The Elden Ring black screen bug is a gaming issue many players have reported to occur on Windows PCs. This Reddit post described that issue, as follows: “Now a year and a half later I want to play the game again, so I installed it (Elden Ring) on my new PC. But now on boot, the screen stays black with my cursor on it and it doesn’t change.” This is how you can fix the Elden Ring black screen on startup bug on Windows PCs.
Looking for more Elden Ring guides from KeenGamer?
- 6 Ways to Fix Regular In-Game Elden Ring Crashing on a Windows PC
- 7 Ways to Fix Elden Ring Multiplayer Not Working on a Windows PC
- 5 Ways to Fix the Elden Ring Easy Anti-Cheat Launch Error on Windows PCs
- 5 Ways to Fix the Elden Ring Controller Not Working on a Windows PC
- 6 Ways You Can Fix Elden Ring Stuttering and FPS Drops on a Windows PC
Verify Elden Ring’s Files
Players confirm verifying game files can fix the Elden Ring black screen on startup bug. Applying this potential resolution can repair or restore Elden Ring files. You can verify Elden Ring’s files by going through the steps on this Steam page.
The Verify integrity of game files option
Set Elden Ring to Run as Administrator
Setting Elden Ring to run as an administrator is another way to fix the Elden Ring black screen on startup bug that’s worked for some players. Running the game as administrator will give it elevated privileges for accessing folders and files. You can configure the Elden Ring game to run with admin rights like this.
- Open the File Explorer window and the Program Files (x86) > Steam > steamapps > common > Elden Ring > Game installation folder.
- Right-click the eldenring file to select a Properties context menu option for it.
- Select Compatibility and the Run this program as administrator setting inside that tab.
- Click Apply > OK to save the changed settings.
The Run this program as an administrator option
- In addition, repeat the above steps to set the start_protected_game.exe file to run with administrator rights.
Set Elden Ring to Run in Compatibility Mode
If running the game with administrator rights isn’t enough to fix the Elden Ring black screen on startup bug, try setting the game to run in compatibility mode. Applying this possible fix sets the game to run as it would on an older Windows PC. You can configure Elden Ring to run in compatibility mode like this.
- Select Properties for the eldenring.exe file as covered in steps one and two of the previous resolution.
- Next, select Run this program in compatibility mode inside the Compatibility tab.
- Click Windows 8 in the drop-down menu for the Run this program in compatibility mode option.
- Press Apply and OK to set the options selected.
- Repeat the previous steps for the start_protected_game.exe file in the same Game folder.
Disable Malwarebytes
Players have said they fixed the Elden Ring black screen on startup bug by disabling Malwarebytes. Is Malwarebytes Premium installed on your PC? If so, try disabling the real-time protection in that software like this.
- Open the Malwarebytes software.
- Click the Real-Time Protection tab.
The Real-Time Protection tab in Malwarebytes
- Turn off all the settings there, including Malware & PUP Protection, Ransomware Protection, Exploit Protection, and Web Protection.
- Try starting the game with Malwarebytes disabled. You can turn the protection settings back on after playing Elden Ring.
Set a Windowed Mode Launch Parameter
Setting Elden Ring to start in windowed mode has resolved the black screen bug for some players. To apply this potential fix, you can set the Windows launch parameter for the game in Steam. These are steps for setting a windowed mode launch parameter.
- Run Steam and select Library inside its tab bar.
- Next, right-click Elden Ring in the sidebar to select Properties.
- Enter -windowed inside the launch options box for the game.
The -windowed launch parameter
Select High Performance Graphics Card
If your PC has a couple of GPU (graphical processor units), you should make sure that the high-performance (dedicated) graphics card is set for Elden Ring. Your alternative integrated graphics card might not meet the game’s system requirements. You can select a higher-performance graphics card for Elden Ring like this.
- Use the Windows logo + S keyboard shortcut to access a search box.
- Type in a graphics settings search phrase.
- Select graphics settings to view GPU options.
- Click Browse, select the eldenring.exe file, and press the Add button.
- Next, click the Elden Ring game and press Options.
The Options button
- Select High Performance and Save.
The High performance radio button
Update Your Graphics Driver
Finally, update the graphics driver on your PC if the other potential fixes for the Elden Ring black screen on startup bug don’t work for you. An old or faulty graphics driver could be causing the black screen issue on your PC. Try updating the driver for your GPU with a method in this KeenGamer guide.
The graphics driver download page
Other Possible Ways to Fix the Elden Ring Black Screen on Startup Bug
There are more ways you might be able to fix the Elden Ring black screen on startup bug beyond those troubleshooting methods outlined above. These extra potential fixes for that gaming issue could be worth trying:
- Unplug any connected game controllers before starting Elden Ring.
- Disable the Game Bar in Windows 10.
- Turn off the overlay setting in Steam.
- Clear the Steam download cache, as instructed on this support page.
The troubleshooting methods in this guide have fixed the Elden Ring black screen on startup bug for many players. We can’t promise they’ll work for all players, but those potential fixes are certainly worth trying. If you need more fixes for this gaming issue, try clicking Contact Us on this Bandai page to send a support ticket.
![How is Radahn Alive in Shadow Of The Erdtree [Explained]](https://www.keengamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/How-is-Radahn-Alive-in-Shadow-Of-The-Erdtree-Explained-1-780x439.png)
