How to fix a black screen on your laptop

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

TroubleshootingLaptopScreenHardwareDevicesPerformanceWindowsMacDisplaySettings

A black screen on your laptop can be a frustrating experience. There are many possible reasons why this problem can occur, ranging from hardware issues to software glitches. This guide will help you troubleshoot and hopefully fix the black screen on your laptop.

Step 1: Check the basics

Before we dive into more complex fixes, let's look at some basic checks:

• Make sure your laptop is charged or plugged in.
• Check if the brightness is increased. Sometimes the screen may be too dark to see.
• Press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds to turn the laptop off, and then press it again to turn it on.

Step 2: External monitor

Connecting your laptop to an external monitor can help you determine if the problem is with the laptop's screen or another component.

• Connect an external monitor to your laptop using an HDMI, VGA, or DisplayPort cable.
• Turn on the external monitor and make sure it is set to the correct input source.
• Turn on your laptop: If the external monitor displays your desktop, the problem may be with your laptop's screen.

Step 3: Boot into safe mode

Booting into Safe Mode can help you figure out if a software issue is causing the problem. Safe Mode loads a minimal set of drivers and can often bypass problematic software issues.

• Turn off the laptop by holding the power button for about 10 seconds.
• Turn it back on and immediately start pressing the F8 key repeatedly. This should open the Advanced Boot Options menu.
• Select "Safe Mode with Networking" using the arrow keys and press Enter.
• If your laptop boots successfully in safe mode, the problem is probably software-related.

Step 4: Reinstall the drivers

Sometimes, outdated or corrupted drivers can cause a black screen. Reinstalling or updating your graphics driver may solve the problem.

If you have succeeded in booting your laptop into safe mode, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the Start button and select "Device Manager".
2. Find "Display adapters" and expand the list.
3. Right-click your graphics card and select "Update driver".
4. Choose "Search automatically for updated driver software".
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the driver update.

Step 5: Disconnect the external device

External devices can sometimes cause conflicts that result in a black screen. Disconnect all peripherals such as USB drives, printers, and external keyboards and then restart the laptop to see if that resolves the issue.

Step 6: Perform a hard reset

A hard reset can help clear up any temporary issues causing the black screen:

• Shut down the laptop completely.
• Disconnect all external devices.
• Remove the battery if possible.
• Press and hold the power button for 15-20 seconds to drain any residual electrical charge.
• Reconnect the battery and power up the laptop.

Step 7: Check for hardware problems

Hardware issues such as faulty RAM or motherboard can also cause a black screen. Here are some steps to diagnose these problems:

Checking RAM

Bad or loose RAM can cause a black screen. Follow these steps to check your RAM:

• Turn off the laptop and unplug it.
• Locate the RAM compartment (usually on the bottom side of the laptop).
• Remove the cover and carefully remove the RAM module.
• Reinsert the RAM modules and make sure they are securely in place.
• Reattach the cover, plug the laptop in, and turn it on.

Checking the hard drive

A bad hard drive can also cause a black screen problem. Listen for any unusual sounds coming from the hard drive. If you suspect a problem with the hard drive, consider using a diagnostic tool to check its health.

Step 8: BIOS/UEFI settings

Incorrect BIOS/UEFI settings can sometimes cause a black screen. Resetting the BIOS/UEFI to its default settings may help:

• Turn off the laptop.
• Turn it back on and immediately start pressing the BIOS/UEFI key (usually F2, F10, DEL, or ESC).
• Go to the Exit menu and select "Load Setup Defaults" or "Restore Defaults".
• Save the changes and exit BIOS/UEFI.

Step 9: Reinstall the operating system

If none of the above steps work, it may be necessary to reinstall the operating system. This may resolve software problems that cause the black screen. Note that this procedure will erase all data on your laptop, so back up important files first.

Windows reinstallation

• Create a bootable USB drive with the Windows installation media.
• Insert the USB drive and restart the laptop.
• Enter the BIOS/UEFI settings and set the USB drive as the primary boot device.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Windows.

macOS reinstallation

• Restart your Mac and hold down Command (⌘) + R to enter Recovery Mode.
• Select "Reinstall macOS" and follow the on-screen instructions.

Conclusion

A black screen on your laptop can occur for a variety of reasons, ranging from simple setting issues to complex hardware problems. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can systematically troubleshoot and hopefully resolve the problem. If all else fails, it may be time to seek professional help or consider hardware replacement.

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