. Click File and then Run new task.
3. Type Explorer.exe into the blank field and tap Enter or click OK to start File Explorer.

Update or roll back your graphics drivers

Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can cause display issues, system instability, and the black screen of death error. Updating them may fix the issue.

To install the latest compatible drivers on Windows 10 or 11, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Windows icon in your Taskbar and click to open Device Manager.
2. Double-click Display adapters to open a list of your graphics hardware.
3. Right-click the first option in the list and click Update driver (on Windows 11) or Properties, Driver, Update driver, and then Search automatically for updated driver software (on Windows 10.)
4. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
5. If there are multiple options in the list, repeat this step until you’ve updated all of your graphics drivers.

In rare cases, a black screen can be the result of a faulty graphics driver update. Rolling back a driver reverts it to a previous version, which can resolve the problem.

To roll back a driver, follow the steps above but, instead of clicking to update your graphics drivers, click Roll Back Driver. You can then follow the on-screen instructions to revert back to a previous, working version.

If rolling back your driver isn’t shown as an option, it might mean the driver you’re trying to roll back is the first version, or it’s a critical driver that can’t be altered. In this case, repeat the process above on any other options in the Display adapters list.

Uninstall third-party software

Uninstalling third-party applications in Safe Mode can help resolve a black screen of death caused by malicious or faulty software. If you only encountered a black screen error after installing a new program, uninstalling it may fix the problem. Here’s how to do it:

1. Right-click the Windows icon in your Taskbar and click to open Programs and Features or Apps and Features.
2. Find the third-party software you want to uninstall, right-click on it, and select Uninstall.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.

What causes the black screen of death?

A black screen of death can be caused by both software and hardware issues. These issues can themselves result from a variety of factors, including malware infections, aged components, or outdated software.

Here’s a more detailed look at some of the main causes of a black screen on a Windows computer:

• Hardware failures: A damaged cable connecting your computer to your monitor or issues with your computer's hardware, such as a failing hard drive or faulty graphics card, can both result in a black screen.
• Software conflicts or corruption: Conflicts between different applications, corrupted system files, and malfunctioning system updates can all cause a black screen error.
• Outdated or incompatible drivers: Graphics or software drivers that are outdated or incompatible with your operating system or hardware can cause display issues, including a black screen.
• Malware infections: Certain viruses or malware can corrupt system files, interfere with the boot process, or cause other system errors, resulting in a black screen. These harmful programs can get access to your system through malicious links, compromised software, or hacking attempts and can be difficult to remove.

Protect your computer from destabilizing malware

While a black screen of death isn’t always the result of a virus or malware, keeping your computer free from these malicious programs can help reduce the chance that you’ll encounter one.

Once you’ve fixed your black screen issue, install Norton AntiVirus Plus to help block scam attacks and proactively identify and remove potential threats, keeping your computer in better condition for longer.

FAQs

How are the black and blue screens of death different?

A blue screen of death, also known as a bug check or stop error, is an error message that signifies a critical operating system failure in Windows. Just like a black screen of death, it can be caused by a variety of issues including hardware failures, driver conflicts, and software bugs. Which error screen you see depends on what issue your computer is experiencing.

Can a virus cause a black screen?

Yes, viruses or malware can corrupt system files or interfere with the boot process, leading to a black screen. Proactively detecting and removing potential threats with antivirus software can help keep your system safer from damage.

Is the black screen of death common?

While not necessarily common, the black screen of death error isn’t rare either. Since it can be caused by a wide range of problems, some of which are hard to prevent or anticipate, many Windows users will encounter it eventually.