It seems so simple, but sometimes the laptop screen just won’t turn on. You press the power button, you hear the fans whir, but the display stays stubbornly black. Before you worry about a major hardware problem, it’s a good idea to run through a few simple checks. Often, the solution is much easier than you might think.
This guide will walk you through the most common reasons a laptop screen stays dark and how to get your display glowing again. We’ll start with the simplest fixes and move towards more specific solutions.
Check the Power Basics First
Let’s begin with the most common oversight. Your laptop might be in Sleep or Hibernate mode. Press any key on the keyboard or tap the touchpad to wake it up. If that doesn’t work, try pressing the physical power button briefly—a quick press is often all that’s needed to wake it from sleep.
If the laptop was completely shut down, press and hold the power button for a full second or two to turn it on. Listen for sounds like the fan or a hard drive spinning to confirm it’s receiving power.
Is It Just a Dim Screen?
It’s surprisingly easy to accidentally lower the screen brightness to zero, making it look completely black. Locate the brightness function keys on your keyboard—they usually have a sun icon and are often the F5 and F6 keys. Press the Fn key and the key that increases brightness (the sun with a plus sign) at the same time. Try this a few times to see if the screen gradually lights up.
The External Monitor Mix-Up
If you’ve ever connected your laptop to a monitor or projector, it might still be set to display on that external screen only. To switch it back, press the Fn key and the function key that has a monitor symbol on it (commonly F4, F5, or F8). Tapping this combination cycles through the display options: laptop screen only, duplicate, extend, or second screen only. Keep pressing until your main screen reactivates.
When a Simple Restart Solves Everything
Sometimes, the software that controls the display just needs a fresh start. If the screen remains off, hold down the power button for about 10-15 seconds until the laptop forcibly shuts down. Wait a few moments, then press the power button again to restart it. This clears temporary glitches and is a very effective first step for many tech issues.
What to Try If the Screen is Truly Broken
If you’ve tried all the steps above and the screen is still black, but the laptop sounds like it’s on, you can test the display. Shine a flashlight at an angle on the black screen. If you can see a very faint image of your desktop or login screen, the laptop’s backlight has likely failed and will need repair.
As a final check, plug your laptop into an external monitor or TV using an HDMI cable. If the external display works, it confirms your laptop is functioning, but the built-in screen or its connecting cable has a problem.
In most cases, one of these simple checks will get your screen working again. Starting with the power and brightness settings saves time and frustration, getting you back to your work or entertainment quickly.
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