Share via

black screen on youtube

Gordon Osmundson 5 Reputation points
2026-02-14T02:54:16.8033333+00:00

I keep getting a black screen when I try to open a Youtube video.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Apps
0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Thomas4-N 10,990 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-02-17T10:17:37.9633333+00:00

    Hello Gordon Osmundson, welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

    To help troubleshoot the black screen issue on YouTube, I need a bit more information:

    1. Which browser are you using? Does this happen on all browsers or just one?
    2. Does this happen only on YouTube, or also on other video sites?
    3. Can you play local video files in apps like VLC or Movies & TV without issues?
    4. What type of GPU does your PC have?
    5. Did you recently install any Windows updates?

    These details will help narrow down whether it's a browser setting, graphics driver, or system update issue.

    In the meantime, you can try:

    • Use Youtube in another browser
    • Disable hardware/graphic acceleration in your browser settings

  2. Q&A Assist
    2026-02-14T02:55:31.48+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    To address the black screen issue when trying to open a YouTube video, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

    1. Update Graphics Drivers: Make sure your graphics drivers are current. You can find updated drivers on the manufacturer's website or through Windows Update.
    2. Disable Hardware Acceleration: This feature can sometimes cause issues with video playback. You can disable hardware acceleration in your browser settings. For instance, in Chrome, navigate to Settings > Advanced > System and toggle off "Use hardware acceleration when available."
    3. Clear Browser Cache: A full cache can lead to problems with video loading. Clear your browser's cache by going into the settings and selecting the option to clear browsing data.
    4. Try a Different Browser: If the issue continues, try accessing YouTube with a different browser to determine if the problem is specific to your current browser.
    5. Check Your Internet Connection: Ensure that your internet connection is stable, as connectivity issues can also result in a black screen during video playback.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to look for specific error messages or additional support resources related to your operating system or browser.

    0 comments

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.