How to fix black screen with safe mode on Windows 10

If this is the case of a software-related issue, and you don't have access to the desktop, you will need to use "Advanced startup" to boot Windows 10 in safe mode to troubleshoot and fix the black screen problem.

Open Advanced startup using three-fail boot method

To access the Advanced startup environment, use these steps:

1. Start computer.

2. As soon as the Windows logo appears on the screen, press the power button to interrupt the boot sequence.

   Source: Windows Central

3. Repeat steps No. 1 and 2 two more times.

After the third interruption, Windows 10 will open into the "Automatic Repai" environment, where you can click the Advanced options button, and then you can continue with the steps below to boot in safe mode.

Open Advanced startup using bootable media method

Alternatively, you can use a USB bootable media to access the Advanced startup settings using these steps:

1. Start computer using a USB bootable media.

   • Quick tip: If your device isn't starting from the USB flash drive, you'll need to change the motherboard's BIOS settings to make sure it can boot from USB. You can usually access the BIOS by powering up the device and pressing one of the functions, Delete, or ESC keys. However, you may need to check your manufacturer's support website for more specific details.
2. Click the Next button.

3. Click the Repair your computer link in the bottom-left corner.

   Source: Windows Central

Once you complete the steps, continue with the instructions to access safe mode on Windows 10.

Boot Windows 10 in safe mode

To boot Windows 10 in safe mode while in Advanced startup, use these steps:

1. Click the Troubleshoot option.
2. Click the Advanced options button.

3. Click the Startup Settings option.

   Source: Windows Central

4. Click the Restart button.

   Source: Windows Central

5. While in the "Startup Settings," press the 5 or F5 key to select the Safe Mode with Networking option.

   Source: Windows Central

After the device starts in safe mode, you can use several troubleshooting steps to help you fix the black screen problem. For example, reinstalling the graphics driver, removing buggy updates, changing system settings, and more (see instructions below).

Perform Windows 10 clean boot

Usually, when the device starts normally, Windows 10 loads a bunch of services, drivers, and applications, which will remain running in the background, if one of them isn't working correctly, it's possible that it will produce a black screen.

A clean boot instructs Windows 10 to start only with a minimal set of services, drivers, and apps, which can help you to figure out if something running in the background is the cause of the screen going completely black.

On Windows 10, a clean boot is similar to safe mode, but it allows you to re-enable one service or software at a time to pinpoint the problem more accurately.

To perform a clean boot on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for msconfig, select the System Configuration item in the result to open the experience.
3. Click the Services tab.
4. Check the Hide all Microsoft services option.

5. Click the Disable all button.

   Source: Windows Central

6. Click the Apply button.
7. Click the Startup tab.
8. Click the Open Task Manager option.
9. Click the Startup tab.

10. Select each application, and click the Disable button in the bottom-right corner.

    Source: Windows Central

11. Close Task Manager.
12. Click the OK button in the "System Configuration" experience.
13. Restart your computer.

Although this process won't fix the issue, it'll give you an idea of where to start looking to resolve the black screen.

If, after restarting your computer, you no longer see a black screen, you will know that there's a problem with one of the background processes.

Troubleshoot black screen using clean boot

In this case, use these steps to re-enable the items (one-by-one), and restart your device to see which one is causing the black screen:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for msconfig, select the System Configuration item in the result to open the experience.
3. Click the Services tab.
4. Check the Hide all Microsoft services option.

5. Check one of the services.

   Source: Windows Central

6. Click the Apply button.
7. Click the OK button.
8. Restart your computer.

Once you complete the steps, repeat the steps for every item until you can determine the cause of the problem.

Re-enable startup items

If none of the services seem to be the issue, use these steps to re-enable the startup items:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Task Manager.
3. Click the Startup tab.

4. Select an app and click the Enable button in the bottom-right corner.

   Source: Windows Central

5. Close Task Manager.
6. Restart your computer.

After you complete the steps, repeat the instructions for every item until figuring out the app causing the black screen.

If you want to revert the changes, you can use the same instructions outlined above to perform a clean boot, but on step No. 5, make sure to click the Enable all button, and on step No. 10, click the Enable button for each application that was previously enabled.

Reinstall or rollback graphics driver

Typically, a device may experience a black screen due to a compatibility issue with a graphics driver, which might you have installed manually or through Windows Update.

Other times, the video driver update may not be the problem, but the one already installed on the device may be corrupted, and as a result, you could end up with a black screen.

Reinstall graphics driver

To reinstall the graphics driver, while in safe mode, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.
3. Expand the Display Adapters branch.

4. Right-click the video adapter and select the Uninstall device option.

   Source: Windows Central

   Quick tip: Alternatively, you can also select the Delete the driver software for this device option to remove the driver from the computer. Sometimes, this is recommended, but if Windows 10 can't find the driver online, you'll need to manually download it from your manufacturer support website.

5. Click the OK button.
6. Restart your computer.

Once the device restarts, Windows 10 will try to reinstall the graphics driver automatically resolving the black screen problem.

If you see a black screen after upgrading to a new version of Windows 10, you may need to download the latest compatible driver from your device or graphics manufacturer's support website to resolve the issue.

Rollback graphics driver

Alternatively, if the problem happens after installing an update, it may be possible to roll back to the driver's previous version.

To roll back a device driver to an earlier version on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.
3. Expand the Display Adapters branch.

4. Right-click the graphics card, and select the Properties option.

   Source: Windows Central

5. Click the Driver tab.

6. Click the Roll Back Driver button.

   Source: Windows Central

7. Select a reason to enable the option to rollback (select any option).

   Source: Windows Central

8. Click the Yes button.
9. Restart your computer.

After you complete the steps, Windows 10 will uninstall the driver, and the previous version will be restored.

If the Roll Back Driver button isn't available, Windows 10 doesn't have a previous driver. If an earlier version of the driver was working without splashing a black screen, you might be able to find and download an older version from your manufacturer's support website, and use their instructions to install the controller.

Disable Fast Startup

Sometimes a black screen will appear because the fast startup feature is enabled on Windows 10. Fast startup is a feature available in some installations with specific hardware configuration, and it allows a device to boot faster. However, if it's causing problems, you may need to disable it.

To disable fast startup, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the experience.
3. Click on System and Security.
4. Click on Power options.

5. Select the Choose what the power button does option on the left pane.

   Source: Windows Central

6. Click the Change settings that are currently unavailable option.

   Source: Windows Central

7. Clear the Turn on fast startup (recommended) option.

   Source: Windows Central

8. Click the Save changes button.
9. Restart your computer.

If fast startup was the problem, after restarting the device, you should no longer see a black screen.

Disable high contrast

If the computer has the high contrast feature enabled, it could be the reason for the black screen.

To disable high contrast on Windows 10, while in safe mode, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Ease of Access.
3. Click on High contrast.

4. Turn off the high contrast toggle switch.

   Source: Windows Central

Once you complete the steps, restart the device to confirm that disabling the features addresses the black screen problem.

Stop RunOnce process

RunOnce is a feature that allows you to specify commands that Windows 10 can run one time and then deletes, but it can also cause the screen to go black on a computer.

To stop the RunOnce process, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the Processes tab.
4. Select the RunOnce process and click the End task button.
5. (Optional) Click the Services tab (if the process wasn't in the "Processes" tab).
6. Right-click the RunOnce item, and select the Stop button.
7. Restart your computer.

If the RunOnce process was causing the problem, you should be able to start using your device normally.

Uninstall quality updates

Nowadays, it's not uncommon for quality updates to rollout with bugs and compatibility issues. If an update was recently installed and you're experiencing a black screen, removing it may resolve it.

While in Safe mode, you won't be able to access the "Update & Security" settings to remove a quality update, but you can still use Control Panel.

To uninstall updates in Safe mode, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Control Panel and click the top result to open the experience.
3. Under the "Programs" items, click the Programs and Features option.

4. Click the View installed updates option from the left pane.

   Source: Windows Central

5. Select the most recent update.

6. Click the Uninstall button.

   Source: Windows Central

7. Restart your computer.

Once you complete the steps, the update will uninstall, and Windows 10 won't try to install it again until the next update releases.

Uninstall security software

Although security programs are designed to keep your computer and files safe, they can also cause problems like a black screen.

If you're using a third-party antivirus or another security software type, you can temporarily remove it to determine whether the app is causing the problem.

To uninstall an application, while in safe mode, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Apps.
3. Click on Apps & features.
4. Under the "Apps & features" section, select the security app.

5. Click the Uninstall button.

   Source: Windows Central

6. Continue with the on-screen directions (if applicable).
7. Restart your computer.

If you no longer see a black screen on Windows 10, you can reinstall it again, but if the problem re-appears, remove it one more time, and check your software vendor's support website for an updated version or additional support.

Create new Windows 10 account

A problem with your current account could also be the reason for the black screen on Windows 10.

If you want to determine whether your account is causing problems, while in safe mode, you can create a new local account. If it works, you should consider transferring to the new account.

To create a new account in safe mode, use the steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

3. Type the following command to create a new account and press Enter:

   net user ACCOUNT-NAME /add

   In the command, make sure to change "ACCOUNT-NAME" for the name of the account you want to create.

   For example, this command creates an account named tempuser:

   net user tempuser /add

4. Type the following command to change the account type to "Administrator" and press Enter:

   net localgroup administrators tempuser /add

   Source: Windows Central

5. Restart your computer.
6. Sign in with the new user account.

If the computer is no longer experiencing a black screen, then the problem is something related to your old user account. Instead of troubleshooting the old account, you should refer to this guide to transfer your files, link your user profile with a Microsoft account, and delete the old account.