To Fix Steam Black Screen Or Not Loading On Windows 10: 4 Ways
Steam is the gateway to the game world for players. Sometimes, however, Steam doesn’t load properly, or just displays a blank screen. You may be worried if you can’t access your favorite games, but by following the steps described in this article, you can fix the problem on your own.
Before doing any of the troubleshooting methods suggested below, you can try restarting your computer, which will refresh the operating system and remove any corrupt temporary data that may be causing the problem.
Method 1: Delete browser cache and application cache
The built-in browser in Steam’s desktop client displays your game details, so players use it often, but there’s a problem: Steam’s web browser cache isn’t cleared instantly. As a result, Steam will not load properly. You should clear the cache to fix this problem. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Launch the Steam client. Click on Steam, and then click on Settings in the menu bar.
Step 2: Select Web Browser from the left panel.
Step 3: Then select Clear Web Browser Cache from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Click Delete all browser browsing history when you are done. When done, click OK.
Step 5: Your Steam client should now be working properly. If the black screen issue still persists, clear the application cache.
The application cache in your Steam directory holds various data about your Steam application and configuration. Theoretically, it saves little details every time you open Steam, and then you operate a little faster the next time you use Steam. However, it can also forget things, which can cause Steam to not load properly. Try deleting the “appcache” folder to solve this problem. Don’t worry, because it will be copied the next time you enter Steam.
Step 1: Open File Explorer with the keyboard shortcut Windows + E.
Step 2: Windows (C:) > Program Files (86) > Steam directory.
Step 3: To prevent errors, copy and paste the appcache folder to a safe location.
Step 4: Now delete the appcache folder from your Steam directory and try to restart Steam. if everything is fine, you can delete the old backup appcache folder and a new one will replace it.
Method 2: Add -no-cef-sandbox to your Steam shortcut
If Steam does not start properly, the command line parameter -no-cef-sandbox is exactly what you need and adding it to your shortcut will probably help you solve the problem.
Step 1: Close Steam. right-click on the Steam shortcut on your desktop and select Properties.
Step 2: Navigate to the “Shortcuts” tab. Add -no-cef-sandbox at the end of the target section. then click OK > Apply.
Step 3: Now try to launch the Steam client and see if it works.
Method 3: Reinstall Steam
If none of the above methods work, you can quickly reinstall it while keeping all your settings and games intact, you can do so by following the instructions below.
Step 1: Close Steam by opening Task Manager and check Steam Client Service and Steam Client WebHelper to make sure you have fully exited Steam. Right-click on them and select End task.
Step 2: Shortcut Windows+E to open File Explorer.
Step 3: Windows (C:) > Program Files (86) > Steam directory.
Step 4: Delete all files and folders, except steamapps, userdata and steam.exe.
Step 5: Reinstall Steam.exe by double-clicking it.
Method 4: Update the drivers
The easiest and fastest way to update the drivers on your computer is to use driver update software. Driver talent is one of the greatest tools in this category because it searches your computer for outdated, corrupted and missing drivers. It then searches the database for the latest and most appropriate drivers, which it then downloads and installs on your computer.
Follow the instructions below for step-by-step instructions on how to do this:
Step 1: First of all, you can download and install Driver Talent on your PC.
Step 2: Open Driver Talent and click on Scan. Then it will search for your computer with any missing, outdated or corrupted drivers.
Step 3: Click on Install All to get all out-of-date drivers updated.
You will then see Driver Talent update all of your outdated and corrupted drivers for your computer in a few minutes, potentially resolving the issue.
Step 4: Reboot your computer and check if the error is fixed.
Wrapping Up
Steam is a digital distribution platform launched by American video game maker Valve on September 12, 2003, and is considered to be one of the largest digital distribution platforms in the computer gaming world. However, some users have complained about black screens and other problems, and the above-mentioned methods will help fix them. Many experts suggest that updating the drivers is the exact solution to these problems.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please let us know in the comments section below, as we would be happy to provide you with solutions. We regularly post tips and tricks, as well as fixes to common technology-related problems.