How to Fix a Black Screen of Death Error in Windows 10

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You’ve heard of the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), a common Windows error screen displayed when a system fault occurs. But the B in BSOD doesn’t always stand for blue.

A Black Screen of Death can prove to be more difficult to resolve as it doesn’t display an error message. It’s simply a black screen, often with a movable mouse pointer, but no other Windows features.

Here are a few common causes and solutions for the Black Screen of Death.

What Causes the Black Screen on a Computer?
Various issues can cause the black screen of death. In this guide, we’ll give you solutions for the most common causes:

Incomplete Windows 10 installation
Windows Update
Software and driver errors
Display issues
Overheating
Power supply problems
All the above can lead to a black screen in Windows. Fortunately, almost all Black Screen of Death cases can be resolved.

Installing Windows 10: Beware the Black Screen!

If you’re installing Windows 10, whether updating from a previous version or onto a formatted hard drive, errors can occur.

Among them is the Windows 10 Black Screen of Death, which can occur in this instance if:

Setup is still in progress: In this case, check if the hard drive LED is blinking. Setup is probably still running, but slow, which might be due to the age of the computer. Windows 10 should install within a couple of hours in most cases.
Setup is stuck: If this has happened and there is no HDD activity, power off the computer by holding the power button for five seconds. Disconnect any non-vital peripherals, then power up again. Setup should restart; if not, and you’re updating from an old Windows version, try installing with the media creation tool.
A device driver has failed: In this case, reboot the computer into Safe Mode. See the section “Repair a Black Screen of Death in Safe Mode” below for more information on this.
Installing Windows 10 and hitting a Black Screen of Death might discourage you from persisting. If this is the case, and you’re using old hardware, consider a free alternative operating system.
Windows 10 Update: Black Screen of Death Issue
On Windows 10 systems, a Black Screen of Death can be caused by an unfinished Windows Update.

What typically happens is that the system reboots as part of the update process and you’re presented with a login screen. However, after entering your password, Windows 10 hangs with a black screen after login.

The mouse is responsive; you might see some desktop icons; there is no taskbar. In short, Windows 10 is stuck with a black screen.

To resolve this problem, simply hold the power button down on your PC or laptop to switch off the computer. A cold start should result in the system booting properly. If not, check our tips on how to recover Windows 10.