You press the power button, hear the fan spinning, maybe even see the keyboard light up, but the screen stays completely black. No logo, no cursor, nothing.

It’s one of the most frustrating laptop issues, and it can make you think your device has died.
But don’t worry, in most cases, it’s fixable.

Let’s go over the five most common causes of a laptop turning on but showing a black screen, and what you can do about each one.

1. Display Connection Problems

The most common reason your laptop turns on but shows nothing is a faulty connection between the display and the motherboard.
If the screen’s ribbon cable is loose or damaged, power may reach the screen, but no image will appear.

How to Check:

• Try connecting an external monitor or TV using HDMI or VGA.
• If the external screen works, your laptop display or its cable is likely the issue.
• If both screens stay black, move to the next cause.

Fix:
If it’s a display cable issue, it needs professional repair. Technicians can open the laptop and reconnect or replace the internal display ribbon safely.

2. Faulty or Confused Graphics Driver

Sometimes your laptop’s graphics driver crashes or becomes corrupted.
When that happens, the laptop powers on, but the screen can’t display anything.

Fix:
Try resetting the graphics driver:

1. Press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B
2. You should hear a short beep or screen blink — that means Windows is trying to restart the graphics driver.

If it still doesn’t work:

• Boot your laptop in Safe Mode (hold Shift while restarting → Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings → Enable Safe Mode)
• Once in Safe Mode, uninstall your display driver:
  • Right-click Start → Device Manager → Display adapters
  • Right-click your GPU → Uninstall device
• Restart — Windows will reinstall a fresh driver automatically.

3. Power Supply or Battery Issues

Sometimes your laptop gets power, but not enough to start the display properly.
This can happen due to residual electrical charge or a failing battery.

Fix:
Try a hard reset:

1. Turn off your laptop and unplug it.
2. Remove the battery (if removable).
3. Press and hold the power button for 15–20 seconds to discharge any leftover electricity.
4. Plug the charger in (without the battery) and power it on.

If the screen turns on, the issue was likely with the battery or static charge. You can reinstall the battery afterward.

4. Brightness or Display Settings Error

It might sound simple, but sometimes the screen brightness is turned all the way down or the system is set to display on an external monitor only.

Fix:

• Press Fn + Brightness Up on your keyboard.
• Or try Fn + F4 / F8 (varies by brand) to switch between display modes — internal, external, or both.
• If you hear startup sounds but see nothing, this could solve it instantly.

5. Hardware Failure (RAM or Motherboard)

If the above fixes don’t help, it may be a hardware-level issue — often bad RAM, or in rare cases, the motherboard or GPU.

Signs:

• Power light comes on but no display or beep.
• Fans may run loudly.
• The screen never lights up, even faintly.

Fix:
If you’re comfortable opening your laptop:

• Turn off the power and remove the battery.
• Remove and reinsert the RAM stick, or try one stick at a time if you have two.

If the problem continues, the motherboard or GPU might need professional repair.

Bonus Tip: Check for Backlight Failure

Sometimes the screen is on but so dim you can’t see it.
Shine a flashlight at the screen from a close angle; if you faintly see your desktop or logo, your screen backlight or inverter has failed.

This requires a screen or backlight replacement by a technician.

When to Visit a Repair Shop

If:

• You’ve tried the fixes above and nothing changes
• The laptop overheats or shuts down on its own
• The external display also stays black

Then it’s time to get a professional diagnosis. Don’t keep forcing the power, it could worsen the damage.

A laptop turning on but showing a black screen doesn’t always mean it’s dead.
In most cases, the issue is with drivers, static charge, or a loose connection, all fixable.

Start with the simple fixes like resetting power and display drivers.
If nothing works, get it checked, a professional laptop screen repair service can often bring your screen back to life faster (and cheaper) than you might expect.