Google Chrome shows a black screen in Windows


Symptoms

Google Chrome shows a black screen when opening any website.

Chrome window showing new tab with blank page.

Cause

Unknown

Resolution

Resolution A: Disable hardware acceleration

  1. Create a Chrome shortcut on your Desktop (if you don't already have one).

  2. Right-click the shortcut and choose Properties.

    Right-click menu on Google Chrome icon with “Properties” highlighted.

  3. Click the Shortcut tab.

    Google Chrome Properties window with “Shortcut” tab selected.

  4. Under the "Target" section, add the following text:

     -disable-gpu

    NOTE: Be sure to add the space at the beginning of the text, just before the hyphen.

    Shortcut tab showing “Target” field edited to include “--disable-gpu”.

  5. Click Apply, and then click OK.

    Properties window with “Apply” button highlighted.

  6. Open Chrome and click the "More" icon in the top right-hand corner (vertical ellipsis button).

    Chrome window with Google homepage and menu icon highlighted.

  7. Click Settings.

    Chrome menu with “Settings” highlighted.

  8. Scroll the the bottom of the page and click Advanced.

    Chrome Settings page with “Advanced” option highlighted.

  9. Under the "System" section, find Use hardware acceleration when available and click the toggle to disable it.

    Chrome Settings under System showing “Use hardware acceleration when available” toggle and “Relaunch” button highlighted.

  10. Exit all Chrome browsers and open a new browser. If Resolution A does not work, move on to Resolution B.

Resolution B: Disable plug-ins

  1. Open Chrome, and click the "More" icon in the top right-hand corner (vertical ellipsis button).

    Chrome window with Google homepage and menu icon highlighted again.

  2. Point to More tools, and then click Extensions.

    Chrome menu open with “More tools” and “Extensions” highlighted.

  3. Disable all extensions by clicking the toggle beside each one.

    Chrome Extensions page showing installed extensions with toggle switches and “Remove” buttons highlighted.

  4. Exit all Chrome browsers and open a new browser.

Outcome

You are able to use Chrome normally.