An HP Laptop Turns on but the Screen Is Black? Fix It Now!

Why my HP laptop turns on but the screen is black?

Have you ever encountered that your HP laptop suddenly fails to display anything on the screen, even though it powers on. This frustrating issue has left many users wondering what went wrong. Before diving into the solutions, let's first understand the possible causes. Here are several factors can lead to this issue, including:

🔍 A damaged screen, faulty GPU, or incorrect display settings may prevent the laptop from displaying anything.
🔍 If the RAM is loose, improperly installed, or faulty, the laptop may power on but fail to complete the boot process.
🔍 Software conflicts, corrupted display drivers, or a failed Windows update could cause the black screen problem.
🔍 If the motherboard or certain hardware components fail, your HP laptop may turn on but display a black screen.

How to fix an HP laptop turns on but the screen is black?

This section provides several effective solutions to address the issue of an HP laptop turning on but displaying a black screen. By carefully following the steps outlined below, you can troubleshoot and resolve the problem, restoring your laptop to normal functionality.

Way 1. Check your monitor

When your HP laptop powers on but displays nothing, check your monitor first. A damaged screen or incorrect display settings can cause this issue. Try connecting your laptop to an external monitor. If the external monitor works, the laptop’s screen or display cable may need repair or replacement. Here’s how to check your monitor:

Step 1. Use an HDMI or VGA cable to connect your laptop to an external display.

Step 2. Press Windows + P and select Duplicate or Extend to see if the laptop recognizes the screen.

Step 3. Adjust brightness using Fn + Brightness keys (usually F2/F3 or F7/F8).

Step 4. If there are cracks or flickering, the screen may need to be replaced.

Step 5. If the external monitor works but the laptop screen does not, consider resetting display drivers or seeking professional repair.

Way 2. Reinstall your memory

Improperly seated or faulty RAM can prevent your HP laptop from displaying anything on the screen. For instance, when the RAM is loose, the laptop may turn on but fail to complete the boot process. In such a case, you can reinstall or replace the memory modules. This method is particularly effective if you recently installed new RAM or suspect hardware issues. Make sure to handle the RAM carefully to avoid static damage.

Step 1. Turn off your laptop and unplug the power cable.

Step 2. Locate the RAM slot at the bottom of the laptop and unscrew the panel.

Step 3. Carefully take out the RAM sticks and reinsert them firmly into the slot.

Step 4. Use a soft eraser or alcohol wipes to clean the gold contacts before reinserting.

Step 5. Reinstall it and restart your laptop to check if the issue is resolved.

Way 3. Boot into Safe Mode

If your laptop powers on but there’s no display due to software-related issues—such as problematic drivers or a recent update—try booting into Safe Mode. It allows your laptop to start with only the essential drivers and services, enabling you to troubleshoot effectively. Once in Safe Mode, you can update, roll back, or uninstall any recently installed drivers or software that might be causing the problem. Follow these steps to boot into Safe Mode:

Step 1. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds to shut down, then restart. Repeat this three times to trigger Windows Recovery Mode.

Step 2. In the recovery screen, select Advanced options > Startup Settings.

Step 3. Click Restart, then press 4 or F4 to enter Safe Mode.

Step 4. After entering safe mode, right-click Start and select Device Manager.

Step 5. In the pop-up window, right-click Display Adapters and choose to update/reinstall the drivers.

Step 6. Exit Safe Mode and check if the black screen issue is resolved.

Way 4. Perform a System Restore

If the methods mentioned above don’t work, consider reverting your laptop to a previous state when it was functioning properly. This method does not affect personal files but will remove recently installed programs and updates. Follow these steps to perform a system restore:

Step 1. Turn on the laptop and force shutdown three times to access the Advanced Options menu.

Step 2. Click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore.

Step 3. Select a date when your laptop was working properly, then click Next.

Step 4. Confirm your choice and wait for Windows to restore your system.

Step 5. Once the process is complete, restart your laptop and check if the black screen issue is resolved.

What if my data gets lost?

During the troubleshooting process, there is always a risk of data loss, especially when performing system resets, reinstalls, or hardware replacements. If you discover that your data has been lost, don’t panic—AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery can help you retrieve it. This simple yet powerful data recovery software is designed to recover lost, deleted, or corrupted files on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7.

Key Features of AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery:
✔️ Recover files lost due to permanent deletion, corruption, formatting, and other data loss scenarios.
✔️ Restore various file types, including documents, photos, videos, audio files, emails, and more.
✔️ Retrieve data from external hard drives, USB flash drives, SD cards, HDDs, SSDs, and other storage media.
✔️ Features a user-friendly interface, making data recovery easy for users of all experience levels.

Let’s use AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery to recover lost data:

Step 1: Launch this software and select the drive where the files were stored.

Step 2: Then, the software starts to scan your drive. It will execute the “Quick Scan" first to find your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3: Once the scan is completed, all deleted files will be displayed. Select the ones you want to restore and click Recover. It is advised to preview them before proceeding, ensuring you are recovering the right ones.

Step 4: Save the recovered files to a different drive to avoid overwriting data. Wait patiently for this process to end.

Conclusion

An HP laptop turns on but the screen is black? No worries! This article provides several effective solutions to resolve the issue. If you experience data loss during the troubleshooting process, AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery can help you recover lost files. Don’t let a blank screen disrupt your productivity—follow these steps to bring your HP laptop back to life!

FAQs

Q1: Why does my HP laptop turn on but show a black screen after sleep mode?

A: This is often caused by driver conflicts. Disable Fast Startup and update your GPU drivers.

Q2: How do I know if my HP laptop’s screen is damaged?

A: Connect it to an external monitor. If the external display works, your laptop’s screen or internal cable is faulty.

Q3: What if my HP laptop still has a black screen after all these steps?

A: The issue may be hardware-related (e.g., motherboard failure). It is advised to contact HP Support for professional help.