Fix Diablo 4 Black Screen After Startup on PC

Diablo IV is the new action role-playing game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment and is the fourth main installment in the Diablo series. While the game has received positive reviews, some players have reported encountering frustrating issues that hinder their gameplay experience.

One of the players’ most common problems is the black screen issue when launching the game. This problem results in players being stuck on a black screen with no sound, preventing them from playing the game. Fortunately, a comprehensive troubleshooting guide provides a step-by-step solution to the black screen issue.

In addition to the black screen issue, some players have reported difficulties exiting the game. These problems can also be resolved by following specific steps. By addressing these issues, players can enjoy the full experience of Diablo 4, and Capcom can continue to deliver an exceptional gaming experience for all.

Fix: Diablo 4 Black Screen After Startup

The chances are that the Diablo 4 black screen may appear due to the PC configuration compatibility issue with the game’s system requirements. Meanwhile, having an outdated graphics driver, missing or corrupted game files, an outdated game version, problems with DirectX, overlay app issues, higher in-game graphics settings, etc., can cause several issues with the black screen while the game launches.

It’s worth mentioning to check out the game’s system requirements from the mentioned link to ensure no compatibility issue appears on your computer.

1. Check Graphics Driver Update

Check out the graphics driver update on your PC, whether outdated or not. Sometimes an outdated GPU driver version or corrupted driver can cause several issues. It’ll also help you to fix the black screen-related issues with games or applications. To do so:

• Press Windows + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
• Now, click on Device Manager from the list > Double-click on Display adapters.
• Right-click on the dedicated graphics card that you’re using.

• Next, select Update driver > Choose to Search automatically for drivers.
• If an update is available, the system will automatically download & install it.
• Once done, restart the computer to apply changes.

2. Run the game as an Administrator

To avoid user account control regarding privilege issues, run the game exe file as an administrator. It would be best if you also ran the battle.net client as an administrator on your PC. To do this:

• Right-click on the Diablo 4 exe shortcut file on your PC.
• Now, select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.

• Make sure to click on the Run this program as an administrator checkbox to checkmark it.
• Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.

4. Update Diablo 4

Checking for the game updates on your PC is highly suggested by following the steps below to ensure no outdated game version is present. Sometimes issues with the outdated game patch version might cause several conflicts at your end that can affect the game launching or gameplay experience badly. To do that:

• Open the Battle.net (Blizzard) launcher > Click on the Blizzard logo from the top left corner.
• Go to Settings > Click on Game Install/Update.
• Scroll down to the bottom of the page > Click on Apply latest updates and download future patch data for recently played games. to enable it.
• Now, click on Done to save changes > Restart the Battle.net launcher to apply changes.
• It should automatically update the game to the available version.

5. Check System Resources

If the game loads slowly or takes too much time in a startup, check out the system resources after launching the Diablo 4 game on your PC by following the steps below to check whether the RAM or CPU Usage becomes higher or not.

• Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager.
• Click on the Processes tab > Select the task you want to close.

• Once selected, click on End Task. Make sure to do the steps for each task individually.
• Once done, restart your computer to change effects immediately.

6. Disable Overlay Applications

Blizzard games may crash or experience black screens due to certain overlay programs. Overlays are present in various programs and enable the display of information on top of another program. Many voice programs have this feature enabled by default, allowing players to see who is talking while playing games.

To fix this issue, update the programs with overlays to their latest versions. If updating the program doesn’t help, try disabling or uninstalling it. If this resolves the crashes, reach out to the support section of that program for further assistance.

Some examples of overlay programs that may cause issues are Airfoil, EVGA Precision, Mumble, Taksi, NZXT CAM, Dxtory, MSI Afterburner, RadeonPro, XFire, and Discord.

7. Check Windows Updates

The chances are also high that your Windows OS build becomes outdated for a while. In that scenario, your gameplay performance will impact a lot apart from bugs or stability issues. So, it’s always better to check for Windows updates and install the latest version (if available). To do that:

• Press Windows + I keys to open up the Windows Settings menu.
• Next, click on Update & Security > Select Check for updates under the Windows Update section.

• If there is an update available, select Download and install.
• Wait for some time until the update gets completed.
• Finally, reboot your PC to apply changes immediately.

8. Lower in-game Graphics Settings

Try lowering the in-game graphics settings from the game menu to check whether that helps. Disable V-Sync, Shadow effects, and Anti-Aliasing, and try running a lower display resolution for the game to fix black screen-related issues.

9. Update DirectX

Sometimes an outdated or missing DirectX version can cause multiple issues with the game launching or gameplay. You should try following the steps below to update it.

• Head to this Microsoft link to download the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer on your PC.
• Next, install or update the DirectX version manually.
• Once done, restart your computer to apply changes.

10. Press ALT+TAB Key Combo

Some affected PC users have mentioned that by pressing the ALT + TAB key shortcut combo, they can switch between the opened programs on the PC. So, keep pressing the ALT + TAB to switch between programs and then go back to the running game to check whether the problem has been fixed. It’ll change the display mode from full-screen to windowed mode and then full-screen mode, which can fix the black screen issue.

11. Try Disabling Other Overlay Apps

Some popular apps seem to have an overlay program that can eventually run in the background and cause gaming performance or even launching issues. You should turn them off to fix the issue by following the steps below:

Disable Discord Overlay:

• Launch the Discord app > Click on the gear icon at the bottom.
• Click on Overlay under App Settings > Turn on the Enable in-game overlay.
• Click on the Games tab > Select Diablo 4.
• Finally, turn off the Enable in-game overlay toggle.
• Make sure to reboot your PC to apply changes.

Disable Xbox Game Bar:

• Press Windows + I keys to open Windows Settings.
• Click on Gaming > Go to Game Bar > Turn off Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using Game bar option.

If, in case, you’re unable to find the Game Bar option, then search for it from the Windows Settings menu.

Disable Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay:

• Launch the Nvidia GeForce Experience app > Head over to Settings.
• Click on the General tab > Disable the In-Game Overlay option.
• Finally, restart the PC to apply changes and relaunch the game.

Also, remember that you should always disable some other overlay apps like MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB software, or any other third-party overlay apps that run in the background.

12. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime

Make sure to reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime on your computer to fix multiple gaming issues or errors completely. To do that:

• Press the Windows key from the keyboard to open up the Start Menu.

• Type Apps & Features and click on it from the search result.
• Now, locate the Microsoft Visual C++ program(s) in the list.

• Select each program and click on Uninstall.
• Visit the official Microsoft website and download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.
• Once done, install it on your computer, and restart the system to change the effects.

13. Verify Game Files and Repair

Corrupted or damaged game files can cause game issues and errors. To fix this issue, you can update the game or use the repair tool:

1. Check for game updates before using the repair tool. To do this, open the Battle.net desktop app, click on the game you want to repair, and click on the cogwheel located next to the “Play” button. Then, select “Check for Updates.”
2. Use the repair tool if your game is up-to-date and the problem persists. To do this, click on the cogwheel located next to the “Play” button and select “Scan and Repair.” Then, click on “Begin Scan” and wait for the repair process to finish.

By following these steps, you can fix any issues caused by corrupted or damaged game files, ensuring that your game runs smoothly without any errors or glitches

Conclusion:

Diablo IV, despite its acclaim, is not without its technical hiccups, as is common with many newly released games. Issues like the black screen on launch and difficulties in game exit might momentarily dampen the player experience. However, with available troubleshooting guides and a proactive gaming community, these challenges can be swiftly addressed. It’s essential for both the developers and players to collaborate in finding solutions, ensuring that the immersive world of Diablo IV is accessible and enjoyable for all.