If you’re a Valorant player, you may have encountered the frustrating black screen issue when launching or playing the game.
This problem can prevent you from accessing the game altogether or make it impossible to enjoy a smooth gaming experience.
The Valorant black screen issue can stem from various causes, such as hardware incompatibility, outdated graphics drivers, or misconfigured settings.
In this SEO-optimized guide, we’ll cover the common causes of the Valorant black screen issue, explore troubleshooting steps, and offer practical solutions to help you get back into the game.
What Causes the Valorant Black Screen Issue?
The black screen issue in Valorant typically occurs when the game either fails to render properly or cannot display its content correctly on your monitor. Several factors can contribute to this problem:
- Outdated or Corrupted Graphics Drivers: One of the most common causes is outdated or corrupted GPU drivers that cannot handle Valorant’s graphics properly.
- Fullscreen Mode Problems: Sometimes, running the game in fullscreen mode can cause a black screen due to display settings or resolution mismatches.
- Background Applications: Other applications running in the background can conflict with Valorant, causing the black screen issue.
- System Requirements: Incompatible or underpowered hardware, such as outdated graphics cards or CPUs, can lead to the game not rendering properly.
- In-Game Graphics Settings: Misconfigured in-game graphics settings, such as an incorrect resolution, can prevent the game from displaying correctly.
- Corrupted Game Files: Damaged or missing game files can cause the black screen error when launching Valorant.
- Outdated Operating System: An outdated version of Windows can sometimes conflict with the game, leading to display issues.
How to Fix Valorant Black Screen Issues
Here are several methods to help you troubleshoot and fix the Valorant black screen issue on Windows.
Method 1: Update Your Graphics Drivers
Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are one of the most common causes of black screen issues in Valorant. Updating your GPU drivers can resolve display problems and improve performance.
Steps to Update Graphics Drivers:
- Open Device Manager:
- Press Windows + X and select Device Manager from the list.
- Locate Display Adapters:
- Expand the Display Adapters section, right-click on your graphics card (e.g., NVIDIA or AMD), and select Update driver.
- Choose “Search Automatically for Drivers”:
- Allow Windows to search for and install the latest drivers.
- Restart Your PC:
- After the update, restart your computer and launch Valorant to see if the black screen issue is resolved.
Alternatively, you can visit the official NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel website to download the latest graphics drivers manually.
Method 2: Run Valorant in Windowed Mode
Running Valorant in windowed mode instead of fullscreen mode can help if the issue is caused by a display or resolution conflict.
Steps to Run Valorant in Windowed Mode:
- Open Valorant Settings:
- Launch Valorant, and press Alt + Enter to switch to windowed mode.
- Adjust Display Settings:
- Go to the Settings menu, select Video, and ensure the game resolution matches your screen’s native resolution.
- Switch to Windowed Fullscreen:
- In the Display Mode section, select Windowed Fullscreen or Borderless mode to avoid resolution issues.
Method 3: Close Background Applications
Some background applications, especially those using high CPU or GPU resources, can cause conflicts with Valorant and lead to a black screen.
Steps to Close Background Applications:
- Open Task Manager:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- End Unnecessary Tasks:
- Under the Processes tab, locate resource-heavy applications (e.g., Chrome, Discord, or game launchers) and right-click to End Task.
- Restart Valorant:
- After closing unnecessary applications, restart Valorant and check if the black screen issue is resolved.
Method 4: Verify and Repair Game Files
Corrupted or missing game files can cause Valorant to fail to load correctly, resulting in a black screen. You can use the Riot Games launcher to verify and repair your game files.
Steps to Verify Game Files:
- Open Riot Games Launcher:
- Launch the Riot Games client.
- Go to Settings:
- Click on the gear icon in the top right corner of the launcher to access the settings menu.
- Select “Repair”:
- Under the General section, click on Repair to scan and fix any corrupted game files.
- Restart the Game:
- Once the repair process is complete, restart Valorant and check if the black screen issue persists.
Method 5: Adjust In-Game Graphics Settings
In some cases, misconfigured graphics settings can lead to a black screen in Valorant. Adjusting the graphics settings may resolve the issue.
Steps to Adjust In-Game Graphics Settings:
- Launch Valorant:
- Start the game and press Esc to open the settings menu.
- Navigate to Video Settings:
- Go to Settings > Video and check your Display Mode and Resolution settings.
- Lower Graphics Settings:
- Lower settings like Anti-Aliasing, Texture Quality, and Shadows to reduce the strain on your system.
- Save Changes and Restart:
- Save your changes and restart Valorant to see if the black screen issue is resolved.
Method 6: Disable Fullscreen Optimization
Disabling fullscreen optimization can sometimes resolve display issues like the Valorant black screen problem.
Steps to Disable Fullscreen Optimization:
- Locate Valorant Installation Folder:
- Right-click the Valorant shortcut and select Open file location.
- Access Properties:
- Right-click the Valorant.exe file and choose Properties.
- Disable Fullscreen Optimization:
- Under the Compatibility tab, check the box for Disable fullscreen optimizations.
- Apply Changes:
- Click Apply and OK, then restart the game to see if the issue is fixed.
Method 7: Update Windows
An outdated version of Windows can cause compatibility issues with Valorant. Keeping your operating system up to date ensures the game runs smoothly.
Steps to Update Windows:
- Open Windows Update:
- Press Windows + I to open Settings and go to Update & Security.
- Check for Updates:
- Click Check for updates to see if any updates are available.
- Install Updates:
- Install any available updates and restart your computer.
- Relaunch Valorant:
- Launch Valorant to check if the black screen issue is resolved.
Conclusion
The Valorant black screen issue can be caused by a variety of factors, including outdated drivers, misconfigured display settings, or corrupted game files.
By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide—updating your graphics drivers, verifying game files, or adjusting in-game settings—you can resolve the issue and get back to enjoying your game.
If none of these solutions work, it may be worth reaching out to Riot Games support for further assistance.
FAQs
1. What causes the Valorant black screen issue?
The Valorant black screen issue can be caused by outdated graphics drivers, misconfigured in-game settings, corrupted game files, or conflicts with background applications.
2. How do I fix the black screen when launching Valorant?
To fix the black screen when launching Valorant, try updating your graphics drivers, running the game in windowed mode, verifying game files, or disabling fullscreen optimization.
3. Why does Valorant show a black screen in fullscreen mode?
Valorant may show a black screen in fullscreen mode due to a resolution mismatch or display settings conflict. Switching to windowed fullscreen mode or adjusting the resolution can fix this issue.
4. Can outdated drivers cause a black screen in Valorant?
Yes, outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are a common cause of black screen issues in Valorant. Updating your drivers can often resolve the problem.
5. How do I verify Valorant game files?
To verify Valorant game files, open the Riot Games launcher, go to the settings menu, and select the Repair option under the General section to scan and fix corrupted files.
