Black screen is quite common issue while performing Alt+Tab shortcut. For a more or less long time, nothing is displayed and you remain crestfallen in front of your PC. We give you some solutions to fix it.
Handling the Alt + Tab is part of the basics of computing, especially when you are part of the plebs like me who does not have a second screen. To quickly switch from one application to another, nothing like a small Alt + Tab. Video games that support this manipulation particularly well even hold a special place in the hearts of PC gamers. Although it works most of the time, a black screen may appear for a short or long time.
If a black screen interrupted your multitasking activities after an Alt+Tab, don’t worry. Below are some recommended solutions on Windows.
What is the cause of a black screen after an Alt + Tab?
Before moving on to the solutions, it is essential to understand what causes a black screen when you press the Alt + Tab keys. Here are some of the most common:
- Full screen incompatibility : Some programs may be incompatible with full-screen mode, resulting in a black screen.
- An outdated graphics card driver : The GPU driver handles most of the graphics work on Windows. If you haven’t updated it, you might be causing black screen issues yourself!
- Overclocking : Overclocking isn’t bad, unless you overdo it. This can eventually damage your GPU and cause issues.
- player mode : This monitor-specific feature allows you to apply display settings to your screen. However, sometimes it does more harm than good.
Keeping these factors in mind, here are some solutions to fix black screen after Alt+Tab issue
1. Some generic solutions to black screen after an Alt+Tab
Since this is a display issue, there are a few tricks to apply before looking for more advanced solutions:
- First, check the condition of your PC’s HDMI or VGA cables. Make sure they are properly plugged into your monitor and if you have more on hand, try again with different cables.
- Next, check that you have the latest drivers for your GPU. If not, update the graphics drivers via dedicated tools from AMD, Nvidia or Intel.
- If that does not work, make a clean sweep of the previous installations and reinstall the drivers for your graphics card properly.
2. Run the app in windowed or borderless mode for smooth Alt+Tab
One of the main reasons for the black screen problem can be the incompatibility between your running program and your display settings.
Suppose you are playing a game in fullscreen mode and you switch by pressing Alt+Tab. In this case, the game may not support your current display settings, causing a conflict with Alt+Tab functionality.
A simple solution is to run the program in windowed mode or borderless windowed mode. This setting is usually possible in the graphics settings of the game, otherwise there are many methods accessible on the net to force the application to run in windowed mode. This mode allows the running program to adapt to your display settings without causing a conflict.
Read: How to disable the webcam in Windows 11 and 10
However, it is not very aesthetically pleasing to see a game in windowed mode. You may therefore prefer a more permanent solution.
3. Adjusting Your Display Settings Can Optimize Alt+Tab
A more permanent solution when your PC screen goes black after the Alt + Tab combination is to change the display settings. The main culprits are your desktop’s refresh rate and screen resolution settings.
Here’s how to change your screen’s resolution and refresh rate in Windows:
Open your computer’s display settings by pressing Windows key + I, then navigate to System > Display.
- Under “Screen resolution,” select the option listed as “Recommended” from the list.
- Click on “Advanced display settings”, in small in the section at the very bottom of the page.
- Choose a 60Hz refresh rate from the drop-down list. If you are having trouble with a lower refresh rate, you can try increasing it until the problem goes away.
After making these changes, test the Alt+Tab to see if the issue is resolved.
4. Stop all overclocking if your Alt + Tab is doing badly
Overclocking your GPU is a popular way to improve PC performance. A higher refresh rate with the same hardware without the need for additional purchases, what more could you ask for?
But if you’re experiencing a black screen after overclocking your hardware, it makes sense to assume it’s the cause. To remedy this, we will have to take a step back.
Read: Ryzen 7000 X3D: AMD’s latest processor burns for no reason, update your BIOS quickly
If you know how to overclock your computer, we suspect that there is no need to show you how to do the reverse, especially since the procedure differs according to each motherboard manufacturer.
5. Disable Gamer Mode
Gamer Mode is a feature of some PCs that prioritizes game performance over other applications. This mode provides several features, such as higher refresh rate, faster response time, etc.
Some monitors come with proprietary apps or dedicated physical buttons to turn “Game” mode on or off. While this feature can be beneficial for gamers, sometimes it can create compatibility issues with your operating system, resulting in a black screen.
To deactivate the “gamer” mode, check for the presence of a physical button below or at the back of your screen. Then go to gamer mode settings and turn it off. If not, you can probably access it from your motherboard manufacturer’s utility if it’s installed. If this is not the case, go to the BIOS, accessible by pressing the Del or F3 key on your computer at startup.
In some cases, you may not find a specific “Game” setting on your screen. Instead, your monitor may provide similar settings under a different name. In this case, the easiest way is to reset your screen settings to their default values.
To read: Steam: how to get a refund for a game, everything you need to know to get your money back
The black screen after Alt+Tab problem is a fairly common Windows problem, but it is quite possible to fix it. By following the solutions given above, you should now be able to switch between apps seamlessly.
