Why am i seeing a black screen when i play some videos?

Hello Bruce,

Thank you for sharing your issue on this forum.

I understand that you are getting black screen while playing video. A black screen while playing videos can occur due to outdated graphics drivers, unsupported video codecs, or system settings affecting playback.

To resolve this issue, here are some troubleshooting steps you can follow:

1. Update Windows – Ensure your system is running the latest updates. You can check for updates by going to Settings > Windows Update and installing any available updates.
2. Run the Video Playback Troubleshooter – Windows has a built-in troubleshooter that can detect and fix video playback issues. You can access it by navigating to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters, then selecting Video Playback and clicking Run.
3. Reset your graphics driver **** – In some cases, pressing Windows logo Key+ Ctrl+ Shift+ B to reset your graphics driver may fix your issue. If this does not work, see if restarting helps.
4. Enable Software Rendering – Some users have resolved this issue by enabling software rendering instead of GPU rendering. To do this:
   • Press Win + R, type inetcpl.cpl, and click OK.
   • Go to the Advanced tab and check Use software rendering instead of GPU rendering.
   • Click Apply and OK, then restart your system.
5. Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers – Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can cause playback issues. You can update them via Device Manager or download the latest drivers from your graphics card manufacturer’s website.

For detailed steps, you can refer to the official Microsoft support page:
Troubleshooting black or blank screens in Windows - Microsoft Support.

If this resolves your issue, you can mark it as answered to the thread.

Best regards,
KushTech || Microsoft Community Support Specialist.

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

May I know what troubleshooting steps have you already taken? This will help me avoid recommending them again.

Does the screen stay black the whole time, or does it return to normal after a few seconds?

Also, is this happening in a specific browser or app? If it’s an app, which one are you using?

And do you recall if you recently changed any settings, like turning on hardware acceleration or tweaking video playback options?

Click "Reply" below to let me know.

Regards,

John J.D.