Login black screens usually point to a display driver, display mode, or Explorer startup fault; Safe Mode and driver fixes bring the picture back.
Your laptop accepts the password, then the panel fades to black. The fan spins, the cursor may show, and that’s it. Annoying, but fixable. This guide gives you fast checks, deeper repairs, and prevention tips that match real causes on Windows and macOS. Links to official help are included, so you can jump to a trusted step when you need it.
Quick triage: match the symptom to the next step
| Symptom | What it hints | Fast action |
|---|---|---|
| Black screen with movable cursor | Explorer didn’t start or the GPU driver stalled | Open Task Manager, run explorer.exe, then update or roll back the display driver |
| Black screen with no cursor | Output set to a non-active display or a deeper driver issue | Press Win+P and tap once; try Win+Ctrl+Shift+B |
| Only after sleep or fast boot | Fast Startup or modern standby glitch | Disable Fast Startup, then test resume |
| Happens after a driver update | New GPU or chipset driver conflicts | Boot Safe Mode and roll back driver |
| Appears after major OS update | Pending setup tasks or profile load issues | Wait a minute on a plugged-in system; then try Safe Mode once |
| Mac shows blank screen after password | Startup disk or firmware needs repair | Boot Recovery, run Disk Utility, then reinstall macOS if needed |
Laptop screen goes black after password: common causes
On Windows, a login that ends in darkness often links to three buckets: the display driver, the shell, or the display path. The driver may crash while the desktop loads. The shell process, explorer.exe, might never spawn. The display mode might target an external monitor that isn’t there. Each one has a quick test that tells you which bucket you’re in.
Try the two fastest key combos first
Press Win+Ctrl+Shift+B. That command resets the graphics stack without a restart. You should hear a beep or feel a brief blink. Next, press Ctrl+Alt+Del. If the blue security screen appears, launch Task Manager. From there, you can restart Windows Explorer or start it if it’s missing.
Restart or start Explorer
In Task Manager, pick “Windows Explorer,” then hit “Restart.” If it’s missing, select File → Run new task, type explorer.exe, and press Enter. If the desktop returns, the root cause is likely a startup app, a shell extension, or a driver that hooks Explorer. You’ll fix that in the cleanup steps below.
Cycle the display path
Tap Win+P once, then Enter. That toggles between PC screen only, duplicate, extend, and second screen only. If the image jumps back, Windows had switched to an off-screen mode or a sleeping external display. Unplug extra cables and try again to confirm.
If none of those restore the image, move to Safe Mode and driver steps. Microsoft’s guide on blank screen fixes lists the same keys and adds hardware checks.
Screen turns black after login on Windows and Mac: fixes
Boot into Safe Mode (Windows)
Safe Mode loads a basic driver and trims startup items. If the black screen vanishes there, you’ve proved a driver or app causes the stall. From the login screen, hold Shift while selecting Power → Restart. Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart, then press 5 for “Safe Mode with Networking.” Microsoft documents this path on its Windows Startup Settings page.
Update, roll back, or clean the display driver
Once in Safe Mode, open Device Manager → Display adapters. If the issue began after an update, choose Properties → Driver → “Roll Back.” If the driver is old, use “Update driver,” or remove it and reboot to let Windows reload the inbox driver. For vendor drivers, install a fresh package from Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA while the system is stable.
Turn off Fast Startup for resume problems
Fast Startup blends hibernation with shutdown. Some laptops wake to a black panel right after password due to that hybrid state. Open Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do → “Change settings that are currently unavailable,” then clear “Turn on fast startup.” Test sleep and a cold boot.
Repair system files
If Explorer keeps crashing at login, run the built-in repair tools from an elevated Command Prompt. First run the DISM image repair, then System File Checker:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow
Let both commands finish. If DISM reports source issues, repeat with a stable internet link, then run SFC again. If SFC replaces files, reboot and try a normal sign-in. If SFC reports no violations and the stall persists, focus on startup apps and drivers.
Clean startup apps and shell add-ons
Open Task Manager → Startup apps and turn off items that hook into the desktop, e.g., clipboard tools, skinning utilities, and third-party file managers. Use a reboot to test. If the black screen returns at a specific app, keep it off or replace it.
Fix black screen with cursor only
When the pointer moves yet the desktop never loads, the shell is stalled. Use Task Manager to start explorer.exe. If it dies again, check Event Viewer → Windows Logs → Application for recent “Application Error” entries tied to Explorer or a shell extension DLL. Remove or update the offender.
Mac login loads to a blank screen
On a Mac notebook, start with a full power cycle. If the screen stays blank after the password, start from macOS Recovery, run Disk Utility → First Aid, then reinstall macOS over your data if the disk passes checks. Apple outlines the exact steps on its page If your Mac starts up to a blank screen. If firmware needs help, use the revive or restore tool on Apple silicon or T2 models.
When an external screen hides the desktop
Docked laptops may “wake” onto the wrong display. Unplug HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C, close the lid, open it again, then sign in. After the desktop appears, reconnect one cable at a time. Set the main display under Settings → System → Display → Multiple displays.
Check brightness, lid, and function keys
Backlights can be at zero after a driver switch. Tap the brightness keys to test. Toggle the panel off and on with the display function key. Flip any lid or ambient sensor setting in the vendor utility to see if it misreads state after login.
Command and settings cheat sheet
| Task | Command or path | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reset graphics stack | Win+Ctrl+Shift+B | Beep or blink confirms the reset |
| Start Explorer | Task Manager → File → Run → explorer.exe |
Restores taskbar and desktop if shell stalled |
| Safe Mode | Shift + Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings | Press 5 for networking |
| Roll back GPU driver | Device Manager → Display adapters → Properties → Driver → Roll Back | Use after a bad update |
| Turn off Fast Startup | Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do | Clear the checkbox and save |
| Repair system files | DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth then sfc /scannow |
Run in an elevated Command Prompt |
Prevention: keep the screen from going dark again
Keep one restore point handy. Windows still supports System Restore, which can undo a bad driver. Update vendor firmware and GPU drivers from time to time, yet keep a copy of the last known good package. On gaming laptops that switch GPUs, lock the preferred GPU in the vendor control panel to avoid surprise switches right after login. Turn off any tools that replace the taskbar or file explorer unless you trust the source. Avoid stacking two or three display utilities at once.
Set a clean boot profile
Use msconfig to set “Selective startup,” then disable non-Microsoft services under the Services tab while you hunt for a bad actor. Keep notes on what you change. Once the screen loads cleanly across several reboots, add services back in small batches. Stop at the one that breaks the login.
Tune power and sleep
Pick a balanced power plan, not an extreme vendor profile that parks the GPU at login. Set a slightly longer screen turn-off timer, then test sleep and resume three times. If resume still blanks the panel, keep Fast Startup off and update chipset drivers.
Back up before big updates
A full image backup gives you a safety net. If a feature update goes sideways, you can roll back without stress. Store the image on an external drive and create a bootable recovery USB while the machine is healthy.
Last resorts if the screen stays black
If Safe Mode crashes or the display stays blank on every boot, rule out hardware. Connect a known-good monitor and cable. If the external screen works, the panel or cable inside the lid may need service. If no display works, boot the vendor’s diagnostics from a USB stick. After hardware passes checks, reset Windows while keeping files: Settings → System → Recovery → “Reset this PC.” Pick “Keep my files,” then remove apps. If that still fails, wipe and reinstall from media.
What this pattern tells you
Black after password isn’t random. If keys restore the screen, you faced a driver or display path issue. If Task Manager brings back the desktop, the shell or a startup add-on stalled. If Safe Mode solves it, remove or roll back a driver or app. If Recovery boots a Mac that fails at login, repair the disk and reinstall. Work through the steps in order, and the laptop should light up again.