Why Twitch is Showing Black Screen?
If you’re experiencing a black screen while trying to use Twitch, it can be due to several reasons. Here are some of the most common causes and solutions:
- Ad-blockers or extensions: Certain ad-blockers or browser extensions can interfere with Twitch’s functionality and cause a black screen. Try disabling any ad-blockers or extensions you have installed and see if it resolves the issue.
- Browser cache and cookies: Sometimes, browser cache and cookies can cause Twitch to display a black screen. Try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies to see if it resolves the issue.
- Outdated browser: An outdated browser can also cause Twitch to show a black screen. Make sure you are using the latest version of your preferred browser.
- Graphics card driver issues: If your graphics card drivers are outdated or malfunctioning, it can cause Twitch to display a black screen. Try updating your graphics card drivers to see if it resolves the issue.
- Internet connectivity issues: A weak or unstable internet connection can cause Twitch to show a black screen. Try resetting your router or modem, or connect to a different network to see if it resolves the issue.
- Twitch server issues: In some cases, Twitch’s servers may be experiencing issues, causing a black screen. Check Twitch’s Twitter or status page to see if there are any known issues with the service.
How to Fix Twitch Black Screen Issue?
Before jumping into the tricks for today, let’s first try to understand the reason behind this issue. Well, the black screen problem in Twitch occurs basically for a few reasons and is not as complex as it looks. It mostly occurs if you are having a slow or unreliable internet connection, some problem with your streaming device, using an ad-blocker, or else due to some glitch of Twitch itself. Here are some workarounds to deal with the Twitch black screen issue.
If you are facing Twitch black screen problem on your smartphone, the most viable solution is to uninstall and reinstall the app. Also, make sure to disable any overlay apps which might be hindering the video output. These normally include apps like blue screen filter, pixel battery saver, etc. These apps have permission to draw over your screen. You can either uninstall these apps or revoke their overall permission from settings.
Nowadays smartphones are coming with features like Night mode or Dark mode which can dim the screen so cause less strain to your eyes. This can also create issues related to a black screen.
Check your internet connection
The basic reason for this issue is probably your internet connection. If you are connected to an unreliable internet connection, Twitch will keep displaying such problems repeatedly. Therefore, the first thing to look at is to check if you are connected to the right network and that it is working well.
For instance, if you are connected to a Wi-Fi network, check if your network has a good speed and is within the range. If you are connected to broadband, make sure it’s connected well and has a reliable connection.
Also, check with your internet service provider for better internet connectivity plans if you have slow internet. Twitch may require a minimum bandwidth speed of 2Mbps.
Empty Browser Cache
Cache memory contains the data of frequently visited websites so that you can access them more easily next time. However, if the memory is overloaded, it might create problems, and the Twitch black screen issue can also be counted as one.
Therefore, if you have a reliable internet connection but still experience a black screen issue, it might be because your cache memory is overloaded. Go to the settings of your web browser and clear the browser cache. If you are using Google Chrome, the steps to clear the browser cache are given below. The process will be similar for other browsers, such as Edge, Firefox, Opera, or Safari.
- Open Google Chrome. Click on the three-dot icon at the top-right corner.
- Go to Settings.
- Click on the Security and Privacy tab on the left side of the window.
- Select the “Clear Browsing Data” option.
- Check all three boxes and click on Clear Data.
Change Google DNS Settings
Unlike humans, computers communicate with each other through numbers. To explain it simply, a DNS (Domain Name System) converts domain names into IP addresses that computers understand. So, every time you type in a website name, the browser lets you access the specific website directly without actually telling the inside process.
However, if Twitch cannot fulfill the appropriate requests, you might face the same black screen issue with Twitch. Changing your Google DNS settings shall resolve the issue.
- Press Win key + R to access the Run window.
- Type in Control Panel and press Ok.
- Click on the ‘View by:’ option on the top-right corner and select Category.
- Now, click on Network and Internet.
- Go to Network and Sharing Center.
- Click on the Change adapter Settings option on the right menu.
- Right-click on the internet option you are using and click on Properties.’
- Under the ‘Networking’ tab, Locate ‘Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/ IPv4) and click on the Properties button.
- Click on the ‘Use the following DNS server addresses option.
- For IPv4, the DNS address is 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
- Finally, click on OK to save changes.
Disable Browser Ad-blocker
Twitch is a free streaming platform that highly relies on ads for generating revenue. If you are using an ad-blocker on your browser, it will not allow Twitch to display ads. As a result, Twitch might block you from streaming too before displaying its ads.
Therefore, disabling ad-block is a must when you are using Twitch. You can also disable ad-blocker specifically for Twitch if the option is provided. Not to mention, unlike most other platforms Twitch won’t interrupt your stream by showing frequent ads while streaming. It shows limited ads without interrupting your streaming experience which is a plus point.
In most cases, the screen goes black because the computer cannot render the video. This is due to incompatible browsers or video codecs. Now it gets tricky to find the right drivers or video codecs to install on your computer.
The VLC media player is a freeware video player application that comes bundled with different video drivers and codecs to support Twitch’s needs. Once you install VLC, the black screen issue will disappear.
Update Browser
If you primarily use your browser to stream Twitch, you need to make sure that it is updated to the latest version. New browser updates bring new video codecs and support for audio-video files. The most recommended browser for streaming videos is Google Chrome, as it comes with the latest updates.
Conclusion
The black screen issue with Twitch is not as serious as it seems. In fact, it mostly occurs due to failure of your connection, device, or else due to the ad-block feature in your browser. However, the workarounds for it are really simple and you should most probably find a working solution from one of the above mentioned. If you are still having the same trouble after trying all the methods, perhaps your last resort is to contact the Twitch support team and ask for experts help.
