Stuck on Black Screen in Skyrim? Try These Solutions

Skyrim might start with a black screen right after launching or after the Bethesda logo, even though you can still hear game sounds. This means the game is running, but it’s not showing the picture. The most common cause is using old or conflicting ENB and ReShade presets, especially if you use mods.

 Other reasons include problems with your screen settings, switching between windows (alt-tabbing), or using the wrong screen resolution. Sometimes, settings in SkyrimPrefs.ini or other programs like MSI Afterburner can also cause this problem.

In this article, we will discuss how to solve this error.

1. Disable Mods

Mods are commonly used to add scripts or change the game in some way, but they can sometimes cause problems—especially if they’re outdated or incompatible with your current game version. Disabling your mods puts the game back to its original state, which can sometimes fix the black screen issue.

1. Open your Mod Manager (such as Mod Organizer or Nexus Mod Manager).
2. Look through the list of installed mods. Untick all mods or use the Disable option to turn them off.
   
3. If your mod manager lets you restore the original game files, use that option.

2. Use Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE)

Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE) creates a more stable environment for Skyrim when you have mods installed. SKSE is especially useful for running complex mods that need extra scripting power. Launching the game through SKSE can help bypass black screen issues caused by certain mods, particularly those that depend on SKSE to work.

1. Go to the official SKSE website.
2. Download the correct version of SKSE for your Skyrim game (Special Edition or Anniversary Edition).
   
3. If you haven’t updated Skyrim through Steam, make sure to check your game’s version first, so you get the right SKSE version. To do this, right-click Skyrim in Steam, hover over Manage, and click Browse Local Files. This opens the game folder.
   
4. Right-click on the Skyrim executable (the main program file), then select Properties.
   
5. Go to the Details tab and check the version number next to Product version.
   
6. Return to the official SKSE website and select Archived Builds to download the proper SKSE version for your game.
7. Once downloaded, use WinRAR or 7zip to extract the SKSE folder.
   
8. Copy all extracted files and go to your Skyrim installation directory.
9. Paste the files into the Skyrim folder.
10. Start Skyrim by double-clicking sks64_loader.exe.
11. Check if the black screen problem is fixed.

3. Configure Compatibility Settings for Skyrim

There are several compatibility settings you can use in Windows to help older programs and games run better. For Skyrim, running the game in compatibility mode for an earlier version of Windows can sometimes solve black screen problems or launch issues. This works by making Windows “trick” the game into thinking it’s running on an older system, for which it was originally designed.

1. Navigate to the folder where Skyrim is installed.
2. Right-click the Skyrim executable and choose Properties.
   
3. Go to the Compatibility tab. Tick Run this program in compatibility mode for and select Windows 8.
4. Click Apply and OK.
   
5. Try launching Skyrim to see if it starts without a black screen.

4. Update the Graphics Driver

Your computer might be using an outdated graphics driver that does not fully support the latest version of Skyrim, which can lead to a black screen. GPU drivers are regularly updated to improve game performance, fix bugs, and support new titles. It’s always a good idea to check for new driver updates, especially if you’re having problems.

1. Open your GPU software, such as AMD Software or Geforce Experience.
2. Go to the Drivers section and click Check for updates.
   
3. If a new driver is available, download and install it by following the on-screen instructions.
4. Once the update is finished, check if the black screen problem has been fixed.