What to do when your display flickers or goes black
By Tom Nonmacher
A flickering or black computer screen can be immensely frustrating, especially when you're in the middle of an important task. This can happen due to a myriad of reasons like loose cables, outdated drivers, or hardware issues. However, before you consider taking your system to a professional, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to potentially resolve the issue yourself.
First and foremost, check your physical connections. A loose cable can often cause the screen to flicker or go black. Ensure that both ends of the cable connecting your computer to the monitor are secure. If you're using a laptop, check if the issue persists when you move the screen. This could indicate a loose internal cable, a problem that would require professional assistance.
Secondly, software issues can also lead to display problems. Outdated graphics drivers are a common culprit. To solve this, you should update your graphics driver. For Windows users, this can be done via the Device Manager. Under 'Display adapters', right-click your graphics card, then select 'Update driver'. Follow the prompts from there. Mac users can update their software through the App Store under 'Updates'.
Thirdly, consider rebooting your computer in Safe Mode. This can often help to isolate the problem. If your screen works fine in Safe Mode, then the problem is likely related to a software issue. If it still flickers or goes black, it's probably a hardware issue. On Windows, you can enter Safe Mode by restarting your PC and holding the 'Shift' key as it boots up. For Mac users, hold the 'Shift' key as you restart your computer.
Adjusting the screen resolution is another simple trick that can resolve display issues. Sometimes, using a non-native resolution can cause your screen to flicker or go black. In Windows, you can adjust the screen resolution by right-clicking the desktop and selecting 'Display settings'. For Mac users, go to 'System Preferences', then 'Displays', and adjust the resolution there.
Finally, if none of these solutions work, it might be a sign of a hardware issue. This could be a problem with the monitor itself, or with the graphics card. If you have a spare monitor or graphics card, you can try swapping them out to see if the problem persists. If you're not comfortable doing this yourself, or if you don't have spare parts, it might be time to seek professional help.
A flickering or black screen can certainly be a cause of concern, but often it's a problem that can be resolved with a bit of troubleshooting. Remember, when in doubt, it's best to consult with a professional to ensure you don't inadvertently cause further damage to your system.