(Top 8 Ways) How to Resolve the Windows 10 Black Screen with Cursor Issue

Occasionally, you might be able to successfully boot your computer and reach the Windows 10 login screen, but you might also encounter the "Windows 10 black screen with cursor" issue. Many Windows 10 users face this problem when their PC is stuck on a black screen displaying only the cursor. This issue can be frustrating and hinder your ability to use your laptop or computer. However, there are several solutions you can employ to fix the Windows 10 blank screen with only the cursor before logging in.

How to Resolve the Black Screen with Cursor Issue in Windows 10

There are multiple approaches to resolve the black screen with cursor issue in Windows 10. You can attempt any of the following methods to see if they assist in fixing the problem:

1. Solution 1: Update your Graphics Card Drivers
2. Solution 2: Disable Fast Startup
3. Solution 3: Update BIOS
4. Solution 4: Create a New User Account
5. Solution 5: Restore Windows 10 to an Earlier Point
6. Solution 6: Run Startup/Automatic Repair
7. Solution 7: Run SFC and DISM Scans
8. Solution 8: Reset your PC

Solution 1: Update your Graphics Card Drivers

If the graphics card drivers on your computer are outdated or incorrect, you can try uninstalling or updating them to resolve the issue of a black screen with a cursor in Windows 10. Here are the detailed steps: 1. **Boot into Safe Mode:** - Restart your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly during startup to enter the Advanced Boot Options menu. - Select "Safe Mode with Networking" from the list. 2. **Open Device Manager:** - Press the Windows key + X, then choose "Device Manager" from the context menu. 3. **Locate the Graphics Card:** - In the Device Manager window, expand the "Display adapters" category. - Identify your graphics card driver (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel). 4. **Uninstall the Driver:** - Right-click on your graphics card driver and select "Uninstall device." - Check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device" (if available). - Click "Uninstall" and confirm any prompts. 5. **Reboot and Install Latest Drivers:** - After uninstalling, restart your computer normally. - Windows will attempt to reinstall the basic display driver. - Visit the manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest graphics card driver suitable for your system. - Follow the on-screen instructions to install the new driver. 6. **Verify the Changes:** - Once the installation is complete, restart your computer again. - Check if the black screen issue has been resolved. If the problem persists, you might want to consider performing a System Restore to a point before the issue occurred or seeking further assistance from Microsoft Support or the graphics card manufacturer's technical support.

Step 1. Type "Device Manager" in the Windows search bar and open it.

Step 2. Expand the Display adapter.

Step 3. Right-click on the graphics device and select Update driver.

Step 4. Select Search automatically for drivers.

Step 5. Windows will search for any available updates and download them.

Step 6. Once completed, check if the issue has been resolved.

Solution 2: Disable Fast Startup

Microsoft incorporated a feature called Fast Startup in Windows, which aims to reduce the time it takes for the operating system to boot from sleep mode or shut down. However, many users have reported compatibility issues during the initial startup of Windows due to this feature. Disabling Fast Startup might resolve the problem of a black screen with only a cursor appearing in Windows 10. Here's how you can disable it: 1. Press the "Windows key + X" on your keyboard to open the Quick Access menu. 2. Click on "Power Options" from the list. 3. In the Power Options window, click on "Choose what the power buttons do" on the left sidebar. 4. Click on "Change settings that are currently unavailable" at the top of the page if the options are grayed out. 5. Scroll down and find the section labeled "Shutdown settings." 6. Uncheck the box next to "Turn on fast start-up (recommended)." 7. Click "Save changes" to apply the new settings. After completing these steps, Fast Startup will be disabled, and you may notice an improvement in the behavior of your Windows 10 system during startup.

Step 1. Restart your PC in Safe Mode.

Step 2. Type "Control Panel" in the search box, and click on "Control Panel" in the drop-down menu.

Step 3. Select "Small icons" view and click on "Power Options."

Step 4. Click Choose what the power buttons do.

Step 5. Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.

Step 6. Deselect the option "Turn on fast startup (recommended)", then click on "Save changes" and close the window.

Solution 3: Update the BIOS

To resolve the issue of Windows 10 displaying a black screen with a cursor due to an excessively outdated BIOS, you need to perform a BIOS upgrade. This process is typically intended for advanced users. However, bear in mind that incorrect execution of the update can potentially cause permanent damage to your hardware.

Step 1. Press F6 to initiate Safe Mode with a network connection in the Windows recovery environment.

Step 2. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialogue, type "msinfo32" in the box, and then press Enter to launch the System Information utility.

Step 3. You can locate the BIOS Version in the System Information window. First, take note of the Date and Manufacturer. Then, using your web browser, search for and download the latest BIOS version from the manufacturer's website directly to your USB drive.

Step 4. Insert the USB flash drive containing the latest BIOS file into your PC. Your computer will restart and enter the BIOS. Then, locate the downloaded BIOS update file and run the update process.

Important: Do not disconnect the power or turn off your computer while the BIOS is updating, as this can damage your computer.

Solution 4: Add a New User Account

Windows 10 can also exhibit a black screen with a cursor due to a damaged user profile. To resolve this issue, you can replace the corrupted user profile folder with a functional one. Follow these steps: 1. Boot into Safe Mode: - Restart your computer and press the F8 key repeatedly during startup until you see the Advanced Boot Options menu. - Select "Safe Mode with Networking" and press Enter. 2. Log in with an administrator account: - If you're unable to log in to your corrupted user account, use another administrator account, or the built-in Administrator account (if enabled). 3. Open File Explorer: - Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer. 4. Locate the corrupted user profile folders: - In the left pane of File Explorer, navigate to `C:\Users`. - Identify the corrupted user profile folder by its name. It's usually the one you were unable to log in to. 5. Create a new user profile: - Click on "Start," then "Settings" (the gear icon). - Click on "Accounts," then "Family & other users." - Under "Other users," click on the "Add someone else to this PC" option. - Choose "I don't have this person's sign-in information," then "Add a user without a Microsoft account." - Create a new user with administrative privileges and give it a unique name. 6. Copy the contents of the corrupted profile: - Right-click on the corrupted user profile folder, select "Properties," and go to the "Security" tab. - Click "Advanced," then "Change" next to "Owner." Select the new user account you just created and check the "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" box. - Click "Apply" and "OK." You may need to provide admin permissions. - Back in the Properties window, switch to the "Security" tab, and click "Edit." - Add the new user account, grant full control, and apply the changes to all subfolders and files. 7. Replace the corrupted folder with the new profile: - Rename the corrupted user profile folder by adding ".old" at the end (e.g., "John Doe.old"). - Rename the new user profile folder to match the original corrupted folder name (e.g., "John Doe"). 8. Restart your computer normally: - Log out of the new user account and restart your computer. - Upon reboot, try logging in with the original user account name, and it should now use the newly created profile. If the problem persists, there might be other underlying issues, such as driver conflicts or hardware problems. In that case, further troubleshooting may be required.

Step 1. Restart your PC in Safe Mode.

Step 2. Log in with an active user account.

Step 3. Navigate to the folder located at:

C:\Users\{working-user-profile-name}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Caches

Step 4. Copy the Caches folder. Next, log in with the corrupted user account.

Step 5. Navigate to the following folder:

C:\Users\{broken-user-profile-name}\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Caches

Step 6. Replace the Cashes folder with the one from the working user file.

Fix 5: Restore Windows 10 to a Previous State If none of the above solutions work, you can try restoring your Windows 10 to a point before the issue started occurring. This method might help in case any recent updates or changes caused the problem. Here's how to do it: 1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. 2. Click on **Update & Security**. 3. In the left pane, select **Recovery**. 4. Under the **Reset this PC** section, click on **Get started** (This is just to expand the options; we're not resetting the PC). 5. Now, scroll down and click on **Go back to the previous version of Windows 10**. 6. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the restoration process. You'll be asked why you're going back and given the option to provide additional feedback. 7. Ensure that you have saved all your important files and data as this process may remove any new files or changes made after the restore point. 8. The system will then initiate the rollback process, which may take some time. Keep in mind that this option is only available if you've updated Windows 10 within the last 10 days. If this option isn't present, you'll need to use System Restore or perform a clean installation.

If none of the above solutions work, attempt to restore your system to a previous operating state. To do this:

Step 1. Type "restore" in the taskbar search box while in Safe Mode, then locate and click on "Create a restore point."

Step 2. Click on "System Restore..." in the "System Protection" tab within the "System Properties" window.

Step 3. In the System Restore window, click on the "Choose a different restore point" option. Select the restore point prior to when the issue occurred. After that, click "Next" and wait for the system restore process to complete.

Solution 6: Run Startup/Automatic Repair If your computer is experiencing issues during the startup process, you can try running the Startup Repair or Automatic Repair feature to diagnose and fix any corrupted system files that might be causing the problem. Here's how to do it: 1. Insert the Windows installation media (DVD or USB) into your computer. 2. Restart your PC and enter the Boot Menu. To access the Boot Menu, usually you need to press a specific key like F2, F10, F12, or Esc immediately after turning on your computer. Check your computer's documentation for the correct key. 3. Select your USB/DVD drive as the boot device. 4. The Windows Setup will load. Choose your language preferences and click "Next," then click "Repair your computer" in the bottom-left corner. 5. In the "Choose an option" screen, select "Troubleshoot." 6. Next, click on "Advanced options." 7. From the advanced options, choose "Startup Repair." 8. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair process. This may take some time. If Startup Repair doesn't resolve the issue, you can try other troubleshooting steps or seek further assistance.

You can also attempt to run the Automatic/Startup Repair in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to resolve the laptop black screen with cursor issue. Here's how to do it step by step: 1. **Boot into WinRE:** - Restart your laptop. - As it starts, press the appropriate key (usually F2, F10, F12, or ESC) to enter the Boot Menu or BIOS setup. - Look for an option like "Boot Options," " Troubleshoot," or "Advanced Boot" and select it. - Choose "Startup Settings" or "Advanced Startup," then click "Restart." 2. **Access the Startup Repair:** - Once your laptop restarts, you'll see a list of options. Select "Repair your computer" or "Troubleshoot." - In the Troubleshoot menu, choose "Advanced options." - From there, select "Startup Repair." 3. **Run the Repair Process:** - Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the Startup Repair. - Windows will now scan your system for any issues that might be causing the black screen with cursor problem. - If a solution is found, Windows will automatically apply it. 4. **Wait for Completion:** - Be patient as the process may take some time. - Once the repair is complete, your laptop will either restart normally or prompt you with further actions. 5. **If Unsuccessful:** - If the Startup Repair doesn't fix the issue, you may need to try other troubleshooting steps, such as Safe Mode, System Restore, or even a clean installation of Windows. Remember that these steps are general guidelines and might vary depending on your specific laptop model and version of Windows.

Step 1. Boot up your computer after inserting your Windows installation CD, DVD, or USB bootable device.

Step 2. Enter the BIOS.

Step 3. Choose the DVD or USB flash drive as the primary boot disk, and then start your Windows 11/10 computer from that device.

Step 4. To access WinRE, click on the "Repair your computer" option in the bottom-left corner.

Step 5. To continue, you must select Troubleshoot from the pop-up window.

Step 6. To proceed to the next page, select Advanced options.

Step 7. In the Advanced options window, select Startup Repair, and then wait for the process to complete.

Solution 7: Run SFC and DISM

If the issue persists, attempt to repair Windows images using the DISM and SFC commands. These commands are utilized to repair corrupted files, including system and DLL files. Follow the instructions below to execute these commands in the terminal, assuming you can launch the Task Manager.

Step 1. Type "cmd" in the search box, select it, and run it as an administrator.

Step 2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

Step 3. If the previous command doesn't resolve the issue, type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press Enter.

Step 4. Restart your PC.

Solution 8: Reset your PC

If none of the aforementioned solutions resolve the "PC black screen with mouse" issue, your last resort would be to reset Windows 10. However, this will completely reinstall Windows. It is highly advisable to create a backup of your Windows 10 PC before proceeding. Here's how to do it:

Step 1. Restart your PC in Safe Mode.

Step 2. Type "settings" in the search box, and then click on "Settings" in the menu.

Step 3. Click on Update & security.

Step 4. Click Recovery.

Step 5. In the "Reset this PC" window, click on "Get started." Then, follow the on-screen instructions to reset your PC.

Bonus Tip: How to Backup Windows 10 After Resolving the Issue

What should you do after fixing the annoying issue? It's highly recommended to back up your computer so that you can restore it if anything goes wrong. You can utilize Windows 10's built-in backup utilities to assist you in backing up your PC. However, you might sometimes encounter the issue of Windows 10 backup taking too long. In such cases, it's better to use professional backup software. One tool that can cater to your needs is Todo Backup Home.

Todo Backup Home is a professional backup and recovery solution. It enables you to automatically back up your files, system, disks, partitions, and applications. Moreover, it allows you to create various backup types, including full, incremental, and differential backups. It also assists in creating a hard drive image on Windows 10 and backing up an SSD to an image file. Lastly, it's noteworthy that it provides a secure zone and 250GB of free cloud storage to help protect your data and backups.

Here's how to back up your Windows 10 PC:

Step 1. Launch Todo Backup on your computer, and click Create Backup on the home screen. Then, hit the big question mark to select backup contents.

Step 2. To back up your Windows operating system, click "OS" to start the backup task.

Step 3. Your Windows operating system information and all system-related files and partitions will be selected automatically, so you don't need to make any manual selections here. Next, you'll need to choose a location to save the system image backup by clicking on the highlighted area.

Step 4. The backup location can be another local drive on your computer, an external hard drive, network, cloud, or NAS. Generally, we recommend using an external physical drive or cloud to store the system backup files.

Step 5. If you're interested, you can access customization settings such as enabling an automatic backup schedule for daily, weekly, monthly intervals, or upon specific events, as well as creating differential and incremental backups by clicking the Options button. Once you've set your preferences, click "Backup Now". The Windows system backup process will then commence. Upon completion, the finished backup task will be displayed on the left side in a card format.

Why Does Windows 10 Boot to a Black Screen with a Cursor?

When you update your Windows operating system, install Windows, or set up a multi-display setup with Windows, this issue might occur. It can also happen if you haven't updated your device drivers or have been using the computer. The problem is identified by a blank, empty screen displaying only a cursor. Consequently, you're unable to turn off your computer, log in, or utilize your PC.

Several underlying causes that can be blamed include the following.

• Corrupted graphics driver.
• Corrupted system files.
• Outdated BIOS.
• Corrupted Windows update.
• Multiple monitor connection issues.
• Screen display abnormality.

The Final Word

When encountering the Windows 10 black screen with cursor issue, don't worry. You can try any of the methods mentioned above to assist you in resolving the Windows laptop black screen with cursor problem. Hopefully, one of these solutions will help fix your Windows 10 black screen error with only a cursor.

It's highly recommended that you regularly create backups of your Windows computer. Utilizing a professional backup software, such as Todo Backup Home, would be an excellent option. Todo Backup Home enables you to back up virtually all content on your computer and restore these backups to your original computer or even a new one. It also offers features like compressing backups and automatically backing up QuickBooks.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does resetting a PC fix a black screen with a cursor?

Resetting Windows will potentially resolve the black screen with cursor issue by reinstalling problematic Windows components. However, it's important to note that resetting your PC will erase all settings, applications, and files. Hence, it's strongly advised to backup any essential data while in Safe Mode before proceeding with the instructions below.

2. What is the difference between a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) and a black screen?

The blue screen issue usually doesn't cause harm to your computer, but it can be inconvenient, especially if it happens while you're in the middle of a task. The black screen error, commonly known as the BSOD (Black Screen of Death), is often caused by a faulty device driver, an issue with the hardware, or a mistake in the Windows software.