How To Fix Elden Ring Black Screen on Startup/While Playing in 2025

Stuck in a black screen void in Elden Ring? Apply these swift fixes.

M. Mateen
Jan 16, 2024

Encountering a frustrating black screen upon startup, launch, or even amidst your grand adventures in Elden Ring? You’re not alone. This technical foe has plagued many players, but don’t worry! There are working solutions to fix the black screen issues and restore the vibrant realm of the Lands Between.

Whether you’re facing a black screen with a cursor, a black screen after quitting, or a black screen crash, our comprehensive guide will empower you with the knowledge and strategies to fix these technical tribulations.

How To Fix Elden Ring Black Screen on Startup

If you are seeing a black screen while playing Elden Ring on PC then apply the below-mentioned fixes.

Reset Graphics Driver

Resetting the graphics driver can resolve display-related issues. This keyboard shortcut triggers the system to reload the graphics driver, potentially fixing glitches or black screen problems during gameplay.

While the game is running, press and hold the Windows key + Ctrl + Shift.
While holding these keys, press the ‘B‘ key.
Release all keys.

Launch the Game in Windowed Mode

We have found this solution on a Reddit thread titled Elden Ring on PC does not launch, after starting, stuck in a black screen with nothing but the cursor.

A user suggested that playing the game in Windowed mode fixes the flickering or black screen issue. So when they deal with this problem press Alt+Enter at the same time while the game is running.

This command lets you switch between the windowed mode and full-screen mode. If this isn’t working then follow these steps:

Open your Steam Library.
Right-click Elden Ring and select Properties….
On the GENERAL tab, you’ll find the Launch Options section.
Enter this parameter to open the game in windowed mode: -windowed
Close the Properties window and launch the game.

Update your Graphics Card

The Elden Ring black screen also occurs while playing on PC if you have an outdated or corrupted graphics driver. You need to update the graphics driver It will not only fix the potential issue but will also increase the performance.

The NVIDIA/AMD releases game-specific graphics drivers you can download them on your PC by visiting their websites. In case you don’t have the proper set of skills or time then we recommend you to download Driver Easy on your PC.

The Driver Easy is a PC driver updater software that automatically scans and installs the outdated drivers in your Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Just install this software and run it on your PC, it will scan and give you a list of outdated drivers. Just click on the update button and it will install the latest version instantly.

Try downloading the Driver Easy Trial Version on your PC.

Verify Game Files on Steam

Using Steam you can verify missing or corrupted game files that will help you fix Elden Ring’s black screen. Follow these steps:

Open your Steam Library.
Right-click Elden Ring and select Properties….
Select the LOCAL FILES tab and click Verify integrity of game files….

Disable Steam Overlay

Progams that have overlay features sometimes cause conflict, triggering Elden Ring black screen. make sure that you have disabled overlay before playing the game.

Follow these steps to disable Steam overlay:

Go to your Steam Library.
Right-click Elden Ring and select Properties….
On the GENERAL tab, uncheck the box Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.
Close the Properties window and launch the game.

Remove VJoy Driver

vjoy driver is a virtual joystick driver that may interfere with game controllers and cause compatibility issues. Removing it ensures a clean system without potential conflicts that could affect Elden Ring stability. To do that:

Open the Control Panel on your Windows system.
Navigate to “Programs” and select “Programs and Features.”
Look for a program named “vjoy driver” in the list of installed programs.
Right-click on “vjoy driver” and choose “Uninstall” or “Remove.”
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
Restart your computer after the uninstallation is complete

Lower in-game Graphics Settings

If you are playing a game with insufficient system requirements, you should try to lower the in-game graphics settings. Open the game go to its graphics settings and make sure all settings are set to low.

In most cases, if you have set the Effect Quality high you will see a black screen. Please set it to low and everything else can go on high it seems to be fine.

Check for a Headphone Adapter

Headphone adapters, especially if faulty or incompatible, may interfere with audio output and cause system instability. Unplugging it eliminates potential conflicts, enhancing overall game performance and stability.

Locate the headphone adapter connected to your computer.
Gently unplug the headphone adapter from the audio jack.
Ensure that no remnants of the adapter are left in the jack.
If the issue persists, consider testing the game without the headphone adapter.

Turn Off Auto HDR in Windows 11

Auto HDR can sometimes conflict with the game’s HDR settings. Disabling it in Windows 11 settings before launching Elden Ring may help prevent black screen issues on startup.

Open Windows 11 settings.
Go to “System” and select “Display.”
Scroll down to the HDR section.
Toggle off the “Auto HDR” feature.

Play the Game in Compatibility Mode

Running the game in compatibility mode as an administrator and disabling full-screen optimizations can resolve compatibility issues and improve overall stability, particularly with older or demanding games like Elden Ring.

Right-click on “eldenring.exe.”
Go to Properties > Compatibility.
Check “Run this program as an administrator.”
Check ‘Disable full-screen optimizations.’

Disable XMP for RAM

Disabling XMP helps stabilize memory settings, addressing potential compatibility issues with Elden Ring. Running RAM at stock settings can enhance overall system stability.