How to Fix PC Black Screen While Gaming [6 Ways]

Why is your PC black screen while gaming?

A black screen during gameplay usually signals a serious underlying issue, either with your hardware or system software. Problems often stem from outdated or malfunctioning graphics drivers, interference from third-party programs, or glitches caused by recent Windows updates.

Today’s high-performance games, especially on platforms like Steam, have strict hardware requirements. If your system lacks a compatible graphics card or the necessary drivers, you might experience sudden screen blackouts or crashes mid-game.

Even outside of gaming, encountering a black screen on Windows 11—especially without a visible cursor—could point to deeper system-level problems. The following guide is designed to help you resolve these frustrating interruptions.

6 ways to fix a PC black screen while gaming

Here are six proven methods to help you eliminate the black screen issue and get back to uninterrupted gaming. Go through them one by one to see which solution works best for your system.

Way 1. Check the power supply

Start by examining your computer’s power supply. An inadequate or failing PSU can cause your system to lose power temporarily, leading to a black screen during gameplay. High-performance games demand stable and sufficient power, and any shortfall may result in sudden crashes or screen outages.

Ensure all power cables are securely connected. Unplug and reconnect them if necessary. Once everything is firmly in place, restart your game and see if the issue persists.

Way 2. Restart your PC

Sometimes, a simple restart can work wonders. Rebooting your system refreshes the operating system, clears temporary glitches, and can fix minor software conflicts that may be causing the black screen.

Once you’ve confirmed the power supply is stable, restart your PC and launch the game again. This quick step might be all it takes to resolve the issue on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems.

Way 3. Examine the hardware devices

Your hardware is the foundation that supports all software operations, especially during intense gaming sessions. Over time, components like the graphics card or display adapter may degrade or become outdated. Keeping their drivers updated is essential for smooth performance and compatibility with modern games.

In some situations, your hardware may not meet the game's minimum requirements, leading to screen blackouts or system crashes. If that’s the case, upgrading the hardware might be necessary to ensure a stable gaming experience.

Step 1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2. Type perfmon /report and hit Enter to launch the system diagnostics tool.

Step 3. Wait about 60 seconds for the tool to complete its analysis.

Step 4. Review the Diagnostic Results to assess the condition of your system components.

Way 4. Update/Reinstall/Roll Back the graphics card

A corrupted or outdated graphics driver is a common culprit behind black screen issues during gaming. Depending on your situation, you may need to update, reinstall, or roll back the driver to restore stability.

Step 1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager from the menu.

Step 2. Expand the Display adapters section.

Step 3. Right-click on your graphics card and choose one of the following options based on your needs:

🔎 To update the driver: Select Update driver, then choose your preferred method to install the latest version.

🔎 To reinstall the driver: Click Uninstall device and confirm the action. Once removed, visit the manufacturer’s official website to download and install the correct driver.

🔎 To roll back the driver: Select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver, then confirm by clicking OK.、

Follow the on-screen prompts for each method. Once complete, restart your PC and test the game to see if the black screen problem has been resolved.

Way 5. Clean boot

Sometimes, third-party applications running in the background can clash with your game or system processes, triggering black screen issues. Performing a clean boot helps isolate these programs by starting Windows with only essential services.

Step 1. Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.

Step 2. In the General tab, select Selective startup. Make sure Load system services and Use original boot configuration are both checked.

Step 3. Switch to the Services tab, check the box that says Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.

Step 4. Click OK. You’ll be prompted to restart your computer—click it to proceed.

Once your system reboots in clean boot mode, try running the game again. If the black screen issue no longer appears, you can start enabling third-party services one at a time to identify the culprit. Once the problematic application is found, uninstall it to restore smooth gameplay.

Way 6. Reset Windows 10/11

If all else fails, resetting Windows can help restore system stability and eliminate persistent black screen issues. A reset brings your settings back to default and reinstalls the operating system. You can choose to keep your personal files while removing problematic apps and restoring system performance, battery life, and security.

Step 1. Go to Start > Settings > System > Recovery.

Step 2. Under Reset this PC, click Reset PC.

Step 3. When prompted, select Keep my files to preserve your personal data.

Step 4. On the next screen, choose Local reinstall to reinstall Windows directly from your device.

Step 5. Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your computer once the process is complete.

After the reset, launch your game to check if the black screen issue has been resolved.

Bonus tip: How to recover lost data from the black screen issue

If your computer is stuck on a black screen, it can be a frustrating experience, especially when you're concerned about potential data loss. Fortunately, AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery offers a powerful way to recover data and fix boot issues. This guide will walk you through how to use AOMEI Partition Assistant to recover lost data from a black screen issue and restore your system to working order.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data is lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool starts to scan and search. It will execute the “Quick Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching for other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins, and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovery to end.

Conclusion

In most cases, the black screen issue during gaming on Windows 10/11 is related to graphics card drivers. Although less common, hardware problems could also be the cause. To resolve the issue, try the solutions outlined in this guide. If the problem persists and is related to hardware, you can either run specialized troubleshooters or replace the faulty components.