Google recently released the stable build of Android 14 for its Pixel devices, and now the stable build is out there for every smartphone OEM to work on and release their skinned version of Android 14 on their respective smartphones. Samsung has also released Android 14-based OneUI for the S23 lineup. But the recent release has not been perfect for everyone.
Some users have had issues with app compatibility while complaining about battery and heating-related issues. Among these troubled early adopters of Android 14, some unfortunate Pixel and Samsung users are getting black screens on their devices after the installation of Android 14. This can be frustrating for anyone who owns one of these flagship devices lineup of smartphones. So, let’s look into some of the solutions you can try from your end to resolve this problem. Now, without any further ado, let’s get into it.
How to Fix Black Screen Issue After Android 14 Update?
Several things could be the cause of your problems. The problem could be a corrupted installation, incompatible software causing the issue, or a software bug. Whatever the reason, we have provided a solution for it in this article. So try one key after the other until you find the one that works for you.
Restart your phone:
A simple fix that you can try is a restart. Most software issues can be fixed with a single restart of most electronic devices. And an Android phone is no exception.
- Press and hold the power button for 30 seconds. This will initiate a hard reboot.
- You will see your phone screen flashing. Wait till the phone restarts itself.
Try the next solution if the restart does not solve the screen issue on your Android 14 smartphone.
Check the battery:
There is a possibility that the stable build of Android 14 could have fried your battery. It’s exhausted or damaged due to some inconsistency with the new OS. So, the first thing to do when experiencing this continuous black screen issue is to charge up the smartphone. Get the original charging adapter and cable immediately, and connect it to a power socket. Now check whether the black screen issue is fixed or not. The battery is at fault if you notice your smartphone powering up generally with the charger plugged in. It is not a black screen issue. Instead, it is a battery issue.
In such a case, you must get the smartphone to the nearest service centre and replace the battery immediately.
If you do not see anything on the screen after using the charger, move on to the following solution.
Factory reset:
Factory reset is another solution to resolve the black screen issue. But since you cannot get into the settings, you must perform the Factory reset via the Recovery mode.
- Turn off the smartphone by holding the power button for a few seconds.
- When the device turns off, let go of the button and, this time, press and hold the power button and the Volume down button at the same time.
- The phone will boot up, and you will see the Fastboot screen.
- Go into the Recovery Mode using the Volume buttons.
- Press the power button once you get to the Recovery mode option.
- When you see the No command message on the screen, press the power button and the Volume up button right away.
- Now, you will be in the Recovery mode. Here, press the power key and select the option “Wipe data/factory reset.” Press the power button to confirm your selection and wait till the device restarts itself.
If this does not help your case, try the next solution.
Safe mode:
Turn on your device’s safe mode, and it will tell you if any third-party application is responsible for the black screen issue due to incompatibility.
- Long press and hold your phone’s power button.
- Wait until the Google logo appears on your phone’s screen, then press and hold the Volume Down button.
- Don’t release it until you see the words “Safe mode’ appearing in the screen’s lower left.
- If the device does boot up normally in safe mode, then an application in your smartphone is causing the black screen issue.
- But if you cannot boot the device in safe mode or it just keeps showing a black screen even in a secure way, the problem is definitely with the firmware.
If it is an application issue, the following solution should help you. If it is not an application issue, you can try the solutions mentioned beyond the next one.
With the Safe Mode enabled, you can now uninstall apps that have been causing conflicts and then turn on the mobile phone again. If, unluckily, the black screen of death issue persists even after you try all the methods above, then the last resort is to head to the help centre or to get customer support or to visit the nearest service centre where the service engineers would be able to help you out.
Uninstall incompatible applications:
If you could reboot your device normally in safe mode, then the reason behind the rebooting issue is a third-party application that is not compatible with the firmware or the new stable build of Android 14. It could be tricky to find applications that are not compatible with the latest build of Android 14. An ideal approach would be to look for applications that have not received an update in a long time. This could mean that the app is not yet compatible with the latest version of Android 14. So remove such applications from your device if possible and then check whether the black screen issue is gone when not in safe mode.
While removing the applications, if the phone keeps turning off, you should boot into safe mode and uninstall the applications one after the other. If removing all the applications that were not updated in a long time also did not help with the black screen issue on your Android 14, move on to the next solution.
Wait for the stable version of Android 14 or downgrade to a stable version of Android 13:
The problem with early stable builds is that they are often filled with bugs. So, the screen turning black issue on your Android 14 smartphone could be because you are using an early stable build. So, one thing you can do to fix this is to wait until your smartphone manufacturer officially releases the next sturdy build of Android 14 and then install it on your smartphone.
Another solution is to downgrade to a stable build of Android 13 that is available for your smartphone. Just get the sturdy build of Android 13 for your smartphone as provided by your smartphone’s manufacturer, and then manually install it.
If you still struggle with the black screen issue, try the final solution mentioned below.
Install firmware via Sideloading:
Next up, you should try installing the firmware via ADB Sideload. While this process will not wipe off any data, there’s a significant catch involved- USB Debugging needs to be enabled on your device.
If USB debugging is enabled on your smartphone, you can use the ADB Sideload to install an OTA update released by your manufacturer officially. You can easily downgrade to a lower version of Android entirely, or you can go for the latest version of Android 14 available for your device and see if that solves your black screen issue.
If you want a detailed guide on using ADB Sideloading, comment below, and we will include the guide in this article.
Wipe Cache:
A corrupted cache can lead to smartphone issues, including a black screen issue. So, you must clear up your cache partition entirely and check if that fixes your problem.
- Turn off your smartphone.
- Connect the device to your PC via a USB cable.
- Press and hold the Volume Up and Power button.
- Let go of the buttons when Android Recovery shows up on the screen.
- Use the volume buttons on your phone and navigate the Wipe Cache Partition option in the recovery menu.
- Once you are there, press the Power button to select it.
- Confirm your action by choosing Yes in the following menu. Again, use the volume buttons and the power button to perform the selection.
- Then, your smartphone will prompt for a system reboot. Press the power button to confirm the action.
After the restart, if you still struggle with the black screen issue on your Android 14 smartphone, move on to the next solution.
Contact smartphone manufacturer:
It would be best if you took your smartphone to the nearest service centre of your smartphone manufacturer. They should be able to provide you with a resolution for sure. If your device is under warranty and there is no visible physical damage, you should be able to get it working again for free. Or you will have to pay some money. But your smartphone manufacturers will certainly resolve your issue entirely.
If you have any questions or queries about this guide, comment below, and we will reply. Also, check out our other articles on iPhone tips and tricks, Android tips and tricks, PC tips and tricks, and much more for more helpful information.