How to Fix the Steam Black Screen Issue on Windows
Have you opened the Steam client to play a game but encountered a black screen? Is the issue only affecting one Steam tab, mainly Library, but the rest of the tabs are fine? It’s one of the most frustrating issues Steam users face, whose source could be your display, Steam client, or even Windows itself.
In this article, we will cover the causes of the black screen issue on Steam and discuss solutions that can help you fix it.
What Causes the Black Screen Issue on Steam?
The display may go black on Steam for a variety of reasons. Here are a few of them:
With the above causes in mind, let’s discuss the fixes you can apply to restore Steam’s normal operation.
7 Ways to Fix the Black Screen Issue on Steam
To fix the black screen issue on Steam, you should update Steam to the latest version, close other open apps, clear browser data, delete the Steam cache folder, and revert Steam settings. Also, make sure your graphics card is fine. If you fail to diagnose the problem and the issue persists, you may need to reinstall Steam.
Below we will show you how to apply all the fixes mentioned above.
1. Apply Some Basic Fixes
To ensure that the black screen issue on Steam isn’t just a minor glitch, first try these simple fixes:
If the issue persists after applying the above fixes, apply the remaining fixes.
2. Ensure Your Graphics Card Is Working Properly
GPU problems account for most display issues. Therefore, before applying other fixes, you should ensure there is no hardware problem with your graphics card.
Does your screen flicker or appear black and blurry in other games and software too? Do you sometimes see horizontal and vertical lines on it? If so, it’s likely your GPU is malfunctioning. Therefore, get it checked by a technician. Before you do that,update your graphics driveronce to rule out software issues.
However, if the issue only occurs when opening Steam, apply the next fix.
3. Update the Steam Client
Many users have commented on aSteam community threadthat updating the Steam client fixes the issue under discussion. So, you should give it a try. Follow these steps to update the Steam client:
4. Clear the Steam Web Browser Data
According to some Steam users who have experienced the black screen problem, clearing the Steam web browser data fixes this issue. Clearing the browser data clears Steam’s cached files, cookies, and history, which may fix the problem. To clear Steam web browser data, follow these steps:
5. Delete the Steam App Cache Folder
Like most other applications and software, Steam retains some temporary data in its cache, which helps the client run more smoothly. However, if you don’t clear this data regularly, it can affect Steam’s performance.
If you haven’t cleared the Steam cache for ages, clear it, as it may fix the problem. To do that, follow these steps:
6. Change Steam Client Settings
Have you made any adjustments to Steam settings and encountered this issue afterward? In case you remember those changes, you should go back and reverse them. If you haven’t made any tweaks recently, follow these steps:
7. Close Steam Client WebHelper Process
Many users in aReddit threadhave mentioned that force closing the Steam Client WebHelper or SteamWebHelper.exe process in Task Manager fixes the black display problem on Steam. This process is directly related to the display of Steam tabs. Any time there is a problem with this process, you will see display issues on Steam.
So, if none of the previously suggested fixes worked for you, try this one. To disable it, type"Task Manager"in Windows Search and open theTask Managerapplication. Then, locate theSteam Client WebHelperorSteamWebHelper.exeprocess. After you’ve found it, right-click on it and clickEnd task.
It is safe to disable this process since Steam reinitiates it when you run the Steam client again. So, close this process, restart the Steam client, and hopefully, the display will return to normal.
Restore Steam’s Display to Its Normal State
When you open the Steam client and see a black screen on all tabs, it feels like someone has switched off the app’s lights. By applying the above fixes, you’ll be able to restore the display to normal and resume playing your favorite games. If none of the fixes work, you should uninstall and reinstall Steam.
Steam games can take up a lot of space on your hard drive once your collection grows. Once this happens, you’re able to delete Steam games in a few easy clicks.
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