Fixing “Valorant Black Screen” Issues

Valorant, Riot Games’ popular first-person shooter, occasionally experiences technical difficulties like the infamous black screen issue.

This can occur at startup, mid-game, during deathmatch, or when using software like OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) and Streamlabs. Alt-tabbing can also trigger it. If you’re facing this issue, this guide will walk you through several solutions.

Valorant Black Screen

Valorant Black Screen on Startup

Experiencing a black screen when launching Valorant can be frustrating. It’s often caused by outdated graphics drivers or issues with the game’s fullscreen optimization settings. Here are some ways to fix it:

Update your Graphics Drivers: Outdated drivers are a common cause of gaming issues. Updating your graphics drivers to the latest version can often solve the problem. Check the manufacturer’s website for the most recent drivers (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).

Disable Fullscreen Optimization: Right-click on the Valorant exe file > Properties > Compatibility > Check ‘Disable fullscreen optimizations’ > Apply > OK.

Valorant Black Screen Mid-Game and During Deathmatch

A black screen occurring mid-game or during a deathmatch can be due to software compatibility issues or system overload. Here’s how to fix it:

Run as Administrator: Sometimes, giving Valorant administrator permissions can fix the black screen issue. Right-click on the Valorant icon > Run as administrator.

Close Background Applications: Running too many programs at the same time can overload your system, causing Valorant to black out. Close any unnecessary applications before launching the game.

Valorant Black Screen with OBS and Streamlabs

Streaming Valorant using OBS or Streamlabs can sometimes result in a black screen due to capture settings. Try the following:

Use Game Capture: In OBS or Streamlabs, use the ‘Game Capture’ source instead of ‘Window Capture’ or ‘Display Capture’. Make sure to choose Valorant in the application drop-down menu.

Run as Administrator: Both Valorant and your streaming software should run as administrator. This ensures they have enough permissions to interact with each other correctly.

Valorant Black Screen When Alt-Tabbing

Alt-tabbing out of Valorant and returning to it can sometimes result in a black screen. This is often due to the game’s fullscreen settings. Here’s a potential fix:

Change to Windowed Fullscreen Mode: In Valorant’s video settings, change the display mode to ‘Windowed Fullscreen’. This makes alt-tabbing smoother and may prevent the black screen issue.

Conclusion

While encountering a black screen when playing Valorant can be a nuisance, various solutions can alleviate the problem.

Whether the issue happens at startup, mid-game, during a deathmatch, or while using OBS and Streamlabs, there are potential fixes at hand.

Always ensure your system drivers are up-to-date, and adjust the game’s settings as necessary for a smoother gaming experience. Happy gaming, Valorant players!