How To Fix Valheim Black Screen on Launch

Valheim is experiencing a black screen lock issue that prevents users from being able to play.

Encountering a black screen upon launching Valheim can be disheartening. Here's a structured approach to diagnose and fix this issue:

How To Fix Valheim Black Screen on Launch
Preliminary Checks:

System Requirements and Updates: Ensure your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Valheim. Additionally, verify that you have the latest Windows updates installed (Settings > Update & Security > Check for updates).

Verify Game Files: Steam can automatically repair corrupted game files. Right-click Valheim in your Steam library, select "Properties," navigate to the "Local Files" tab, and click "Verify integrity of game files..."

Addressing Potential Conflicts:

Run as Administrator: Right-click the Valheim executable file, go to "Properties," select the "Compatibility" tab, and check "Run this program as an administrator." This can resolve issues due to user account permissions.

Update Graphics Drivers: Outdated graphics drivers can cause compatibility problems. Use a tool like Driver Easy or your graphics card manufacturer's software to update your graphics drivers.

Optimizing Valheim:

Update Valheim: Launch Steam, navigate to your Library, right-click Valheim, and select "Update" if an update is available.

Disable Overlays: Overlays from Discord or GeForce Experience can sometimes interfere. Right-click Valheim in Steam, select "Properties," go to the "General" tab, and uncheck "Enable Steam Overlay" (and any other overlay options).

Adjust Graphics Settings: Try lowering in-game graphics settings like V-Sync, shadows, and anti-aliasing. Additionally, experiment with a lower display resolution to see if it resolves the black screen.

Advanced Troubleshooting:

DirectX Update: Ensure you have the latest DirectX version installed. Download the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35) and install or upgrade DirectX.

Check Application Focus: While the game is launching, try pressing Alt+Tab to switch between open applications. Sometimes, the game window might be minimized or hidden behind another window.

Discord Overlay: If you use Discord, disable the "Enable in-game overlay" toggle within the Discord app settings. Restart your PC afterward.

Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime: Corrupted or missing runtime libraries can cause crashes. Search for "Apps & features" in your Windows search bar. Locate and uninstall all versions of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages you find. Then, download and install the latest version from the Microsoft website (https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/downloads/).

Reinstallation as a Last Resort:

If none of these solutions work, consider reinstalling Valheim as a last resort. This will ensure a fresh installation with no corrupted files. Remember to back up your saves before reinstalling.

By systematically working through these steps, you should be able to eliminate the black screen and launch Valheim successfully. If the issue persists after trying these solutions, searching online forums or contacting Valheim's support might be necessary.

This is everything there is to know about How to fix black screen on startup in Valheim, we hope you can address the problem and fix it quickly.