Fix Black Screen and Display Issues on Windows 10/11 — Complete Troubleshooting Guide (2025 Update)

Has your screen ever gone completely black, started flickering, or your external monitor suddenly stopped showing anything—even though the PC itself seems to be on?

This guide covers the most common display problems on Windows 10 and Windows 11 and walks you through step-by-step fixes for each situation. Even if you’re not a technical expert, you can follow these steps safely.

Common Display Problems on Windows 10/11

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms below, the cause is usually related to display settings, graphics drivers, recent updates, or hardware connections:

• PC powers on but the screen stays black
• Brightness changes randomly or is stuck too dark/too bright
• External monitor is not detected or shows “No signal”
• Screen flickers, flashes, or briefly goes black
• Strange colors, washed-out image, or brightness problems when HDR is enabled

Identify the Likely Cause

Each symptom can have several possible causes. Start with simple, visible checks (cables, monitor power, brightness) and then move on to software and driver settings. Windows 11 users in particular may see display glitches after installing recent updates such as KB5060842 or KB5060533.

Step-by-Step Fixes by Situation

1. Check Cables, Power, and Physical Connections

• Confirm the monitor is powered on and not in sleep mode.
• Ensure HDMI / DisplayPort / USB-C / VGA cables are firmly plugged in on both the PC and monitor.
• If you are using an adapter (HDMI–>DisplayPort, USB-C hub, etc.), test with another adapter if possible.
• Try a different cable and, if available, another monitor or TV to rule out hardware failure.

If another monitor works fine, the original display may be faulty. If none of your displays work, the GPU or port on the PC could be the problem.

2. Use the Shortcut [Win + Ctrl + Shift + B] to Reset the Display

When Windows is running but the screen is black or frozen, try this built-in shortcut:

Press: Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B

You should hear a short beep and see the screen flicker briefly. This forces Windows to reset the graphics driver without restarting the whole system, which often recovers from a driver crash.

3. Switch the Display Output Mode (Especially on Laptops)

After closing the lid, disconnecting a monitor, or waking from sleep, Windows sometimes switches to the wrong display mode.

To change the output mode:

• Press Windows + P
• A small menu appears with these options:
  • PC screen only
  • Duplicate
  • Extend
  • Second screen only
• Try switching between them (especially Duplicate and Extend) to see if the missing display comes back.

If your laptop screen is black but the external monitor works (or vice versa), this step is especially important.

4. Update, Roll Back, or Reinstall the Display Driver

Many black screen, flickering, or HDR issues are caused by graphics driver bugs or incomplete updates.

▶ Automatic update via Device Manager

1. Right-click the Start button → select Device Manager
2. Expand Display adapters
3. Right-click your GPU (e.g., Intel, NVIDIA, AMD)
4. Click Update driver → Search automatically for drivers

▶ Roll back a problematic driver (if the issue started after an update):

1. In Device Manager, right-click your GPU → Properties
2. Open the Driver tab
3. Click Roll Back Driver (if the button is available)

▶ Clean reinstall with DDU (advanced users)

For persistent issues, tools like Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) can completely remove old driver remnants so you can install a fresh driver from NVIDIA/AMD/Intel. Only recommended if you’re comfortable with advanced troubleshooting.

5. Disable HDR and Automatic Brightness Controls

On modern laptops and HDR-capable monitors, Windows tries to “optimize” brightness and color automatically—but this can lead to washed-out images, flicker, or unstable brightness.

• Open Settings → System → Display
• Turn HDR off (if available)
• Scroll down and disable:
  • Change brightness automatically (or “Automatically adjust brightness”)
  • Lower screen brightness when using battery saver

After disabling these options, manually adjust the brightness slider and check if the image becomes more stable and natural.

6. Check and Adjust the Refresh Rate

An incorrect or unsupported refresh rate can cause flickering, blank screens, or “out of range” messages on some monitors.

• Go to Settings → System → Display
• Click Advanced display (or “Advanced display settings”)
• Under Choose a refresh rate, select a supported value (commonly 60Hz, or 120Hz/144Hz on gaming monitors)

⚠ Only choose refresh rates officially supported by your monitor’s specifications. For older or office displays, 60Hz is usually the safest option.

7. Use Safe Mode for Driver Troubleshooting

If the display works in Safe Mode but fails in normal mode, the problem is almost always related to a driver or startup program.

How to enter Safe Mode (Windows 10/11):

1. Open Settings → System (or Update & Security on Windows 10)
2. Click Recovery
3. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now
4. After reboot → choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings
5. Click Restart, then press 4 to boot into Safe Mode

From Safe Mode, you can uninstall or roll back display drivers and restart into normal mode to test again.

Still Not Working? Next Options to Consider

If the problem persists even after driver fixes, Safe Mode tests, and a clean Windows environment, there is a strong chance of a hardware defect—especially on older laptops, desktops with dedicated GPUs, or monitors with backlight issues. If your device is under warranty, contact the manufacturer or your retailer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How can I tell if Windows is running even if the screen is black?

A: Listen for fan or drive noise, check if keyboard lights (Caps Lock/Num Lock) respond when pressed, or try pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete. If you hear sounds but see nothing, it’s likely a display or driver issue, not a full system shutdown.

Q. My second monitor is not working, but the main one is fine.

A: Confirm the cable and port are working, then press Windows + P and try Duplicate or Extend mode. Also make sure the correct input (HDMI/DP) is selected on the secondary monitor.

Q. The screen flickers only in certain apps (like browsers or Office).

A: Try disabling hardware acceleration in that app’s settings, and make sure your GPU drivers are up to date. Some app-specific conflicts can cause flicker even when the rest of the system looks normal.

Summary Table

Display problems can be stressful—especially when your screen goes black in the middle of work. The good news is that most issues can be solved without data loss by following these steps calmly, one at a time. If you still can’t get a stable display after trying everything here, it’s a good idea to consult a professional or contact your PC manufacturer for a hardware check.

🔗 Related articles:

▶︎ Excel Status Bar Text Is Cut Off? Here’s How to Fix It

▶︎ Is Your Laptop Overheating? Quiet Cooling Tips for Working in Public Spaces

▶︎ Windows 10 Backup Error: How to Fix “Sorry, We Couldn’t Back Up Your PC”

タグ: black screen, external monitor not working, Windows display issues, screen flickering, Windows 11 problems, graphics driver fix, HDR not working, Windows 10 troubleshooting