How to Fix White Screen on Windows 11/10

Home > HowTos > Troubleshooting Tips Updated by William on Nov 29, 2024 | Approved by Jennifer Allen

As computer users, we've all experienced the dreaded PC white screen at one point or another. It's frustrating, confusing, and can signify a much larger problem. However, before you pull your hair out or start Googling for a new computer, take a deep breath and try this blog's troubleshooting. With a little patience, you can fix your Windows 10/11 white screen problem successfully.

Table of contents
Part 1. Why Is My Screen Suddenly White in Windows 11/10?
Part 3. Tip for Recover Lost/Unsaved Files Due to White Screen of Death
Part 4. FAQs

Why Is My Screen Suddenly White in Windows 11/10?

The PC's white screen issue, also known as the "White Screen of Death," can occur for various reasons.

While a white screen can be concerning, remember that there are always solutions to technical issues. Stay calm and use the following methods to get your computer back up and running.

14 Ways to Fix White Screen on PC

Method 1. Check Monitor/Graphics Card Connection

The first method is suitable if a white screen appears immediately after booting. This may be caused by hardware failure or loose connections. Before searching for a technician, check if your monitor cable is secure. If that does not solve the problem, try unplugging the graphics card and plugging it back in. With some luck, your computer will return to its old self in no time.

Method 2. Restart Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer loading error is one of the causes of a white screen on your desktop or laptop. Therefore, you can use the following steps to restart it.

  1. Hold the "Ctrl + Alt + Del" keys simultaneously.
  2. Click "Task Manager" on the blue screen that appears.
  3. Find "Windows Explorer" and right-click it to select "End Task."
  4. Go to the top menu of Task Manager and select "File > Create new task."
  5. Type "explorer.exe" and click OK.

Method 3. Restart Your Desktop/Laptop

Sometimes, failure to load system components correctly can result in a white screen of death. Don't panic; restarting your PC is the easiest way to fix the issue. For desktop computers, simply click the restart button. However, for laptops, you must press and hold the power button until the system restarts.

Method 4. Remove External Devices Connected to the PC

The potential culprit of the white screen in Windows 11/10/7 could be a faulty USB storage device, printer, mouse, keyboard, or other similar devices. These seemingly harmless devices can cause quite a headache when they malfunction and cause a white screen to appear on your computer. But don't worry, there's an easy solution - remove them to check if the white screen disappears. If yes, then you can connect them to the computer one by one again to troubleshoot the faulty device and replace a new one.

Method 5. Run Your PC In Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a Windows operating system diagnostic mode, including Windows 11. It will load a minimal set of drivers and services to boot Windows and troubleshoot various problems. Here are the steps on how to fix the Windows white screen using Safe Mode:

5.1. Enter Safe Mode via the Run dialog box. This method only works if you can launch it.

  1. Press and hold the "Windows + R" keys simultaneously.
  2. Enter "shutdown /r /o" in the open window and click "OK."
  3. The system prompts you that it will restart in one minute. Click "Close" to restart immediately.
  4. After the system starts, click "Troubleshoot > Startup Settings > Restart."
  5. After a brief reboot, tap button 4 to enter safe mode.
  6. After successfully entering the system, restarting the computer again should fix the white screen problem.

5.2. If your PC has a white screen and you cannot use shortcut keys to bring up the run dialog box, please use the following steps.

  1. Restart your computer and press and hold the F8 key before the Windows logo appears.
  2. In the menu that appears, choose a method that works for you to run Safe Mode.

    Safe Mode: Starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services.
    Safe Mode with Networking: Includes the network drivers and services needed to access your network's Internet or other computers.
    Safe Mode with Command Prompt: This option works from the command line and is only suitable for technicians.

Method 6. Uninstall Recent Windows Updates

Have you ever experienced the dreaded "white screen of death" after a Windows update? It could be a more pleasant sight to see. But don't worry, there is a solution! If the update doesn't fully load or there's an error, you can roll back the update. This means your computer reverts to the previous version before the update is installed. While it might take some time, it's better than staring at a blank white screen.

  1. Click the "Windows" key and choose the "Settings" icon in the menu that appears.
  2. Select the "Update & Security."
  3. Scroll down in the Windows Update window to find the "View update history" option.
  4. Click "Uninstall updates."
  5. Choose the recently updated items, click "Uninstall," and follow the wizard to remove them.

Method 7. Run SFC Command

When the screen on your computer turns completely white, panic can quickly set in. It's a frustrating problem with several causes, and corrupted system files are one of them. Fortunately, there's a command that can help you scan and restore these files in Windows. By following the steps, you can fix the Windows 11/10 white screen issue.

  1. Click the "search" icon in the lower-left corner of the screen and enter "cmd."
  2. Find the "Command Prompt" and click "Run as administrator."
  3. Type "sfc /scannow" In the new window and hit Enter.

Please be patient, as this process can take some time to complete. Once the process is completed, you should receive a message with the scan results and any actions taken.

Method 8. Run CHKDSK

Drive file system failure can also cause a white screen in Windows, so you can use CHKDSK to check the integrity of the hard drive and repair various file system errors. Here are the detailed steps:

  1. Run Command Prompt as administrator.
  2. Type "chkdsk *: /f /r" and press Enter. Replace "*" with the letter of the drive you'd like to run CHKDSK on.
  3. Type "Y" and press Enter to continue.

Remember that the hard drive check can take quite a while to complete, especially on larger drives. Please be patient and avoid using your computer to prevent further issues.

Method 9. Update Graphics Card Driver

Outdated graphics drivers can cause display errors. You can use the following steps to update the latest version to fix the white screen on Windows 10/11.

  1. Right-click the "Windows" icon in the lower-left corner of the screen and select "Device Manager."
  2. Double-click Display adapters to expand the device list.
  3. Right-click the graphics card and click "Update Drives."
  4. Click "Search automatically for drives" and follow the wizard to complete the update.

Tip: This search process can be time-consuming and not consistently effective. Therefore, you can go to the graphics card provider's official website to download the latest driver program and select "Browse my computer for drives" in step 4 to complete the update manually.

Method 10. Remove Viruses and Malicious Programs

As much as we love technology, it's not always sunshine and rainbows. Viruses are like tiny hurricanes that can wreak havoc on your computer. Malicious programs and viruses are infamous for tampering with the components that make your computer function smoothly. One such outcome is the white screen of death. By utilizing trusted anti-virus software, you can remove these threats and keep your Windows PC running smoothly. For this, you can use the security tools on your computer to perform a full scan to remove threats.

Method 11. Use Windows Troubleshoot

It can help identify and fix any issues with your hardware or devices like desktop or laptop white screen. However, please note that the Windows 10 (1809 version ) and below are called "Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter."

For Windows 10 version 1809 and above or Windows 11:

  1. Click the "Start" button (Windows logo) in the lower-left corner of your screen.
  2. Click on "Settings" (the gear icon).
  3. In the Settings window, go to "Update & Security."
  4. From the left pane, select "Troubleshoot."
  5. Choose the type of troubleshooting you want, then select Run the troubleshooter.

For Older Version of Windows 10:

  1. Press the "Win + X" keys and select "Control Panel."
  2. In the Control Panel, choose "Troubleshooting."
  3. Under "Hardware and Sound," click on "Configure a device."
  4. Follow the prompts to run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter.

Remember, you might be asked for an admin password to confirm your choice.

Method 12. Use Startup Repair

If white screen in Windows 11 after login, you can use the built-in startup repair tools to diagnose and fix the problem.

  1. Press and hold the power button to force shut down the computer; repeat two times.
  2. After restarting the computer, you will see Advanced options on the screen.
  3. Click Startup Repair.
  4. It will now scan your system for problems and attempt to fix them automatically. This process could take several minutes.

Method 13. Update Your System to the Latest Version

It can be frustrating when you try to wake up your Windows PC from hibernation, only to be greeted with a white screen. This is most likely due to a flaw in the system itself. You can update the OS to the latest version, which should solve the issue.

  1. Click the "Windows" key and type "update."
  2. Find "Check for updates" and click on it.
  3. Click the "Check for updates" button under system version Information in the open window.
  4. After downloading the updates, click on the "Restart Now" button to do this.

Please note: Before starting the update, back up all important files and ensure your computer is plugged in.

Method 14. Restore the System to the Previous Version

If the above solutions do not help you solve the Windows 11/10 White Screen issue, you can only take the last resort - revert to the previous version. This can help if your system malfunctions due to a recent update, driver installation, or other changes.

  1. Press the "Windows + S" key and type "System Restore" in the search box.
  2. Click on "Create a restore point".
  3. Click "System Restore..." under the System Protection tab.
  4. In the open window, click "Next".
  5. You'll see a list of available restore points with dates and times. Choose the one to revert to, then click "Next."
  6. Confirm your restore point and click "Finish."
  7. A warning states that System Restore cannot be interrupted once started. Click "Yes" to proceed.

The computer will now restart, and the restoration process will begin. It can take anywhere from 15 minutes to more than an hour. Once done, your system will return to its state at the restore point you selected.

That's all on how to fix a white screen on a Windows PC. I'm sure they will help get your computer working again. If you lose your final data during this process, you can also refer to the following tips:

Tip for Recover Lost/Unsaved Files Due to White Screen of Death

Recovering files after White Screen can be achieved with several methods, including data recovery tools and built-in Windows features.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Windows 11/10 White Screen of Death:

Conclusion

When you sit down to use your computer, the last thing you want to see is a white screen. Unfortunately, it can happen to any Windows 11/10 user. The good news is that fixing this issue doesn't have to be complicated. With the solutions provided in this article, you should be able to solve this problem in no time. Don't let a white screen issue keep you from using your computer – try these solutions today and get back to your work or play!