Xbox Series X Black Screen

Xbox Series X Black Screen

Evan Gattuso and 1 contributor
Last updated on

If your Xbox Series X turns on but your TV or monitor displays no signal, the solutions below will help you address a black screen, no signal, or a corrupted image. If your Xbox Series X will not power on, see the Xbox Series X Won't Turn On wiki instead.

Causes

1

Before troubleshooting any issues, ensure the TV or monitor you are using is powered on and working correctly. If you have a smart TV, ensure you have installed the newest software.

  • Turn the TV or Monitor off and then on.
  • Connect a different console or DVD player to the TV to ensure the TV works.
  • If another device shows a working image with no issues, the problem likely comes from the Xbox Series X, possibly from its HDMI connection.
  • If you can't get any device to show an image on the TV or monitor, try plugging the Xbox’s HDMI cable into another TV or monitor.
2

If your TV or monitor turns on and displays other devices, it is possible the HDMI cord that connects the Xbox Series X to the TV is damaged or improperly connected. The HDMI port the console is plugged into might be broken.

  1. Check the Xbox HDMI cord for damage. If you can't see any visible damage, try a new HDMI cord and plug it into the Xbox and TV.
  2. Plug the HDMI cord into a different port on your TV if there's more than one. If another device shows up on the TV using a different HMDI port, connect the Xbox HDMI cord to that port. Be sure to adjust the input settings to ensure that your screen is set to display the proper port's input.

Note: Ensure your HDMI input on your TV or Monitor is set up to use version 2.0 or 2.1. The HDMI that comes with the Xbox Series X is HDMI 2.1 compliant. HDMI 2.1 allows the Xbox Series X to support higher frame rates than the Xbox One.

3

If you've tried different TVs and HDMI cords and ports, the Xbox console is likely the source of the problem. If your Xbox turns on, but your TV or monitor is black or not showing the Xbox user interface, force shut down the console.

  1. Turn on the Xbox console.
  2. Press and hold the power button.
  3. Once you hear two beeps, let go of the power button.
  4. Wait for 20 minutes while the Xbox cools down.
  5. Turn on the Xbox.

If performing a force shutdown did not fix the issue, complete a power cycle.

  1. Press and hold the console's power button until the white light stops flashing.
  2. Remove the power cable.
  3. Wait at least 20 minutes while the power drains.
  4. Reconnect the power cable and turn on your Xbox.

If the force shutdown and power cycle did not get the image back on your TV screen, you will need to attempt the solutions below.

4

If you can see enough of your screen to change the video settings:

  • Configure the Xbox’s graphic setting for anything BUT 4K@120Hz with VRR.
    • Open Settings > General > TV & Display Options > Video Modes and then change the resolution.

If you can't see enough of your screen to change the video settings you must boot the console in safe mode:

  1. Eject any discs in the console.
  2. Press the power button for 10 seconds.
  3. Press and hold the power and eject buttons until you hear two beeps (make sure to hold the buttons until the second beep- 10 seconds after the first).
  4. Now with the console in low-resolution mode, select Settings > General > TV & Display Options > Video Modes and then change the resolution to match your TV.

If the problem continues:

  • Turn off the variable refresh rate on your TV.

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