With the desire to play your favorite car crashing game or complete the pending project, you logged into your Windows 11 PC. However, much to your surprise, right after the login, your PC encountered a black screen with no desktop or taskbar. When all your basic tips fail to restore your PC, you’ve landed on this article to resolve the problem. If my prediction is spot on, let’s dive right in to explore the 10 best ways to fix the Windows 11 black screen after the login.
Fix Windows 11 Black Screen After Login
The black screen after login issue in Windows 11 can stem from several underlying causes, ranging from software glitches to hardware conflicts. One of the most common reasons is a malfunctioning Windows Explorer process, which is responsible for rendering the desktop and taskbar.
Other potential causes include outdated or corrupted graphics drivers, recent Windows updates that introduced bugs, and misconfigured display output settings—especially in multi-monitor setups. In some cases, background services like App Readiness or third-party startup programs may delay or block the normal boot sequence. Additionally, hardware issues such as faulty external devices or GPU problems can also lead to a blank screen right after login.
1. Restart the Windows Explorer Process
Note that Windows Explorer handles the taskbar, Start menu, and desktop. If it crashes or doesn’t start correctly, the black screen issue will crop up on your PC.
- On your PC, press
Ctrl + Shift + Escto open Task Manager. - After that, go to the “Processes” tab.
- Now, find and select Windows Explorer > click Restart at the bottom-right.
2. Boot Into Safe Mode
It’s worth pointing out that the Safe Mode loads only essential drivers and services, helping you isolate third-party software or driver conflicts.
- To do so, hold
Shiftand select Restart from the power icon. - Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- Now, press
F4to boot into Safe Mode. - If the screen works in Safe Mode, make sure to uninstall recently added drivers or apps.
3. Disable Fast Startup
Fast Startup can cause the system to improperly initialize, especially with GPU drivers, leading to a black screen. Therefore, be sure to disable it.
- Launch the Control Panel on your PC > System and Security > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.
- Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
- Uncheck Turn on fast startup, then click Save changes.
4. Update or Roll Back Graphics Driver
Corrupt or incompatible GPU drivers often cause display issues after login.
- Head into the Device Manager (
Win + X> Device Manager) on your PC and expand Display adapters. - Now, right-click your GPU, and choose Update driver.
- If the problem started after an update, select Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver.
5. Disable App Readiness Service
This service can delay the launch of the user interface, leading to a prolonged black screen.
- To begin with, press
Win + R> typeservices.msc> Press Enter. - Now, find App Readiness and double-click it.
- Then, set the Startup type to Disabled.
- Now, click Apply > OK and restart your PC.
6. Perform System File Check
Be warned that the corrupted system files on your PC can prevent the operating system from loading the desktop interface.
- On your PC, launch the Command Prompt as administrator > type
sfc /scannowand press Enter.
- Then, make sure to wait for the scan to complete and follow any prompts.
7. Uninstall Recent Windows Updates
A recent Windows update might have introduced a bug causing display issues.
- Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates.
- Look for recent updates under “Microsoft Windows” and uninstall the most recent one.
8. Disconnect External Devices
Faulty or incompatible peripherals (e.g., external GPU, USB devices) can interfere with display output.
- To do so, shut down your PC completely.
- Disconnect all external devices including monitors, USB hubs, or docks.
- Reboot and reconnect devices one at a time to identify the culprit.
9. Check Display Output Settings
Windows may be sending the display signal to the wrong monitor, especially in dual-display setups.
- To get going, press
Win + Pand tap the arrow keys to select PC screen only or Duplicate, then press Enter. - Now, repeat if needed to cycle through all display modes.
10. Perform System Restore
Did the black screen begin recently on your PC? If the answer is “Yes”, restoring your system to a previous working state can help you resolve the issue without affecting your personal files.
- To get it done, search for Create a restore point and open it.
- After that, click System Restore and hit Next.
- Then, choose a restore point dated before the issue began.
- Next, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restore process.
Wrapping up…
And that’s about it! A black screen after logging into Windows 11 can feel like your system is unusable, but as you’ve seen, there are several targeted ways to bring it back to life. From restarting Explorer to performing a full System Restore, these solutions cover both software glitches and hardware-related issues.
