How to Fix a Screen That Goes Black After Signing into Windows?

Windows is the preferred operating system for the majority of computer users due to its user-friendly design. However, like any OS, it has its flaws. Windows 10/11 users may encounter various issues during their usage, with the black screen error being a significant disruption to normal workflow.

Even though Microsoft says it only happens occasionally, the black screen is one of the most frustrating Windows 10/11 errors. What you see is only a black screen that does not even give you a hint of what is going wrong.

On Windows 10/11, a black screen may occur due to various reasons. It could be caused by a hardware or device driver performance issue. The error could also arise because of outdated graphics drivers or a problem with the connection between the display and your computer. Other than these, malware infections, memory corruption, and incorrect system settings cannot be ruled out as the cause of the problem.

Based on users’ feedback, a black screen may occur during Windows 10/11 installation, sometimes after Windows 10/11 updates, or even out of the blue . Some users have also reported this problem after waking up their PCs from sleep. But the most common scenario is when the screen goes black after signing in to Windows.

If you encounter a black screen while using VSync, check out this guide on PC Game Haven on how to disable it.

Solution for a Black Screen After Signing In on Windows 10/11

Fix 1: Try to Wake the Screen

The first fix you can try when you encounter a black screen error is to wake up the screen using a keyboard shortcut.

Follow these steps to wake the screen:

1. Press the Windows + Shift + Control + B combination on the keyboard. If you are in tablet mode, just press the volume-down and volume-up buttons simultaneously within two seconds.
2. If your device is responsive, the screen will blink or dim and produce a short beep. If that is not the case, you can try other troubleshooting steps.

Fix 2: Resolve Windows Explorer Issues

If you can still use the mouse pointer after you encounter a black screen, then Windows Explorer could be the problem.

To rectify Windows Explorer process issues, follow the steps below:

1. Use the Control + + Delete keyboard combination to open Task Manager.
2. Next, click on the More details button to expand the list of options.
3. Right-click on the Windows Explorer service and choose End Task.
4. Now, click on the File menu and choose Run new task.
5. Type this command and click OK: explorer.exe.
6. This trick should resolve the problem.

Fix 3: Remove Non-Essential External Devices

Sometimes, a black screen after signing in on Windows 10/11 can be triggered by peripherals connected to your computer. If that is the case, disconnect all external devices, such as cameras, printers, removable drives, and other USB devices. Once you are through with disconnecting your peripherals, restart your PC and check if the problem persists.

If the trick works, try reconnecting each device one at a time until you find the one that causes the problem. With this in mind, you may need to install updated drivers for the problematic piece of hardware.

Fix 4: Boot to Safe Mode

If the cause of the black screen error is software-related issues and you don’t have access to your desktop, the best way to troubleshoot and fix this problem is to boot your PC in safe mode.

Please follow these steps to boot your computer in safe mode:

1. Turn on your computer.
2. As soon as you spot the Windows logo on your screen, press the power button to interrupt the startup sequence.
3. Repeat this process three times.
4. After this, Windows will automatically open into the Advanced Startup You can then continue to boot in safe mode.
5. Click on the Troubleshoot option, then choose Advanced options.
6. Next, click Startup Settings and tap on the Restart button.
7. After that, press F5 or just key 5 on the keyboard to activate the Safe Mode with Networking option.
8. Once your computer is in safe mode, you can try other troubleshooting steps in this guide.

Fix 5: Reinstall or Roll Back the Display Driver

Here is how to do it:

1. Press the Windows + X shortcut and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Display Adapters section.
3. Now, right-click on the listed Display Adapter and choose Properties.
4. Highlight the Driver tab and then choose Roll Back Driver > Yes. If the Roll Back Driver button is missing, it means there is no previous version of that display driver.

Incompatible or obsolete Windows drivers is a common cause of black screen errors. So, besides rolling back to a previous version, updating drivers should also do the trick.

Here is how it goes:

1. Follow the first two steps above to launch Device Manager.
2. After that, right-click on the video driver and choose Update driver.
3. From here, select the ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’ option and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

If you are still getting the black screen on Windows 10/11 after signing in, consider uninstalling your display adapter driver altogether.

Fix 6: Disable Your Antivirus Software

If the above tricks don’t work, there is a chance that a third-party software tool, such as your antivirus program, may be the culprit. Try disabling it to see if it is the cause of the problem. In some situations, it may be satisfying to remove it from your system. After all, your device will remain protected. Windows Defender usually kicks in when you don’t have an active antivirus program.

Fix 7: Turn off Fast Startup Feature

Windows 10/11 comes with a built-in feature called Fast Startup. This useful feature combines hibernation and shutdown, and it was meant to shorten the startup time. However, some users have found out that enabling this feature triggers the black screen to appear. Therefore, disabling it might resolve the problem.

Fix 8: Perform a Clean Boot

If safe mode didn’t do the trick, perform a clean boot. Performing a clean boot lets you instruct your Windows 10/11 to only load a minimum set of apps, services, and drivers. The process is almost similar to safe mode, only that a clean boot allows you to re-enable one application or service at a time, making it easier to pinpoint the cause of the problem.

To perform a clean boot, follow these steps:

1. Go to Start and type ‘msconfig’. Execute this command, then choose System Configuration from the list of results.
2. Now, click on the Service tab.
3. Next, select Hide all Microsoft services > Disable all > Apply.
4. Click on the Startup tab and choose Open Task Manager.
5. Choose the applications you want to disable and click the Disable button.
6. After that, close the Task Manager window.
7. Click OK and restart your PC.

Essentially, this process won’t fix the problem directly, but it will help you know where to look for problems.

Bonus Tips

Here are other tricks that have worked for some users with the same problem:

• Uninstall recent updates.
• Create a new user account.
• Use System Restore to restore your Windows 10/11 to an earlier point.
• Close RunOnce processes.
• Revert to a previous version of Windows 10/11.

Quick Fix to PC Errors

Following through all the above troubleshooting steps can be a bit complicated if you’re a novice user. An easier and faster way to resolve this issue (and most computer errors) is to use a reliable PC repair tool. This option is most suitable if memory corruption, a virus, or system settings are to blame. Use the PC repair tool to scan your system for issues that may have caused the black screen error in Windows 10/11. After the diagnosis, the tool will repair the identified issues and restore stability. The best tool for this job is Outbyte PC Repair.

A Windows 10/11 black screen after login can be mysterious and, sometimes, persistent, but what we know, for sure, is that there is a fix for this problem. If you have gone through the above troubleshooting steps, you should be able to get your PC working normally again.

Feel free to share your successes, struggles, and frustrations with us in the comments section.