ARPG Elden Ring, developed by FromSoftware, was released on February 25 for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and the Xbox Series X/S. Elden Ring doesn’t run as smoothly as you hope on Windows PCs at times. Sometimes there are performance issues. The Elden ring black screen startup error is among the most common ones. Many players have discovered that the game crashes to a black screen when they parry a blow.
Alternatively, the issue can appear as a brief glitch, a white screen, or strange screen tearing. These errors are all connected to the Elden Ring black screen issue. So, first, here are the reasons behind the issue.
Reasons Behind Elden Ring Black Screen issue
There isn’t just one reason for the Elden Ring black screen error. Instead, it’s how the game communicates with Steam and the Windows platform. However, we have identified several common causes:
- Your Windows is an old version
- Your GPU driver is out of date
- Windows lacks the essential files needed to run the game
- Running the game requires administrator rights
- The game files are broken on Steam
- Your system is under too much strain because the Steam overlay is active
- Your PC is under too much strain due to the active Xbox Game Bar
- Your system fails to meet the requirements necessary to play the game
- The Fullscreen mode of the game is not functioning properly
- Elden Ring is attempting to use the integrated graphic processor despite your computer having two GPUs
Solutions for the Elden Ring Black Screen issue on Startup
Before starting the game again, we suggest you to test out all the fixes mentioned below. These fixes will benefit your machine and you will likely need to follow every few steps to resolve the Elden Ring black screen error.
1. Windows Update
Multiple incompatibilities arise between older operating systems and newer software. So, users are always suggested to install the most recent updates. Additionally, Windows 10 and 11 may detect the issue and display the driver/s you need to download. The steps to update to the most recent versions of Windows 11 and 10 are as follows:
- Enter “Update” in the Windows search box
- Then click “Windows Update Settings”
- Next, choose “Check for Updates”
- You should download all present updates altogether.
Ensure your system remains functional and is powered on while an update is downloading. The amount of time depends on how fast your internet connection is. When it’s finished, Windows will ask you to restart your computer so that the package/s can be installed. Do this as soon as possible to fix the Elden ring black screen error.
2. GPU Drivers Update
There are two discrete GPU manufacturers: AMD and NVIDIA. Each provides PC software that will handle driver downloads, graphical settings and performance charts. Elden Ring was released in 2022, so more than likely you will need to download a GPU driver update. GPU manufacturers frequently release driver updates to address the performance of more recent popular games. Both the GPU’s proprietary software and Device Manager can be used to update it.
Device Manager
- Enter “device manager” in the Windows search box
- Select “Device Manager”
- Then select “Display Adapters”
- Right-click on your GPU. It should be at the top of the list because it is either an AMD or an NVIDIA card
- Now, choose “Update drivers”
- Select the Automatic driver search option
- When a driver becomes available, the system searches for it and downloads it. Otherwise, a notification will appear saying ‘The best drivers are already installed’.
Proprietary Software
The GPU’s proprietary software can be downloaded and installed as a backup strategy. We advise this because these programs have a ton of simple-to-use features and options, including a screen recorder! You can view your computer’s GPU using the steps listed below (Device Manager). The programs download links are provided below after you confirm your device’s brand:
Once you download the software, you need to create an account as a first step or when prompted by the NVIDIA software. You can also link an existing account with Facebook, Google, or other social media platforms. However, the AMD’s Adrenalin Edition software does not require that extra step. Once the program is installed on your device, launch it and navigate to the homepage. You will be indicated when an update is available with a ‘Download’ button. For example, the ADM software has a ‘Check for Updates’ button, while NVIDIA GeForce has a Driver tab with a Download button for driver updates.
3. Run SFC Scan
The next step is to use System File Checker on Windows. This integrated tool checks vital system files and recreates broken files. The utility will notify you and replace any problematic files with safe copies if it finds any and it can fix the Elden ring black screen issue.
- In the Windows search box, enter Command Prompt
- Next, right click on Command prompt, go to “Run as administrator,” and click on that
- Enter the command sfc /scannow in the command line interface and hit enter
This function has one of two outcomes: either your computer is okay or the sfc checker fixes various problems. Regardless of the circumstance, proceed to the following solutions before opening or running Elden Ring.
4. Administrator Mode and Disabling Full-Screen Optimization
Games and apps frequently require full administrator privileges to function on your system. Consider configuring Elden Ring so that it always runs with administrator privileges. You can also turn off “full-screen optimization”. A full-screen running game sometimes conflicts with the capabilities of your computer. Here’s how to disable it:
- First, head to Library
- Select Properties from the context menu and tap on Elden Ring
- Next, select Local Files
- Choose Browse. You’ll be directed to the game’s folder inside the Steam folder
- Here, search for “eldenring.exe”, right-click on that and choose Properties
- Next, tap on the Compatibility tab and select “Run this program as administrator”
- Check the box for “Disable Fullscreen optimization”
- Finally, select “Ok” and then “Apply”
5. Disable Xbox Game Bar
Disabling the Xbox Game bar is another solution to resolve the Elden ring black screen error. Xbox Game Bar allows you to interact with your Xbox app friends, take screenshots, record videos, check your PC, and more. However, If your PC uses all the resources of the Xbox Game bar for gaming, you can disable it but cannot uninstall it. Here is how to disable Xbox Game bar:-
- Click the Windows key + X on your keyboard
- Then head to the Cascade menu and choose “App and features”
- In the search box, enter “Xbox”. The Xbox apps will be displayed on your PC
- On Windows 11, click on the three dots icon, select “Advanced Options” and then “Never” under Background apps permissions
- On Windows 10, first click on Xbox Game bar, select “Advanced Options” and disable the Permissions slider
- Finally scroll down and select “Terminate”
6. Verify Integrity
For Windows users who access Elden Ring via Steam, it is suggested to run the integrity checker to assess the game files for any corruption:
- First, launch Steam and navigate to the Library
- You will find Elden Ring there. Right click on it and access it’s Properties
- Choose Local Files
- Select “Verify game files’ integrity ” and wait for the process to complete
The procedure involves checking the game files. If it finds any corrupted files, it will notify you and download the necessary files, update and replace the corrupted ones.
7. Disable Full-Screen Mode
Additionally, you can disable full-screen mode because full-screen mode is another probable reason behind this Elden Ring black screen issue.
- Return to the Steam library and select “Properties”
- Locate Elden Ring
- Select the “General” tab
- Locate the “Launch options” on the right panel. Just below that, you will find a box where you need to enter the following command: -windowed
- After that, close Steam.
Elden Ring will now operate in windowed mode. Alternatively, you can switch between full-screen and windowed mode by pressing Alt + Enter the next time you start the game. So, it’s now time to put Elden Ring to the test. Check and see if the Elden ring black screen issue has been resolved.
Closing Thoughts
If you have tried all the above workarounds and nothing else works for you, uninstall the game and then reinstall it back to fix the Elden ring black screen issue. After reinstalling the game back, you should remove Epic Games as it can conflict with Elden Ring occasionally and create several issues. So follow the given solutions and you are good to go!
Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.
