How to Fix RimWorld Black Screen at Startup

Welcome to this step-by-step guide on fixing the black screen issue in RimWorld at startup. If you're encountering this frustrating problem, we've got you covered. Follow these friendly instructions to get your game up and running smoothly again.

Delete the game's folder from appdata

If you are experiencing a black screen issue when launching RimWorld, the first solution you can try is deleting the game's folder from the AppData directory. Here's how:

Step 1: Open File Explorer and navigate to the AppData folder. You can do this by typing "%appdata%" (without quotes) in the search bar and pressing Enter.

Step 2: Locate the RimWorld folder and delete it. This folder may contain configuration files or other data that could be causing the black screen issue.

Verify game files

If deleting the RimWorld folder didn't resolve the black screen problem, the next step is to verify the game files through Steam. Here's how:

Step 1: Open Steam and go to your Library.

Step 2: Right-click on RimWorld and select Properties from the context menu.

Step 3: Go to the Local Files tab and click on "Verify integrity of game files." Steam will then verify the integrity of the game files and download any missing or corrupted files.

Re-subscribe to mods

Mods can sometimes interfere with the game's startup process and cause a black screen issue. To fix this, you can try re-subscribing to your mods. Here's how:

Step 1: Launch RimWorld and navigate to the Mods menu.

Step 2: Uncheck all mods, then close and reopen the game.

Step 3: Go back to the Mods menu and re-subscribe to your desired mods. This ensures that you have the latest versions of the mods and that they are properly installed.

Run the game as an administrator

Running RimWorld as an administrator can sometimes resolve compatibility issues and fix the black screen problem. Here's how:

Step 1: Right-click on RimWorld's desktop shortcut or executable file.

Step 2: Select "Run as administrator" from the context menu. This will give the game elevated privileges and may help bypass any restrictions causing the black screen issue.

Close overlay apps and disable Steam overlay

Overlay applications, such as Discord or Nvidia GeForce Experience, can sometimes conflict with RimWorld and cause the black screen problem. Additionally, the Steam overlay itself can also cause issues. To resolve this, you can try closing overlay apps and disabling the Steam overlay. Here's how:

Step 1: Close any overlay applications running in the background. You can do this by right-clicking on their icons in the system tray and selecting "Exit" or similar options.

Step 2: Disable Steam overlay by going into Steam settings > In-Game and unchecking the "Enable Steam Overlay while in-game" option.

Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime

Issues with the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime can sometimes cause the black screen problem in RimWorld. To fix this, you can try reinstalling the runtime. Here's how:

Step 1: Open Control Panel and navigate to Programs > Uninstall a program.

Step 2: Locate Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime in the list of installed programs, right-click on it, and select Uninstall.

Step 3: Visit the official Microsoft website and download the latest version of Visual C++ Runtime.

Step 4: Install the downloaded file and restart your computer. This will ensure that you have the most up-to-date version of the runtime.

Update DirectX

An outdated version of DirectX can sometimes cause compatibility issues and lead to the black screen problem. To resolve this, you can update DirectX to the latest version. Here's how:

Step 1: Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Type "dxdiag" (without quotes) and press Enter to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

Step 3: Go to the System tab and check the DirectX version. If you have an outdated version, visit the official Microsoft website to download and install the latest DirectX update.

Disable full-screen optimizations

Windows 10's full-screen optimizations can sometimes cause problems with certain games, including RimWorld. To fix this, you can disable full-screen optimizations for RimWorld. Here's how:

Step 1: Right-click on RimWorld's desktop shortcut or executable file.

Step 2: Select Properties from the context menu.

Step 3: Go to the Compatibility tab and check the "Disable fullscreen optimizations" option.

Reinstall Graphics Driver

If the black screen problem persists, it's worth considering reinstalling your graphics driver. Here's how:

Step 1: Press Win + X and select Device Manager from the menu.

Step 2: Expand the Display adapters section, right-click on your graphics card, and choose Uninstall device.

Step 3: Restart your computer, and Windows will automatically reinstall the graphics driver. This can help resolve any driver-related issues that may be causing the black screen problem.

Reinstall RimWorld (including mods)

If all else fails, you can try reinstalling RimWorld. Here's how:

Step 1: Uninstall RimWorld through Steam by right-clicking on it in your Library > Manage > Uninstall.

Step 2: Delete any remaining RimWorld files or folders manually if needed. Make sure to backup your saves if necessary.

Step 3: Reinstall RimWorld through Steam, then re-subscribe to your desired mods. This ensures that you have a clean installation of the game and the mods are properly installed.

By following these step-by-step instructions, you should be able to fix the black screen issue at startup in RimWorld. Remember to approach each step carefully and contact game support if you encounter any further difficulties. Get back to enjoying your RimWorld adventures hassle-free!