How to Fix Black Screen Problem in Windows (2025 Guide for Laptop & PC Startup Issues)

Introduction

Have you ever turned on your laptop or PC and the screen went completely black? This problem is also known as the Black Screen Problem in Windows 10/11 or the Black Screen of Death.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 users continue to experience this issue in 2025. Whether your PC displays a black screen during boot or your laptop shows a black screen with a cursor, this situation is frustrating, and every user faces this problem at some point.

The good news is that you can fix this problem yourself with step-by-step solutions. In this guide, we will: –

• Common Causes of Black Screen Problem in Windows 10/11
• Step-by-step fixes.
• Brand-specific fixes (HP, Lenovo, Surface Pro)
• FAQs & prevention tips

Common Causes of Black Screen in Windows 10/11

The black screen problem often occurs when a driver, update, or file within Windows becomes corrupted. Some common reasons include: –

1. Graphics Driver Failure—When a driver is corrupt or outdated, the Black Screen problem occurs in Windows 10/11.
2. Windows Update Issues—Sometimes the system does not boot properly after an update, resulting in a Black Screen of Death.
3. Corrupted System Files—If system files are damaged.
4. Hardware Issues—like faulty RAM, HDD, or display cable.
5. Fast Startup Feature—This sometimes causes a black screen when starting a computer.
6. Virus or Malware—which causes a system crash.

👉 If you’re constantly getting a black screen on boot, it’s helpful to first understand the cause so you can apply the correct solution.

Step-by-Step Fixes for Black Screen Problem in Windows 10/11

🔹 Fix 1: Restart Your PC in Safe Mode (Windows 10/11)

If you’re facing the PC black screen on boot issue, the first solution is Safe Mode. Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode in which Windows boots with only basic drivers.

The black screen computer repeatedly restarts and opens Windows recovery mode. From there, you can select Startup Settings → Enable Safe Mode. If the system is running normally in Safe Mode, it means the issue is most likely a driver or software, not hardware.

👉 This method is especially helpful for users who are facing the black screen problem on startup in Windows 10/11.

🔹 Fix 2: Update or Rollback Display Drivers

Drivers are the bridge between Windows and hardware. If your Black Screen Problem in Windows 10/11 is due to a driver issue, then it is important to update or rollback the driver.

Steps: –

1. Boot in Safe Mode.
2. Device Manager → Display Adapters → Right-click on Driver.
3. Select Update Driver. If the issue started after a recent update, try to “Rollback Driver”.

👉 This fix is ​​very helpful when you see a black screen with a cursor after computer startup, but the desktop does not load.

🔹 Fix 3: Run SFC and DISM Commands

Sometimes, the root cause of the black screen problem in Windows 10/11 is corrupted system files.

Steps: –

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Type: sfc /scannow → Enter.
3. Then type: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.

👉 These commands scan and repair system files. This method is effective if you’re constantly getting a black screen on boot.

🔹 Fix 4: Disable Fast Startup

Windows has a feature called Fast Startup, which speeds up boot time. However, this can sometimes cause black screen issues in Windows 10/11.

Steps: –

1. Control Panel → Power Options.
2. Open “Choose what power buttons do”.
3. Uncheck the “Turn on fast startup” option.

👉 This fix is ​​especially for those who face a hang issue with a black screen on a laptop.

🔹 Fix 5: Reset Explorer.exe

Users often complain that the system turns on but displays a black screen with a cursor in Windows 10. The solution is to reset the explorer.exe process.

Steps: –

1. 1. Open Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Task Manager.
2. File → Run new task.
3. Type explorer.exe → OK.

👉 If the desktop icons and taskbar appear, the problem is solved. This fix is ​​very helpful for the black screen problem in Windows 10/11.

🔹 Fix 6: Reset BIOS/UEFI Settings

If the issue is hardware-level, resetting the BIOS is the best solution. Sometimes, a black screen on boot is due to a BIOS misconfiguration.

Steps: –

1. Restart PC → press F2/DEL key → BIOS will open.
2. Select “Load Setup Defaults”.
3. Save & Exit.

👉 This fix is ​​for those cases where normal solutions don’t work and the system shows black screen issue in Windows 10/11.

🔹 Fix 7: External Monitor Test (for Laptops)

If you are facing HP laptop black screen on startup or Lenovo laptop display issues, it is helpful to test by connecting an external monitor.

Steps:

1. Connect the laptop to an external monitor using an HDMI/VGA cable.
2. If the screen is visible on the external display, the laptop display is faulty.
3. If the external monitor is also black, there is a driver or hardware issue.

👉 This test is useful for laptops where the black screen problem in Windows 10/11 is visible along with the cursor on the screen.

Brand-Specific Solutions

🔸 HP Laptop Black Screen on Startup

• Run the diagnostic from HP Recovery Manager.
• Install BIOS update from HP official site

🔸 Lenovo Laptop Display Issues

• Hard reset: Remove the battery and hold the power button for 30 seconds.
• Run the Lenovo Diagnostics app

🔸 Surface Pro Black Screen of Death

• Force restart: Power + Volume Up and hold for 15 sec.
• Install Microsoft firmware update.

How to Prevent Black Screen Problems in Windows

Prevention is better than cure. If you want to avoid future black screen problems in Windows 10/11: –

Always keep your drivers updated

👉 Especially graphics drivers. Outdated drivers are the main reason for black screen issue.

Update Windows to the latest version

👉 Microsoft’s patches and security updates fix black screen-related bugs.

Avoid sudden shutdowns

👉 Force shutdown or power cut causes Windows files to get corrupted, which creates black screen problem.

Use antivirus software for malware protection

👉 Malware can cause black screen issue by damaging system files. Use Windows Defender, or a trusted antivirus.

Keep making backups

👉 If ever the system crashes, the problem can be easily fixed by restore point or backup.

Disable unnecessary startup apps

👉 Go to Task Manager → Startup and disable unwanted apps. It improves boot speed and prevents black screen.

Run SFC and DISM scans regularly.

👉 These tools repair corrupt Windows files that trigger black screens.

Check hardware health.

👉 Loose HDMI/VGA cables and overheating GPU or RAM issues can also cause black screens.

Turn off Fast Startup.

👉 Sometimes Fast Startup causes Windows to hang and display a black screen. Settings → Power Options → Disable Fast Startup.

Perform regular disk cleanup.

👉 Removing junk files and cache helps Windows boot smoothly and prevents black screens.

FAQs

Q1. Why does my PC show a black screen problem in Windows 10/11?

👉 This issue mostly occurs due to graphics driver crash, Windows update failure, or corrupted system files.

Q2. How to fix the black screen problem in Windows 10/11 without formatting?

👉 You should boot in Safe Mode and update/rollback drivers, run SFC/DISM scan, and reset explorer.exe to check.

Q3. What if the laptop boots to a black screen with a cursor only?

👉 Open Task Manager and run explorer.exe. If the issue comes again and again, reinstall/update the display drivers.

Q4. Does Windows Update cause the Black Screen Problem?

👉 Yes, sometimes the black screen issue occurs after Windows cumulative updates. In this case, the problem is resolved by rolling back or uninstalling the update.

Q5. How to fix the black screen problem in Windows 11 after login?

👉 If a black screen appears after login:

• Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Open Task Manager.
• New Task → Run explorer.exe.
• Disable startup apps and restart the system.

Q6. Can outdated drivers cause the black screen problem in Windows 10/11?

👉 Absolutely. If the graphics driver is outdated/corrupted, Windows will not boot properly and a black screen will appear. A driver update fixes the problem.

Q7. Is the Black Screen Problem in Windows 10/11 related to malware?

👉 Yes, sometimes malware or viruses corrupt system files, which can cause a Windows black screen. It’s important to perform a full Windows Security (Defender) scan.

Q8. How do I run SFC and DISM to fix the black screen problem in Windows 10/11?

👉 Steps:

• Boot in Safe Mode.
• Open Command Prompt (Admin).
• Run: sfc /scannow
• Switch: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Q9. Does a hardware issue cause the black screen problem in Windows 10/11?

👉 Yes, if the hard drive is failing or the GPU is damaged, the black screen problem can occur. But this is a rare case.

Q10. Is the Black Screen Problem in Windows 10/11 permanent?

👉 No, this is mostly a temporary software bug. In 90% of cases, the issue is resolved by using Safe Mode, an SFC scan, or a driver fix.

Conclusion

The Black Screen Problem in Windows 10/11 (2025) is a common issue that every user faces at some point. If you’ve followed the step-by-step fixes above, chances are your system will be booting properly now.

If the problem still isn’t resolved, visit Microsoft’s official support page for more information or contact an authorized service center.

👉 More info: Microsoft Support – Troubleshoot Black Screen in Windows

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