Fix Black Screen in Windows 11

Before we go ahead and show you how to troubleshoot the black screen issue in Windows 11, you need to understand what’s the black screen problem is in the first place.

Reasons Behind Black Screen in Windows 11

The black screen error in Windows 11 can be related to both the hardware and software. Sometimes, the malicious files on your PC can result in a black screen error. The black screen issue is more prominent on PCs connected to an external monitor. The biggest factor behind the black screen problem is a loose wire connection on your desk. Let’s start our troubleshooting journey from there.

1. Check Physical Connections

Are you working with a loose or sketchy wired connection on your computer? We would recommend removing all the wires and plugging them back in. While you are at it, do check for physical damage on all the wires as well. If one of such wires is damaged on either of the ends, you need to replace it with a new one.

2. Restart PC

If you can get back to the Windows desktop, you can perform the system reboot from the Start menu. Most users keep the PC in sleep mode. Sometimes, it does need to go through the reboot process to keep the computer running smoothly. Click on the Windows button on the taskbar and select the power button. Select Restart and closely check Windows behavior.

3. Make Sure RAM is Slotted Properly

This one is aimed at PC users. We don’t recommend opening the laptop back to check the slotted RAM. If you have built a PC at home, you already know how to slot the RAM properly. Remove the PC lid properly and remove RAM. Clean them and slot them properly on the motherboard.

4. Turn on Monitor

After some inactive minutes, your desk monitor goes into sleep mode. Windows 11 is already running in the background but since the monitor has gone into sleep mode, you won’t see anything on the screen. Press the power button and if your monitor is coming with a remote (like Samsung M7 and M8), use the wake-up button on it and turn on the monitor.

5. Make Sure You Are in Right HDMI Mode

Most new-age monitors come with multiple HDMI slots. Let’s say you have connected the computer to HDMI 1, and you are selecting HDMI 2 as the screen output on the monitor. No matter what trick you try, you won’t be able to go past the black screen. Use the remote or monitor button to switch between HDMI modes and select a relevant one to project on the monitor.

6. Reinstall Display Drivers

Corrupt display drivers on your computer can result in black screen errors in Windows 11. Use the Device Manager menu and reinstall display drivers on the PC.

  1. Right-click on the Windows button and select Device Manager.
  2. Expand the Display adapter menu and check default graphics.
  3. Right-click on it and select Uninstall device. Confirm your decision to uninstall drivers. Reboot the computer and the OS will download the required drivers.  

7. Change Projector Settings

Did you connect a Windows laptop with an external monitor? You need to make required changes from the projector menu to get the Windows 11 output on a big screen. From your Windows laptop, you can press Windows + P keys and it will open the Project menu. Select the Second screen only from the side menu and you are good to go. If you plan on using the laptop and monitor simultaneously, you can select Extend or Duplicate from the Project menu.

8. Install Pending Driver Updates

While the system installs required driver updates during the software update process, the OS does skip optional updates. If you are facing a black screen issue, you need to install optional updates on your computer.

  1. Launch Window Settings (use Windows + I keys).
  2. Go to the Windows Update menu and select Advanced Options.
  3. Select Optional updates.
  4. Download and install pending driver updates.

9. Update Graphics Card Drivers

OEMs Asus and NVIDIA offer dedicated software to install new graphics driver updates. You can use the app to install required graphics drivers on the computer. Note: In the screenshot below, we will show the Armoury Crate app that comes built-in on all Asus devices.

  1. Open OEM app on your computer.
  2. Go to Tools and select Driver.
  3. Select pending drivers, and select Download & Install at the bottom.   Restart your computer and you won’t see a black screen problem.

Get Back to Work

Windows 11 throwing a black screen right in the middle of work can break your workflow. Before you get anxious and reset the PC, use the tricks above and fix the black screen problem in no time.