How to Fix Black Screen After Updating Display Drivers in Windows 10

Troubleshooting Black Screens after Updating Graphics Drivers in Windows 10

We’ve all been there – eagerly updating our graphics drivers to the latest version, only to be met with a black screen after restarting our computer. This frustrating issue seems to plague even the most seasoned Windows users. But don’t panic. With a few strategic troubleshooting steps, you can get your display back up and running again in no time.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through some of the most effective methods for troubleshooting and fixing black screens after updating graphics drivers in Windows 10.

Confirm Your Graphics Driver is Digitally Signed

Before doing anything else, you’ll want to check that your NVIDIA, AMD or Intel graphics driver is digitally signed and certified by Microsoft. Unsigned drivers can sometimes cause conflicts that lead to black screens. Here’s a quick way to check:

Why does my computer have a black screen after a Windows 10 update?

If the USB hardware is still attached to the computer after the update, it may prompt the PC to cause some graphics issues resulting in a black screen. It is wise to unplug all the USB equipment once you see the blank display and restart the computer. You are free to replug the external devices once the screen gets fixed. 3.

Can I use Windows 10 without a black screen?

If you can use the device without a black screen, you should consider transferring your files and settings to the new account. To create a new account in safe mode on Windows 10, use these steps: Open Start. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

1. Type "Device Manager" into the Windows search bar and open it.
2. Expand the "Display adapters" section.
3. Right click on your graphics driver > Properties > Driver tab.
4. Ensure the driver is digitally signed by Microsoft.

If you see any warning icons or alerts, your driver may be unsigned or corrupt. In this case, you’ll need to uninstall it and reinstall a signed driver from your manufacturer’s website.

Run the Windows Black Screen Troubleshooter

Microsoft provides an automated troubleshooter that can detect and fix common issues known to cause black screens. Here’s how to run it:

1. Type "Troubleshooting" into the Windows search bar.
2. Click on "View All" in the sidebar.
3. Select "Hardware and Devices" > "Display" > "Windows Black Screen Troubleshooter".
4. Follow the on-screen prompts.

This troubleshooter will walk you through several diagnostic tests to detect and resolve any display configuration issues.

Roll Back or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

If your black screen persists, switching to an older graphics driver or doing a clean reinstall of the latest one often does the trick.

Does Windows 10 have a black screen only with cursor?

We understand that the upgrade to Windows 10 has took you to a black screen only with cursor. Try using hardware buttons to adjust display brightness up, we have a report of at least one PC which had this issue (brightness at min, increasing brightness enabled us to continue setup).

Why does my computer have a black screen?

The black screen issue could be related to display drivers and might get resolved by updating the display drivers. Without the correct driver, the hardware or device that you want to use won’t work properly. Let us unplug all external devices and restart the computer to check if you still get the black screen.

How do I fix a black screen on Windows Explorer?

To resolve Windows Explorer process issues, use these steps: Use the “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” keyboard shortcut to open Task Manager. Quick tip: You can also use the “Ctrl + Alt + Del” keyboard shortcut and click the Task Manager button. We are using these methods since we assume the Taskbar is also missing when experiencing a black screen.

To roll back drivers:

1. Type "Device Manager" into the Windows search bar.
2. Expand the "Display adapters" section.
3. Right click on your graphics driver > Properties > Driver tab.
4. Click "Roll Back Driver" if available.

Or, to do a clean reinstall:

1. Open your manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
2. Download the latest driver for your GPU model.
3. Open the .exe file and follow the prompts to uninstall your current driver and install the new one.

This will wipe out any residual files or settings from the problematic driver.

Enter Safe Mode to Troubleshoot

Booting into Safe Mode loads Windows with just the essential drivers and services. This allows you to troubleshoot graphics driver issues in a simplified environment.

To enter Safe Mode:

1. Open the Windows Start menu and click the Power icon.
2. Press and hold the Shift key while clicking "Restart".
3. Select "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Startup Settings" > "Restart".
4. After your PC restarts, press F4 to initiate Safe Mode.

From here, you can access Device Manager and uninstall/reinstall your display drivers to see if it fixes the black screen problem.

Why does Windows 10 have a blank screen after login?

If the blank screen happens after login, there’s likely something wrong with Windows, like a buggy Windows 10 update or a problem with an installed app. You may also run into black screen issues when you’re trying to get the most out of your system for gaming or resource-intensive tasks, like video editing.

How do I fix a black screen?

Open Settings. Click on Ease of Access. Click on High contrast. Turn off the “Use high contrast” toggle switch. Once you complete the steps, restart the device to confirm the black screen problem has been fixed.

How to fix black screen after installing graphics driver?

Stay in touch with the latest in the world of Windows! To fix Black screen after installing Graphics driver, run Windows Black Screen Troubleshooter or troubleshoot in Hardware Clean Boot.

What causes a black screen during Windows 10/11 installation?

If your video or display driver is outdated, it can also cause a black screen during Windows 10/11 installation or maybe after. Sometimes installation gets interrupted, and due to incomplete installation, a black screen appears. If the fan in the system is not working properly, overheating can also cause a black screen of death.

Be sure to restart back into normal mode afterwards to verify the issue is resolved.

Update or Downgrade the BIOS

Outdated motherboard BIOS versions are another common culprit behind black screen woes after installing graphics drivers.

Checking for and installing the latest BIOS update can potentially fix instability or compatibility issues. If that doesn’t help, rolling back to a previous BIOS version may also do the trick.

Just be sure to exercise caution when flashing the BIOS and follow your manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Following best practices can help avoid those pesky black screens in the first place:

• Keep graphics drivers, Windows and BIOS up to date.

• Use the manufacturer’s clean uninstall utility when upgrading GPU drivers.

• Don’t install beta drivers on your primary system.

• Stress test new GPU drivers before relying on them.

• Make restore points before updating drivers.

With a robust troubleshooting approach and a dose of preventative care, you’ll stay ahead of any issues stemming from graphics driver updates. Restart freely after upgrades, knowing you have the tools to swiftly tackle black screens.

Can I update my graphics driver with a black screen?

Especially the graphics card driver — either your current graphics driver is corrupted during the Windows update process or it’s not compatible with your current Windows 10 version. Then, updating your graphics card driver should do the trick. But you may wonder how it’s possible to update your graphics driver with a black screen.

How do I wake up a black screen Windows 10?

To wake the screen, use one of the following keyboard shortcuts: Windows logo key + P or Ctrl + Alt + Del. For a black screen, use the following keyboard shortcut: Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B. For more info, see Troubleshoot black screen or blank screen errors. If you have a Surface, see Surface won’t turn on or wake from sleep.

Your display will thank you! Now get out there and game on!

Next Steps

Found this guide helpful? Let us know if you have any other graphics driver dilemmas we can help with in the comments! We’d love to cover related topics like resolving screen tearing, using DDU for safe driver uninstalls, and optimizing GPU overclocking.

References

1. https://www.minitool.com/news/black-screen-after-installing-a-graphics-driver.html
2. https://www.thewindowsclub.com/black-screen-after-installing-graphics-driver-fixed