How to banish the black screen of death on different devices (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Find yourself staring at a black screen, with only your reflection to look at? Then you’ve probably just encountered the dreaded black screen of death. But despite what the name suggests, this isn’t the death sentence for your computer or mobile phone. Read on to learn how to fix start-up errors on Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones, and Android devices. Also discover how to prevent black screens and other PC issues from happening with Avira Free Security.

What is the black screen of death?

The “black screen of death”, as it’s often called, is a sign that your device has run into an error, preventing your computer or smartphone’s operating system or user interface from loading correctly. People often use the term the black screen of death in the same casual way they talk about the blue screen of death (BSoD), which was Windows’ official crash screen until summer 2025. But starting with Windows 11 version 24H2, Microsoft changed the crash screen from blue to black. Because of this switch, people now sometimes mix up the old blue screen of death with the new black screen of death — it’s confusing, right!

But don’t worry: This article will bring clarity to the confusion. We’ll walk you through the blank black-screen issue that can happen on any device, whether you’re using a Windows PC, a Mac, an iPhone, or an Android smartphone. And while the symptom may look the same, the underlying causes can vary depending on the device and the situation.

Unlike the new official black screen of death, the “old” unofficial black screen of death on Windows PCs or laptops doesn’t display a stop or error code and isn’t a sign of a critical system error; rather, it’s a usually less serious start-up issue. The cause of this — like on Macs and smartphones too — can be failed system updates or problematic programs or apps.

While in some cases all you need to do is restart your device to fix the black screen, in others you’ll need to dive deeper to address the root cause.

Fixing the black screen of death on your iPhone

An app-related issue or a system error may be causing the black screen to appear.

First, make sure your battery is sufficiently charged and then go through the following steps.

Force restart your device

Restarting your device can help if the black screen was caused by a temporary iOS error or a crashed app. Simply turn your iPhone off and on again as normal. If that doesn’t work, you can also force restart your iPhone.

iPhone 8, SE 2 & 3, and newer 

1. Press and quickly release the volume up button, then do the same with the volume down button.
2. Now keep holding down the power button until the Apple logo appears.
3. Your iPhone will then restart.

iPhone 7

1. Press and hold both the volume down and power buttons until the Apple logo appears.
2. Your iPhone will then restart.

iPhone 6, SE 1

1. Press and hold both the home and power buttons until the Apple logo appears.
2. Your iPhone will then restart.

Update your apps

If you only experience the black screen when using a specific app, this could be due to a bug causing the app to crash or impacting system functions. Check to see if an update is available for your app that’ll fix the issue.

1. Open the App Store app.
2. Tap your profile picture on the top right.
3. Under “Available Updates”, tap Update next to the app you want to update. If you want to update all your apps in one go, tap Update All.

Troubleshoot in Recovery Mode

If your iPhone is unresponsive or won’t start normally, you can connect it to your computer and use Recovery Mode. In this special mode, your iPhone will start with only core functions to update or restore iOS, bypassing system-related black-screen issues.

Enter Recovery Mode

1. Turn off your iPhone.
2. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
3. Follow the steps described above under “Force restart your device” for your specific iPhone model — but with one key difference: Only release the button combination once the Connect to Computer icon appears.
4. Access your iPhone via iTunes (Windows PC or older Macs) or Finder (newer Macs).
5. Select Update or Restore, then follow the on-screen instructions.

1. Update iOS

With an update, the device installs the latest version of iOS without deleting any of your personal data, apps, or settings. Damaged or faulty system files are replaced, potentially fixing iOS-related black screen errors. If you still see a black screen on your iPhone after updating your device, the bad news is that you’ve got no other option than to reset it.

2. Restore your iPhone

During a restore, your iPhone is completely reset to its factory settings and iOS is reinstalled. Although this fixes system-related and other errors, it does mean that all your personal data, apps, and settings will be lost in the process. If you have an iPhone backup in your iCloud or on your computer, you can then transfer it to your iPhone.

Fixing the black screen of death on Android devices

On Android devices, troublesome apps and system errors can cause a black screen.

First, make sure your device’s battery is charged, then follow the steps below until the issue is (hopefully) fixed.

Restart your device

Restarting your device can help if temporary app issues or minor system errors are causing the black screen.

1. Keep holding down the power button until the menu appears.
2. Tap Restart.
3. Your smartphone will turn off and restart.

If your Android device is unresponsive and doesn’t do anything when you tap it, you’ll need to force restart it.

1. Hold down the power button for around 10 to 20 seconds.
2. Your smartphone will then turn off and restart without the menu being displayed.

Update your apps

An app can cause a black screen if it blocks system functions or crashes due to an error during startup or when you’re using it. In many cases, you can fix the issue by updating the app since newer versions correct known bugs.

1. Open the Play Store
2. Tap your profile picture on the top right.
3. Select Manage apps & devices.
4. Under “Updates available”, tap View details.
5. Now tap Update next to the app you want to update. If you want to update all your apps in one go, tap Update all.

Clear your app cache

Apps that interfere with the display or system processes due to faulty or outdated cache files can also cause a black screen on Android devices. You can often fix such issues by clearing the app’s cache.

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
2. Tap Apps and then select the desired app.
3. Tap Storage space and then choose Clear cache.

Uninstall apps in safe mode

Since only pre-installed apps are loaded in safe mode, it’s a handy way to check if a third-party app is causing your black-screen issue. If you don’t see a black screen on your Android device in this mode, it’s best to uninstall apps with deep system integration or which you recently updated or installed.

1. Keep holding down the power button until the menu appears.
2. Press and hold the Power off (or Restart) option in the menu until the “Reboot to safe mode” dialog appears.
3. Tap OK to restart in safe mode.
4. Open the Settings app on your Android device.
5. Choose Apps & notifications and then tap All apps (or similar).
6. Select the app in question and tap Uninstall.

Troubleshoot in Recovery Mode

You can use Android’s Recovery Mode if the screen stays black and the device no longer starts normally. In this emergency mode, the system runs in a special environment where you can perform updates and factory resets even if normal mode is inaccessible.

Please note that access may vary depending on your device’s manufacturer.

Enter Recovery Mode

1. Press and hold the power button until your device switches off fully.
2. Press and hold both the Power and volume up buttons (or volume down button or another combination) until you see the Android or manufacturer’s logo on your screen.
3. Use the volume buttons to navigate through the menu that appears and press the power button to select the desired option.

1. Wipe the cache partition

If you experience the black screen of death immediately after restarting or updating your operating system, it may be worthwhile wiping the system cache. That’s because it’s where Android devices store temporary system files, which speed up the start-up process. If these files are corrupted or outdated, this can cause a black screen. Wiping the cache partition removes the files, which are then recreated once you restart your device.

1. Select Wipe cache partition from the menu.
2. Press the power button to confirm your selection.
3. If prompted, select Yes and confirm this by pressing the power button.
4. Once the process is complete, select Reboot system now and confirm this by pressing the power button.

2. Update your operating system

Corrupted system files that block important system services or the user interface can also cause a black screen. An update can replace these faulty files, fixing black-screen issues. That said, in this mode you’ll need to update your device manually — it can’t be done automatically via the internet. The update file needs to be stored on your Android device or on a PC or external storage device.

Depending on your Android device, you might see the following update options in Recovery Mode:

• Apply update from internal storage
• Apply update from SD card
• Apply update from ADB
• Apply update from external storage
• Apply update from cache

Tip: Many Android device manufacturers offer their own PC programs for system updates and recovery. These tools often allow updates to be installed automatically via your computer — all without you needing to manually download the file to your smartphone first.

3. Reset your device

If nothing’s worked so far, you’ll need to reset your Android device to factory settings as the last resort. However, this will delete all your personal data, files, settings, and third-party apps from your smartphone. This makes it all the more important to back up your Android device regularly.

1. Select Wipe data/factory reset from the menu.
2. Press the power button to confirm your selection.
3. Select Yes — delete all user data (or similar) and confirm this by pressing the power button.
4. Once the process is complete, select Reboot system now and confirm this by pressing the power button.

Tip: Since resetting your device doesn’t reinstall the operating system, system-level startup issues can’t be fixed either. As such, it’s best to restore your device using the manufacturer’s own PC software instead.

Fixing the black screen of death on your Windows PC

Because there are many possible causes for a black screen on Windows computers or laptops, each requires a different solution. Which one is suitable in your case depends, among other things, on whether the error occurs before or after you log in.

If you get the black-screen issue prior to logging in, Windows was unable to complete the startup process. Common causes include faulty boot configurations or system and startup files that have been corrupted by a failed or partially installed Windows update.

If the black screen only appears after logging in, Windows is running in the background but Explorer or the user interface cannot be displayed correctly. Typical causes include faulty graphics drivers and problematic third-party or startup apps that cause conflicts and can in doing so block the desktop.

Force restart your device

A hard reset can fix many temporary issues that prevent your system or user interface from loading. This often eliminates one-off errors or blocking processes, so your system functions correctly again.

To force restart, hold down the power button until the PC switches off, and then restart it.

Ways to fix a black-screen issue prior to logging in

If you experience a black screen and you can’t see your mouse pointer on a Windows 10 or 11 PC, it’s a sign that Windows couldn’t be started correctly. In this case, the mouse usually doesn’t respond because the graphical interface hasn’t yet loaded. However, you can often still access the Recovery Environment (Windows RE) — your emergency entry point to the system — using your keyboard.

But first, try these simple quick fixes:

• Check your cables, monitor, and power supply: Check the power supply to each of your devices as well as the cable connection between your PC and monitor. Make sure the correct input source is selected on the monitor. If you have one, try a different cable and monitor to rule out hardware issues.
• Remove accessories: Disconnect all unnecessary external peripherals and devices (such as USB sticks and printers) from your PC, as these can cause startup issues. Then force restart your device as described above.

Use Automatic Repair or System Restore via Windows RE

In Windows RE (the Recovery Environment), you can use the “Automatic Repair” feature to fix black-screen issues caused by faulty system files, corrupted start configuration data, incompatible boot drivers, or registry errors.

If that doesn’t work, you can use “System Restore” to restore your PC to a previous state. This reverses problematic system changes caused by updates, new drivers, or programs. Restoring the system like this won’t affect your personal files, but may delete drivers, programs, and updates that you installed after creating the most recent restore point.

1. Force restart your device.
2. Repeat this process two to three times, until Windows switches to Recovery Mode and displays the “Automatic Repair” screen.
3. To start the process, select Restart.

If you still see a black screen on your Windows 10 or 11 PC after that, repeat steps 1 and 2.

3. Now select Advanced options and then System Restore. Depending on your

Windows version, you might find this option under Troubleshooting >

Advanced options.

4. In the System Restore window, click Next and then select a restore point from a few days ago.
5. Click Next and wait until Windows resets and restarts the system.

Reset your BIOS/UEFI

The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) and its successor UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) are programs that start immediately when you switch on your PC. They check your hardware, initialize components, determine which drive to boot from, and store important system settings. A reset restores all system configurations to their defaults, which can fix incorrect or problematic settings that are preventing Windows from loading correctly.

1. Force restart your device.
2. Immediately afterwards, repeatedly press the Delete, Esc, F2, or F10 key (depending on the manufacturer) to access the BIOS/UEFI.
3. Make sure that in the settings under “Boot Priority” (or “First Boot Device”) the option Hard Disk is selected.
4. Select Load Setup Defaults, Load Optimized Defaults, Restore Defaults, or Reset BIOS Settings from the menu and press the Enter key.
5. Go to the menu item “Save and Exit” (or similar) and press the Enter key. Your PC will then restart.

Reset your Windows PC via Windows RE

If the previous steps didn’t fix your black-screen issue, it’s a good idea to reset your PC to its default settings and reinstall Windows. This will automatically replace damaged system files, faulty startup files, incompletely installed update files, and incorrect Windows configurations. You can choose whether to completely reset your PC or keep your personal files.

1. Force restart your device.
2. Repeat this process two to three times until Windows enters Recovery Mode.
3. Under “Automatic Repair”, click Advanced options.
4. Now select Troubleshoot and then select Reset this PC.
5. Now select either Keep my files or Remove everything (complete reset).
6. Then, follow the on-screen instructions.

Ways to fix a black-screen issue after logging in

If you can see your mouse pointer on a black screen after logging in to your Windows 10 or 11 PC, Windows is basically running but Explorer or the desktop couldn’t be started correctly. Common causes include Explorer crashing; the display mode being set incorrectly; or corrupted, outdated, or frozen graphics drivers. Sometimes, the black screen is also caused by apps that block Windows from starting properly.

To fix these issues, first try the following:

• Restart your display adapter: To restart a frozen graphics driver, press the Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B keys simultaneously. You’ll hear a beep and see a screen flash if this was successful.
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• Check the display mode: Make sure that the correct screen is enabled. Press Windows + P, to open the display options. By repeatedly pressing P, you can cycle through the options and confirm them by pressing Enter.

Restart Windows Explorer

If the black screen was caused by Explorer crashing or being unresponsive, you can restart it via Task Manager and fix the issue that way. Here’s how:

1. Press the keys Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager directly. If that doesn’t work, press Ctrl + Alt + Del and then select Task Manager in the Windows Security screen.
2. Click the “Processes” tab and select Run new task on the top bar.
3. Now enter exe and press the Enter key.

Troubleshoot in Safe Mode

If the previous steps haven’t fixed your black-screen issue, now try disabling or uninstalling problematic programs and updating or uninstalling the graphics driver in Safe Mode. Only core services and graphics drivers are loaded in Safe Mode — additional drivers, programs, and services remain disabled, so they can’t block the startup process.

Access Safe Mode

1. Press the keys Ctrl + Alt + Del
2. On the Windows Security screen, click the Power icon in the bottom right corner.
3. Press and hold the Shift key, then click Restart.
4. After restarting in the Windows Recovery Environment, first select Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, and then Startup Settings.
5. Click Restart. Your computer will restart in Safe Mode and display a list of options.
6. Now press the F5 key to select “Enable Safe Mode with Networking”.

1. Disable startup apps

Startup apps can cause a black screen if they trigger conflicts with system processes that prevent Explorer or the user interface from loading. Such conflicts often occur when these apps are faulty or become incompatible with the latest version of Windows following a system update.

1. Press the keys Ctrl + Shift + Esc or Ctrl + Alt + Del to open the Task Manager.
2. Click the Startup apps tab in Task Manager.
3. Disable the apps listed there.
4. Restart your computer in normal mode.

If the black screen on your laptop or computer has disappeared, re-enable each app one by one to find the culprit. You can then uninstall, update, or replace the problematic app with an alternative.

 2. Uninstall third-party software

Faulty or incompatible third-party programs can cause the screen to remain black even if they don’t appear in your startup list. This happens when software components that start automatically conflict with Windows services or system processes, blocking Explorer or the user interface from loading. This includes background services, shell extensions, and other components with deep system integration, such as those found in cloud storage services, PDF tools, and backup software.

1. Press the Windows + R keys, enter cpl in the Run window, and then press the Enter key.
2. Under “Programs and Features”, remove third-party programs by right-clicking them and selecting Uninstall.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
4. Restart your computer in normal mode.

 3. Update your graphics drivers

If your screen is black after logging in, the cause might also be a faulty, incompatible, or outdated graphics driver that’s preventing Explorer from loading properly. Updating your graphics driver might fix the issue.

1. Press the Windows + X keys and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the “Display adapters” category and right-click the graphics processor (such as NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).
3. Select Update driver. If this doesn’t work, you can uninstall the device. Windows will then load a default graphics driver when you restart your computer, allowing you to bypass the black screen and reinstall the driver in normal mode.
4. If the issue occurred after an update, right-click and select Properties instead, go to the Driver tab and then select Roll Back Driver to reset the driver. If this option is grayed out, select Uninstall Device.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your PC.

Top tip: Avira Free Security for Windows can support you in several ways and help your system run more smoothly. The integrated software updater helps you detect and update outdated programs and drivers before they can cause issues such as a black screen. And thanks to its startup optimizer, it’s a breeze to manage your startup apps. On top of this, the cyberprotection solution includes many other tune-up tools to help you speed up your PC or laptop.

Fixing the black screen of death on your Mac

There might be numerous reasons why you’re experiencing a black screen on a Mac or MacBook, with each requiring its own fix — the crucial factor is whether the issue occurs before or after logging in.

If the screen remains black during startup, macOS couldn’t be loaded correctly. This is often the result of a failed or incompletely installed macOS update, which has corrupted key system files.

If the black screen only appears after logging in, macOS is running in the background but the user interface is not displayed. Typical causes include apps or background processes that hang at startup or block system services, preventing the desktop from loading fully.

Restart and power reset your device

Force restart your device: A restart can end blocked programs and system processes that are preventing macOS from starting correctly. To do this, hold down the power button until your Mac switches off, then power it on again.

Perform a power reset: Blocked hardware components are also reset during what is known as a power reset. To do this, unplug the power adapter from the power outlet after switching off your Mac, wait approximately 30 seconds, then plug the power adapter back in and power on your Mac again.

Ways to fix a black-screen issue prior to logging in

If the screen remains black and no mouse pointer appears before logging in when starting your Mac, macOS couldn’t be loaded fully. In this case, although you’ll find your mouse will usually be unresponsive, you’ll still be able to use the keyboard for certain system commands so you can access the macOS Recovery system.

But first, try these quick fixes:

• Check your cables, display, and power supply: Check the power cord and try a different one if necessary. If your Mac doesn’t have a built-in display, make sure that the external display is connected to a power source and to the Mac, and that it is turned on.
• Remove accessories: Disconnect all unnecessary external peripherals and devices (such as USB hubs and printers) from your Mac, as these can cause issues during startup. Following that, force restart your device.

Reset the SMC (for Intel Macs)

An SMC (System Management Controller) is a chip on the mainboard of Intel-based Macs. It’s responsible for power management and controlling important hardware functions — such as display initialization. An SMC reset can fix basic startup issues by resetting faulty functions. If you have a Mac with an Apple Silicon chip, this is done automatically when you restart your device. That’s because these types of Macs no longer have a separate SMC chip; instead, the functions are integrated onto the M1/M2 chip.

In some cases, a PRAM/NVRAM reset can help with some Macs, such as when faulty startup parameters or display settings are preventing your system from starting. On Macs with an Apple chip, invalid or faulty NVRAM values are also corrected or reset automatically when you restart your device.

Desktop Mac with or without a T2 chip

1. Turn off your Mac and then unplug the power cord from the power outlet.
2. Wait 15 seconds and plug the power cord back in.
3. Wait a further 5 seconds and power on your Mac again.

MacBook with an Apple T2 Security Chip 

Turn off your Mac, then press and hold the power button for 10 seconds. Release it, wait a few seconds, and then power on your device again. If the problem persists, proceed as follows:

1. Turn off your Mac, then press and hold the Control + Option (left) + Shift (right) keys simultaneously. You may find that your Mac will turn on again.
2. Wait 7 seconds and then also press and hold the power button. A Mac that may have switched on will now switch itself off again.
3. Wait another 7 seconds and release all three keys (plus the power button, if applicable).
4. Wait a few more seconds before powering on your Mac again.

MacBook without a T2 chip with a non-removable battery

1. Turn off your Mac, then press and hold the Shift + Control + Option (left) keys simultaneously.
2. Additionally, press and hold the power button on the top right.
3. Wait 10 seconds and release all three keys (plus the power button, if applicable).
4. Now power on your Mac again.

Use the Disk Utility app (via macOS Recovery)

File-system or hard-drive errors can also prevent macOS from starting correctly, resulting in only a black screen being displayed. The Disk Utility app scans and repairs damaged volume structures and faulty entries in the file system to fix startup issues. You’ll find it in your Mac’s Recovery system, which you can also access even if your Mac no longer starts up normally.

Accessing macOS Recovery

Intel Mac: Force restart your device, then immediately press and hold the Command + R keys until you see the Apple logo.

M1/M2 Mac: Force restart your device, then press and hold the power button until Loading startup options… appears. Click the Options (gear) icon and then select Continue.

• Enter your Mac password if you see a padlock icon.
• If necessary, select an administrator account, then click Next. Enter the password for the account and click Continue.
• If asked to select a network, choose one from the Wi-Fi menu or attach a network cable (on Intel Macs).
• If asked to select a volume to recover, select your startup disk. Then click Next.
• If asked to select a user you know the password for, select the user, click Next, then enter the password they use to log in to this Mac.

When your Mac has successfully started from Recovery, it shows a screen with utilities.

1. Click Disk Utility.
2. In the menu bar or toolbar, select Show > Show All Devices (if available).
3. From the sidebar, select your startup disk (such as Macintosh HD), then (starting from the bottom) select its volume from the list. After that, click First Aid in the toolbar at the top.
4. Now click Run.
5. Once Disk Utility has checked the volume, select the next item above it from the sidebar and run First Aid Work your way up the list: Run First Aid on each volume on the device, then on each container, and finally on the device itself.
6. Once you’ve completed all the steps, quit the utility and restart your Mac.

Reinstall macOS (via macOS Recovery)

If these steps haven’t fixed your black-screen issue, it’s worthwhile reinstalling macOS. This will replace the operating system and all associated system files with a clean version. The best part is that this repairs damaged system files and faulty startup files without deleting personal files or any installed apps.

Accessing macOS Recovery

M1/M2 Mac: Access the Recovery system as described in the previous section.

Intel Mac: Force restart your device, then immediately press and hold the following keys until you see the Apple logo.

• Command + R: To reinstall the latest version of macOS that was previously installed on the system.
• Option + Command + R: To reinstall and update to the latest version of macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
• Option + Shift + Command + R: To reinstall the version of macOS that your Mac originally shipped with or to install the closest available version.

1. In the Utilities screen, select Reinstall macOS [Name] and then click
2. After that, follow the on-screen instructions.

Ways to fix a black-screen issue after logging in

If you can see your mouse pointer on a black screen after logging in, macOS is basically running but Finder or the user interface couldn’t be loaded correctly. This is often due to crashed Finder processes or problematic apps that block your device from starting correctly.

Restart Finder

If the black screen is being caused by Finder freezing or crashing, restarting Finder usually resolves the issue.

1. Press the Command + Option + Esc keys to open the “Force Quit Applications” window.
2. Select Finder from the list.
3. Click Restart.

Troubleshoot in Safe Mode

If you continue to experience the black-screen issue, you can now use Safe Mode to disable or uninstall problematic apps. Since macOS only loads essential system processes and apps in Safe Mode, it minimizes software conflicts and makes troubleshooting startup issues easier.

Access Safe Mode

Intel Mac: Force restart your device, then immediately press and hold the Shift key until the login screen appears. Log in and do so again when asked. You should see “Safe Boot“ in the menu bar, either in the first or second login screen.

M1/M2 Mac: Force restart your device, then press and hold the power button until the Loading startup options… screen appears. Select a volume (e.g. Macintosh HD) while holding down the Shift key. Now select Continue in Safe Mode and release the Shift key. Your Mac will restart automatically. When the login screen appears, you should see “Safe Boot” in the menu bar.

1. Disable startup apps

Startup apps on your Mac that are faulty or incompatible after an update can cause conflicts that prevent Finder or the user interface from loading, resulting in a black screen.

1. Open System Settings, choose General, then select Login Items & Extensions.
2. Under “Open at Login”, select the login items you want to delete and remove them by clicking the minus (-) button.
3. Now restart your Mac.

If the black screen no longer appears after restarting your Mac, you can re-enable each app one by one to identify the culprit. You can then uninstall, update, or replace the problematic app with an alternative.

2. Uninstall third-party software

Faulty or incompatible third-party apps can cause the screen to remain black after you log in even if they don’t appear in your startup list. This is often caused by conflicts between automatically loaded software components and system-level processes that prevent the user interface from loading. This includes background services, Finder extensions, and other components with deep system integration, such as those found in security software, cloud services, PDF tools, or backup apps.

1. Open Finder and select Applications.
2. Drag the relevant third-party apps to the Trash.
3. Empty the Trash to remove the applications for good.

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