Nothing is more terrifying than a black screen on a Chromebook. Is it broken? Don’t worry; before we try to fix your computer, let’s go over some troubleshooting tips. There could be a straightforward solution.
Why Is My Chromebook Screen Black?
On a Chromebook, you might encounter the following problems:
- Chromebook won’t turn on or charge
- Chromebook black screen of death
- Chromebook black screen after login
- Chromebook screen goes black randomly
- Chromebook stuck on black Chrome screen
Cause 1: Battery Issues
The first thing you should consider is whether or not your Chromebook’s battery is running low. A Chromebook, like a laptop, is powered primarily by its battery. If the battery is not working properly, your Chromebook will not turn on.
Cause 2: Insufficient Screen Brightness
There’s a chance that the brightness of your Chromebook screen has been set so low that you can’t see anything on the screen. In this case, your Chromebook is operational, but you can’t see anything.
Cause 3: USB Device Problems
If you plug in one or more faulty USB devices (USB flash drives or USB disks), you may experience various issues, including a black screen.
Cause 4: A Hot Computer
If no lights illuminate when you press the power button, you can use your hands to touch the Chromebook’s bottom. If it’s extremely hot, you’ll notice that your Chromebook’s screen has gone black due to overheating. Overheating can be caused by various factors, including being overworked, constantly plugging in chargers, not being in a well-ventilated area, and so on.
Cause 5: Cracked Chromebook Screen
Sometimes the black screen is caused by physical damage to the screen, rendering you unable to see anything on your Chromebook.
Cause 6: Hardware Failure
Please restart your Chromebook and inspect the lights.
- If the lights come on when you press the Power button, but cannot access Chrome OS, your hard drive may be damaged/broken. You should try reinstalling the system or replacing the hard drive with a new one.
- If no lights come on when you press the Power button, please connect the charger to your Chromebook. This may also fail if your motherboard is damaged. If your device is still under warranty, you should send it to the manufacturer for a replacement.
Cause 7: Chrome OS is out of date or damaged
When attempting to start your Chromebook, you may receive a message stating that Chrome OS is missing or damaged. This indicates that your system is corrupted.
How to Troubleshoot Chromebook Issues
#1. Check to See if the Chromebook Is Turned On
Although it may appear to be a silly suggestion, a Chromebook black screen can appear when the device is turned off or asleep. Perhaps you walked away for a longer period than expected, and your settings turned off the device relatively quickly. Or perhaps your computer restarted due to a strange bug. Press the physical power button to see if the device comes back to life.
#2. Check Your Charger
You should also check the charger if your computer has a black screen. Try another fast charger and charge your device with it. Check to see if your Chromebook’s charging status light illuminates when you plug it in. If the charger is to blame, your only option is to replace it. If you need help finding the best Chromebook chargers, we have a guide for you.
#3. Increase Brightness
Turning the brightness all the way down can result in a black screen on a Chromebook. This occurs frequently by chance. If your Chromebook displays a black screen, simply press the larger sun key in the top row of the keyboard to increase the brightness.
#4. Check that the Chromebook Isn’t Overheating
Heat is a common foe of all technological devices, including Chromebooks. An overheated device frequently causes a Chromebook black screen. This is because the system will shut down automatically to protect itself.
However, because Chromebooks use a lightweight operating system, it is extremely difficult to overheat them. If this occurs, it is most likely due to fast charging or external factors such as using the Chromebook in a hot environment. Move it to a cooler room, stay in the shade, or keep it in an area with adequate airflow. Wait until it reaches more normal temperatures before attempting to turn it on. If this is a common problem, you should also consider purchasing one of the best laptop coolers.
#5. Reboot the Chromebook
Oh, the humble restart. It appears to shift all gears and resolve most technical issues. You could try restarting the device to see if the Chromebook black screen issue is resolved. You can’t shut down with software because the display is blacked out. You’ll need to perform a hard reset.
To perform a hard reset, press the physical back, refresh, and power buttons simultaneously.
#6. Check your Chromebook for Updates
Performance enhancements and bug fixes are frequently included in software updates. The latter could be the source of the black screen of death.
#7. Reset all Chrome Flags
Chrome Flags can enhance your experience, but they are also notorious for being buggy and unstable. You might want to reset your Chromebook if you’re constantly getting black screens on your Chromebook.
Resetting Chrome Flags:
- Open Chrome.
- In the Omnibox, enter “chrome://flags” without the quotation marks.
- Enter your password.
- Select Reset All.
- When the Restart button appears, click it.
#8. Remove any External USB Devices
External device issues on your Chromebook can disrupt the startup process and cause other performance issues. If you have a corrupt SD card plugged into your Chromebook, the screen may go blank–especially if your Chromebook is in Developer Mode.
Unplug/disconnect all external devices or accessories (mouse, USB sticks, keyboard, SD card, and so on) and power off your Chromebook. Wait 1-2 minutes before turning it back on.
#9. Allow the Battery to Discharge
This problem can also be resolved by removing the battery from your Chromebook. Keep the device turned on (with the black screen) until the battery dies. After that, charge the Chromebook for at least 30 minutes and check to see if it has progressed past the black screen.
#10. Charge Your Chromebook Correctly
If your Chromebook’s battery is dead or too low to boot ChromeOS, it may become stuck on a black screen. Connect your Chromebook’s AC adapter to a wall outlet and ensure the other end is plugged correctly into your Chromebook’s charging port.
Another thing to check is that the power outlet/socket is turned on. If your Chromebook has a charging indicator light, ensure it comes on when you plug in the charger. Charge the Chromebook for at least 30 minutes before using it.
Check that you’re using the charger that came with your Chromebook when it was new. Chargers that are counterfeit or fake may not charge your Chromebook. Worse, they may damage your Chromebook’s battery, charging port, and other hardware components.
Consult your device’s user guide/manual or the manufacturer’s website for charging instructions and requirements.
#11. Experiment with a Different Charger
If you use a broken or faulty charger, your Chromebook’s battery may fail to charge. Try charging your Chromebook with a different charger to see if your charging accessories work properly.
However, first, ensure that the charger is compatible with your device. Check the power and voltage ratings to ensure they match the charging specifications specified by the manufacturer. As previously stated, using counterfeit, substandard, or incompatible charging accessories can cause damage to your Chromebook.
If the charger(s) charge other devices but not your Chromebook, there’s a problem with the charging port, hard disk, or motherboard. In that case, performing a hardware reset may be beneficial.
#12. Examine the Battery
If your Chromebook displays a black screen, it could be due to a battery issue. Remove and reconnect the removable battery from your Chromebook, ensuring the connection between the battery and the internal contacts is secure.
Is it impossible to remove the battery without disassembling the Chromebook? Unplug the power cord and let the battery completely drain. After it has run out of power, reconnect the power cord and wait at least 30 minutes to see if your Chromebook lights up again.
#13. Reset the Hardware on Your Chromebook
Problems with your Chromebook’s hardware can cause it to freeze on the “black screen of death.” Fortunately, Google offers a way to refresh hardware components that have frozen or malfunctioned. The procedure is known as a “Hard Reset.”
Google recommends a hardware reset as a last resort when troubleshooting Chromebook issues. This is because the process may delete some files in your Chromebook’s “Download” folder. Here’s how to go about it:
- Turn off your Chromebook and wait a minute for it to shut down completely.
- Hold down the Refresh key while tapping the Power button.
- Hold down the Refresh button until Chrome OS boots up. Press and hold the Refresh button when your Chromebook’s screen or keyboard lights up.
- Press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons for at least 10 seconds if your Chromebook is a tablet or 2-in-1 device with a detachable keyboard.
Other methods for hard resetting a Chromebook’s hardware vary depending on your device’s brand. Some Chromebooks have a unique (reset) button that you can use to reset your device’s hardware. You must insert a paperclip into a designated reset hole on some devices and press the Power button.
Removing and reinserting the battery on some Chromebooks with removable batteries will reset the device. To restart a non-battery-powered Chromebook, unplug and reconnect its power cable before turning it on.
#14. Seek Professional Assistance
Have you tried everything and the Chromebook’s black screen persists? Perhaps it’s time to consider the possibility that this is a more serious problem, such as a hardware malfunction.
If you have access to your computer, try sending feedback to Google by pressing Alt + Shift + I. Explain your issue and click Continue. Fill in the remaining fields and click Send.
You can also contact the manufacturer if your Chromebook is still under warranty. Otherwise, you can file a claim if you purchased insurance for it and it is still covered. Finally, you might want to contact a repair shop.
How do you force a Chromebook to Restart?
Follow the steps below to force a restart on your Chromebook.
- Begin by shutting down your Chromebook.
- Tap and hold the Refresh and Power buttons at the same time.
- Once finished, press and hold the Refresh button.
What should I do if my Chromebook screen is unresponsive?
Any of the previously mentioned fixes will help you fix an unresponsive Chromebook screen. You can either restart your Chromebook or perform a hard reset. You can also check your Chromebook’s battery status or cool it down.
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