


How to fix a black screen with a cursor after logging into Windows
Jul 30, 2025 am 02:36 AMRestart Windows Explorer via Task Manager by opening it with Ctrl Shift Esc, running a new task for explorer.exe, and restoring the desktop; if the issue persists, proceed to further steps. 2. Boot into Safe Mode by holding Shift while clicking Restart on the login screen, then selecting Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart and pressing F4 to enable Safe Mode, where you can check if the desktop loads normally. 3. In Safe Mode, open Task Manager, go to the Startup tab, disable all third-party startup programs, restart normally, and re-enable them one by one to identify the problematic app. 4. Update or roll back graphics drivers through Device Manager in Safe Mode by expanding Display adapters, right-clicking the GPU, choosing Update driver or Roll back driver, or downloading the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website. 5. Run System File Checker and DISM in Safe Mode by opening Command Prompt as Administrator and executing sfc /scannow followed by DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to repair corrupted system files. 6. Create a new user profile by opening Command Prompt as Admin in Safe Mode, running net user NewUser /add and net localgroup administrators NewUser /add, then logging in with the new account to check if the desktop appears, indicating a corrupted original profile. 7. Undo recent changes such as Windows updates or software installations by uninstalling recent updates via Settings or using System Restore from a restore point prior to the issue. The black screen with cursor problem is typically caused by explorer.exe crashes, faulty GPU drivers, conflicting startup apps, or corrupted user profiles and system files, and can usually be resolved without data loss by following these steps in order, starting with restarting explorer.exe and progressing to deeper troubleshooting in Safe Mode, ultimately restoring normal desktop access.
A black screen with only a cursor visible after logging into Windows is a frustrating but common issue. It usually happens during the login process and prevents you from accessing your desktop. The good news is that it’s often fixable without losing your data. Here’s how to troubleshoot and resolve it.

1. Restart Windows Explorer via Task Manager
The most common cause is a crash or hang in Windows Explorer (explorer.exe), which is responsible for the desktop, taskbar, and file management.
Steps:

- Press
Ctrl Shift Esc
to open Task Manager (orCtrl Alt Delete
→ Task Manager). - If Task Manager opens, go to File > Run new task.
- Type
explorer.exe
and press Enter. - The desktop and taskbar should reappear.
If this works, the issue is temporary. However, if it keeps happening, continue troubleshooting.
2. Boot into Safe Mode to Diagnose the Issue
Safe Mode loads Windows with minimal drivers and services, helping you determine if third-party software is causing the problem.

How to enter Safe Mode:
- Restart your computer.
- On the login screen, hold
Shift
while clicking Power → Restart. - After reboot, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- Press
F4
or4
to enable Safe Mode.
Once in Safe Mode:
- Check if the desktop loads normally.
- If yes, the issue is likely caused by a startup program, driver, or recent update.
3. Check for Problematic Startup Programs
A corrupted or misbehaving app launching at startup can cause the black screen.
In Safe Mode:
- Press
Ctrl Shift Esc
to open Task Manager. - Go to the Startup tab.
- Disable all startup items (especially third-party apps like antivirus, GPU utilities, or shell extensions).
- Restart normally and see if the desktop loads.
If it works, re-enable startup items one by one to identify the culprit.
4. Update or Roll Back Graphics Drivers
Outdated, corrupt, or incompatible graphics drivers are a frequent cause.
In Safe Mode:
- Press
Win X
→ Device Manager. - Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click your GPU → Update driver → Search automatically.
- If already updated, try Roll back driver (if available).
- Alternatively, visit your GPU manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and download the latest driver.
After updating, restart in normal mode.
5. Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM
Corrupted system files can cause the shell (explorer.exe) to fail.
In Safe Mode:
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
- Press
Win X
→ Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
- Press
- Run this command:
sfc /scannow
- After it finishes, run:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Restart your PC.
These tools repair missing or corrupted Windows system files.
6. Create a New User Profile
Sometimes, the issue is tied to a corrupted user profile.
Steps:
- In Safe Mode, open Command Prompt as Admin.
- Run:
net user NewUser /add
- Then:
net localgroup administrators NewUser /add
- Restart and log in with the new account.
- If the desktop loads fine, your original profile is damaged.
You can then migrate your files to the new account.
7. Undo Recent Changes or Updates
If the problem started after:
- A Windows update
- Installing new software
- Changing display settings
Try:
-
Uninstalling recent updates:
Settings → Update & Security → View update history → Uninstall updates. -
System Restore:
Use a restore point from before the issue began (if enabled).
Summary
Most black screen with cursor issues stem from:
- Explorer.exe crashes
- Faulty drivers (especially GPU)
- Conflicting startup apps
- Corrupted user profiles or system files
Start with restarting explorer.exe
, then move to Safe Mode for deeper fixes. Updating drivers and scanning for system corruption often resolves the issue.
Basically, it’s not usually serious — just annoying. With a bit of patience, you can get your desktop back without a full reset.
The above is the detailed content of How to fix a black screen with a cursor after logging into Windows. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

Hot AI Tools

Undress AI Tool
Undress images for free

Undresser.AI Undress
AI-powered app for creating realistic nude photos

AI Clothes Remover
Online AI tool for removing clothes from photos.

Clothoff.io
AI clothes remover

Video Face Swap
Swap faces in any video effortlessly with our completely free AI face swap tool!

Hot Article

Hot Tools

Notepad++7.3.1
Easy-to-use and free code editor

SublimeText3 Chinese version
Chinese version, very easy to use

Zend Studio 13.0.1
Powerful PHP integrated development environment

Dreamweaver CS6
Visual web development tools

SublimeText3 Mac version
God-level code editing software (SublimeText3)

Hot Topics

If you encounter black screen issues after changing the refresh rate on Windows 11/10 PC, this article will help you. We will share some effective troubleshooting steps to help you resolve this issue. By default, desktop monitors have a refresh rate of 60 Hz. You can increase the refresh rate for better game or app performance, but going beyond what your monitor supports can cause display issues or screen flickering. Windows itself limits setting refresh rates that your monitor doesn't support, but third-party apps may bypass this limit. If the system's graphics settings are adjusted, the screen may go black after startup and the desktop environment cannot be entered. This article will guide you on how to handle accidentally changing your monitor's refresh rate to an unsupported one. Why is my screen

Although VLC is an established player, it is constantly updated and improved to maintain its relevance. Some users may experience issues such as sound, lag, and black screen when streaming VLC, which is what we will focus on in this article. Therefore, if you also encounter missing sound, lag or black screen when playing VLC, this article will provide you with a solution. How to stream VLC on Discord? Configuring VLC streaming is not complicated, but special problems can still arise. Before trying to solve these problems, make sure you fully understand the potential solutions mentioned below. Follow the steps mentioned below to configure VLC on the inconsistency. First, download and install the Discorde client on your computer, as the web version does not support streaming. Open VLC media

1. Press the win key + r key, enter regedit, and click OK. 2. In the opened registry editor window, expand: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlGraphicsDriversDCI, select Timeout on the right and double-click. 3. Then change 7 in [Numeric Data] to 0, and confirm to exit.

When we use the win11 system, we will encounter a situation where only the mouse can move when the computer is turned on, and the computer has a black screen. So what is going on when the win11 computer screen is black but the mouse can move? For details, users can use the ctrl+alt+del shortcut keys to open the task manager to set up. If it still doesn’t work, they can directly reinstall the system. Let this site introduce to users in detail the win11 computer screen black screen. The solution is to make the mouse move. Solution to the problem that the win11 computer screen is black but the mouse can move. Solution 1: 1. Use the ctrl+alt+del shortcut key combination and click to open the task manager. 4. Find the uninstaller and click to view installed updates. Solution 2: 1. If

Bios setting is a very important function in the computer. If the user finds that he cannot enter the BIOS setting page and the computer has a black screen, then the editor strongly recommends that you read this article. What to do if win11 enters BIOS black screen 1. First, check whether the monitor is fully functional and operating normally. Please confirm whether the monitor's power cord is firmly connected. 2. In addition, you need to carefully check the power switch of the monitor to see if it can start up and shut down normally. 3. Also make sure that the monitor's interface is fastened and not loose, and that the monitor's settings should also remain correct in their default state. 4. If the above steps prove that the monitor is running well, then we can start troubleshooting other problems! 5. It is recommended to scan and

Win11 will turn on sleep by default, and it will automatically enter if you don't touch the computer for a period of time. As a result, some friends found that win11 sleep cannot wake up and the screen is black. This may be because the device has not been awakened, and sleep can also be canceled directly. Solution to the black screen that cannot be woken up from sleep in win11. Method 1: Force restart with the power button 1. First use the power button to force restart the computer, and then enter the win11 system. . 2. Right-click on the start menu door to open the options page of "Device Manager". 3. Then, double-click to open the keyboard or mouse device options. 4. After entering the device, click "Power Management" and check the "Allow this device to wake the computer" option. 5. Click OK to save the operation just now, and then use the selected settings.

Many of our users' computers use NVIDIA graphics cards, so they need to install the NVIDIA graphics card driver. However, some users will enter a black screen as soon as they install the graphics card driver, causing the need to restart. After multiple attempts, the installation fails. So what is the solution to this problem? What's the solution? Today, the editor of the software tutorial will share effective solutions for the majority of users. Next, let us learn about the detailed steps. Solution to black screen when installing NVIDIA graphics card driver: 1. First, right-click [This PC] on the desktop and select [Manage] to enter it. 2. After entering the [Computer Management Page], click [Device Manager], click to expand [Display Adapter] according to the picture on the right side of the current page, and click [Video Card Driver]

The win10 system is an excellent system with very high performance! It is very easy to run various large-scale games in win10 system! But recently, many friends have reported that a sudden black screen problem occurred when using the win10 system to play lol games! Today, the editor will bring you the solution to the occasional black screen when playing LoL in Windows 10. If you need it, come and take a look. Solution to the black screen when playing lol in win10: Method 1: 1. Create a new text file, copy and paste the following content into the file: mdC: Documentsregadd "HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVers
