Some players have reported the Minecraft Launcher opens with a black screen when they try to play the game. For example, a player’s Reddit post described this gaming issue like this, “When I open up the new (Minecraft) launcher it doesn’t work, it just shows black and gray for me and nothing else.” Players can’t play the game when the Minecraft Launcher shows a black screen and nothing else. This is how you can fix the Minecraft black screen error on a Windows PC.
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Delete Webcache Folders
Players confirm deleting webcache folders can fix the Minecraft black screen issue. You can delete those folders like this.
- Open File Explorer by clicking its pinned taskbar shortcut.
- Go to the C:\Users\<user folder name >\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft folder path.
- Select the webcache folders in that directory by holding the Ctrl key and clicking on them.
The webcache folders
- Click your right mouse button to select Delete.
Repair and Reset the Minecraft Launcher
If you need to fix this issue for the Minecraft Launcher UWP app, try selecting the Repair/Reset options. Windows includes Repair and Reset troubleshooting options for UWP apps downloaded from the MS Store. You can repair and reset Minecraft Launcher as instructed on this Microsoft help page.
The Repair and Reset buttons
Set Minecraft Launcher to Run in Compatibility Mode
A few players say they’ve fixed the Minecraft black screen bug by setting the launcher to run in compatibility mode. However, this is a potential fix more applicable to Minecraft Java. This is how you can set Minecraft to run in compatibility mode like this.
- Right-click your Minecraft Launcher desktop shortcut and select Properties. If you don’t have such a shortcut, right-click the Minecraft Launcher.exe file within its installation folder.
- Select the tab with the Compatibility label.
- Next, select Run this program in compatibility mode for to activate the drop-down menu.
- Select the Windows 8 platform.
The Compatibility tab
- Click Apply > OK to save the compatibility settings.
Temporarily Disable Third-Party Antivirus Apps
Players have confirmed disabling third-party antivirus apps has fixed the Minecraft black screen bug on their PCs. If there’s a third-party security app on your PC, right-click its system tray and select to turn off its shield. Try playing Minecraft after you’ve disabled the antivirus shield.
It’s not recommended to leave your antivirus disabled if this potential solution works. Turn the antivirus shield back on after playing Minecraft. Alternatively, try adding Minecraft to your antivirus tool’s exclusion list.
Install Windows Updates
Installing Windows updates has worked for some players who’ve needed to fix the Minecraft Launcher black screen issue. You can download and install updates for Windows via the Settings app. To apply this fix, press the Check for updates button on this Microsoft page and click Open Settings > Check for updates.
The Check for updates button
Install a New Graphics Driver
An outdated or faulty graphics driver on your PC could be causing the Minecraft black screen issue. To remedy this, try installing a new graphical driver on your PC. This is the manual way to install a new graphics driver.
- First, check the graphics card info for your PC by pressing the Windows logo key + S, enter dxdiag, and select the matching dxdiag search result. Click Display in DirectX Diagnostic Tool to view graphics card details.
- Go to this NVIDIA or AMD download page in your web-browsing software.
- Select the graphics card model shown in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool and click Find or Submit.
The NVIDIA driver download page
- Click the Download button for the newest driver compatible with your PC’s graphics adapter.
The Download button for a driver
- Go into File Explorer and open the folder your browser downloads files in.
- Double-click the NVIDIA or AMD file and install the driver from the setup window that opens.
- Restart your PC to complete the driver update.
Other Possible Ways to Fix the Minecraft Black Screen Error
There are other possible ways to fix the Minecraft black screen error beyond those covered above. If that gaming issue persists, try doing the following:
- Disable the Windows firewall or other alternatives before starting Minecraft.
- Install the latest Java software for Minecraft Java.
- Disable 3D Display Mode via the advanced display settings in Windows.
- Reinstall your Minecraft Launcher.
- Select to disable full-screen optimizations via the Compatibility tab for Minecraft.
The Minecraft black screen bug is undoubtedly an annoying gaming issue that has blighted the game for many years. The potential solutions covered here are some of the more widely confirmed ways to fix that gaming issue. You can also submit a help ticket about that black screen bug from this contact page if more potential fixes are needed.
