Are you a Minecraft fan but lately been stuck with a frustrating black screen when trying to play? You're not alone. Many players have faced the "Minecraft black screen" issue, especially after game updates. But don't worry! In this guide, we'll walk you through six effective methods to get your Minecraft world back up and running.
6 Methods to Fix Minecraft Screen Black
1. Run in Compatibility Mode
Sometimes, the latest Windows versions can be a bit finicky with older games like Minecraft. Running Minecraft in compatibility mode might just do the trick. Here's how you can do it:
- Locate the Minecraft Launcher icon on your desktop or in your Start menu. Right-click on it and select "Properties" from the menu.
- In the properties window that pops up, find the "Compatibility" tab. Click on it.
- Check the box next to "Run this program in compatibility mode for". From the drop-down menu, select "Windows 8".
- After making the selection, click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes.
- Now, try launching Minecraft again. If the "Minecraft screen goes black" problem was due to compatibility issues, it should be resolved. If not, no worries. There are more fixes to try.
2. Check Antivirus Settings
Your antivirus software, while great for keeping your computer safe, can sometimes be over-protective and block Minecraft from running properly. This could lead to the black screen problem. To fix this:
- Open your antivirus software. The procedures for this differ according to the software you're utilizing. For example, if you're using Windows Defender, you can search for it in the Start menu.
- Look for an option like "Exclusions" or "Allowed Programs". In some antivirus programs, it might be in the "Settings" or "Preferences" section.
- Add the Minecraft Launcher to the list of exceptions. This will allow the game to run without interference from your antivirus.
- After adding it, try launching Minecraft. See if the black screen issue persists. If that is the case, proceed to the next solution.
3. Update Graphics Driver
Minecraft relies heavily on your graphics driver to display all those amazing worlds. An outdated or faulty graphics driver can easily cause the "Minecraft black screen" problem. You can update your graphics driver in two ways:
Manual Update
- First, figure out who makes your graphics card. It's usually NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.
- Navigate to the official website of the graphics card manufacturer.
- Search for the latest driver that's compatible with your graphics card model and your Windows version.
- Download and install the driver. This process can be a bit technical, and you need to be careful to choose the right driver.
Automatic Update
If you're not up for the hassle of manual updates, PcGoGo Driver Sentry is here to help. It's a user-friendly tool that can make updating your graphics driver a breeze.
- Download and install PcGoGo Driver Sentry from the official PcGoGo website.
- Open the program and click the "Scan" button. PcGoGo Driver Sentry will scan your computer to find any outdated or problematic drivers, including your graphics driver.
- After the scan, click the "Update" button next to your graphics driver. This will download and install the latest version for you.
- Restart your computer after the update. Then, launch Minecraft to see if the black screen is gone. If not, keep reading for more solutions.
4. Adjust Launch Options
If your Minecraft screen goes black, adjusting the game launch options can be a game-changer. Open the Minecraft Launcher, click the settings icon in the top-right corner, and head to "Launch Options". Select the Minecraft version you're using.
In the JVM Arguments field, add this code: `-Xmx2G -Xms1G -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+UseG1GC`. Here, `-Xmx2G` sets the max memory to 2GB (adjustable based on your system), and `-Xms1G` sets the initial memory. The other two arguments unlock experimental features and enable an efficient garbage collector.
Save the settings above and restart the game. This tweak optimizes resource usage and might just fix that pesky black screen.
5. Close Unnecessary Programs
Having too many programs running in the background while playing Minecraft can cause conflicts and resource issues, leading to a black screen. To fix this:
- Press Ctrl + Shift+ Esc on your keyboard at the same time. This will open the Task Manager.
- In the Task Manager, look for programs that are using a lot of resources, like high CPU or memory usage.
- One by one, select these resource-hogging programs and click "End task". But be careful not to end any programs you're not sure about, as they might be important for your computer's operation.
- After closing the unnecessary programs, launch Minecraft to see if the "Minecraft screen black" problem is resolved.
6. Reinstall the Game
If none of the above methods work, it might be time to uninstall and reinstall Minecraft. But be aware that this will delete your local saves, so make sure to back up any important files first.
- Press the Windows logo key and the "R" key together to open the Run box. Type %appdata%.minecraft and click "OK".
- Within the folder that pops up, locate the "saves" folder. Make a copy of this folder and then paste it onto your desktop. This folder contains your Minecraft worlds.
- After backing up, delete everything inside the .minecraft folder.
- Press the Windows logo key and the "R" key again. Type appwiz.cpl and click "OK".
- In the Programs and Features window, find Minecraft Launcher. Select it and click "Uninstall". Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation.
- Go to the official Minecraft website and download and reinstall the game.
- Once the installation is done, launch Minecraft. Hopefully, the black screen issue is now a thing of the past.
Conclusion
Dealing with a "Minecraft black screen" can be really annoying, but with these six methods, you should be able to get back to building and exploring in no time. And remember, PcGoGo Driver Sentry can be a great asset in keeping your system's drivers updated and preventing future Minecraft screen issues.
