How to Fix Black Screen Issue on Twitch

Do you encounter a black screen issue on Twitch?

Twitch is a popular live video streaming platform, which is owned by Amazon. The platform gained traction in the early 2012s  and continues to be one of the best streaming platforms for gamers, influencers, and other individuals. 

Since it was launched, Twitch has suffered from both minor and major issues. Although it can be annoying at times, occasional errors are normal for any platform with the size of Twitch. 

One issue that has been a long stay in the platform is black screen problems. This issue has been on the platform since Twitch was released in 2011, and many users still suffer from it occasionally. 

Based on what we know, black screen issues on Twitch are usually caused by improper system configurations. However, it can also be due to faulty servers, slow network connections, or third-party apps. 

To help out, we’ve decided to make a guide for fixing black screen issues on Twitch. 

Let’s begin!

1. Check Twitch Servers. 

Before tweaking your system, we recommend checking Twitch’s servers first to identify where the problem is coming from. Visit Twitch’s status page to see if there are ongoing issues on the platform. 

If there’s an ongoing problem with Twitch, the best thing to do is wait for their team to resolve the issue. 

On the other hand, you can proceed to the following solutions below if Twitch’s services are working properly. 

2. Restart Your Browser. 

One of the easiest ways to fix black screen issues on Twitch is to restart your browser. This should reload your resources and eliminate temporary errors that may have occurred during use. 

Simply close all your tabs and relaunch your browser. Go back to Twitch afterward and check if the problem is solved. 

3. Check Your Network Connection. 

Slow or unstable network connections could also cause black screen issues on Twitch. Since you’re using an online service, you’ll need stable internet to enjoy Twitch’s features without issues. 

Run a test on your network using Fast.com to measure its current upload and download bandwidth. 

If the test indicates an issue with your connection, restart your router or modem to re-establish the link with your ISP’s servers. Disconnect your router from the power source and wait for 5 to 10 seconds before plugging it back in. 

Once done, re-run the test to check if the problem is solved. If not, contact your service provider and ask them to fix their service. 

4. Change Your DNS. 

Faulty DNS servers could also cause black screen issues on Twitch. Your ISP’s default DNS could be experiencing technical issues at the moment, which prevents the service from streaming content. 

To fix this, follow the steps below to change your current DNS: 

1. First, open the Start Menu on your computer. 
2. After that, look for ‘View Network Connections’ and click Open. 
3. Now, right-click on your current network and choose Properties. 
4. Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4. 
5. Next, enable the ‘Use the Following DNS server Addresses’ option and enter the following values: 

• Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8
• Alternate DNS Server: 8.8.4.4

6. Lastly, hit OK to save the changes. 

Go back to Twitch afterward to check if the problem is solved. 

5. Turn Off Hardware Acceleration. 

Hardware acceleration is a feature that enables your browser to utilize your graphics card when rendering videos and other graphical elements. While this boosts the performance of your system, some websites are not compatible with it. 

If you experience black screen issues on Twitch, try disabling hardware acceleration. Here’s what you need to do: 

1. On your browser, click on More Options and choose Settings. 
2. Now, expand the Advanced tab and open the System tab. 
3. Finally, disable the ‘Use Hardware Acceleration When Available’ option. 

Restart your browser afterward and check if the problem is solved. 

6. Update Your Graphics Driver. 

Another reason you encounter black screen issues on Twitch or other streaming sites is that your graphics card is not functioning correctly. Your graphics drivers may have run into errors or are currently outdated. 

See the steps below to update your graphics drivers on Windows: 

1. First, press the Windows + X keys on your keyboard to open the Quick Menu. 
2. Next, open the Device Manager. 
3. Expand the Display Adapters tab afterward and right-click on your video card. 
4. Lastly, choose Update Driver and follow the prompts. 

Reboot your system after the update and check if the black screen issue on Twitch is solved. 

7. Flush Your DNS. 

Flushing your DNS cache can also resolve the black screen issue on Twitch. This should eliminate corrupted data from your system and fix connectivity issues. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. On your keyboard, press the Windows + X keys to open the Quick Menu. 
2. After that, click on Command Prompt (Admin). 
3. Now, type ‘ipconfig /flushdns’. 
4. Finally, hit the Enter key to run the command. 

Once done, go back to Twitch to check if the problem is solved. 

8. Clear Your Browsing Cache. 

Browsers use temporary data called caches and cookies. These data are used to improve loading times of websites and improve your browser’s overall performance. Unfortunately, caches and cookies accumulate over time and could become corrupted. 

When this happens, expect issues to occur on your browser and the websites you visit. To fix this, follow the steps below to clear your browsing data: 

1. First, open your browser and access the Settings. 
2. Now, go to Privacy and Security and click on Clear Browsing Data. 
3. Change the Time Range to All Time and include caches and cookies in the process. 
4. Lastly, hit the Clear Data button to start. 

Go back to Twitch afterward and see if the problem is resolved. 

9. Turn Off Browser Extensions. 

Browser extensions are third-party tools that provide additional features to websites. However, some websites are not compatible with extensions and add-ons. If you can’t stream anything on your browser, turn off your extensions first. 

See the guide below to disable your browser extensions: 

1. On your computer, launch your browser and open the Settings. 
2. After that, click on the Extensions tab from the side menu. 
3. Finally, disable your extensions and restart your browser. 

Try streaming another video on Twitch to check if the black screen issue is solved. 

10. Contact Twitch. 

At this point, the last thing you can do is report the issue to Twitch. 

Visit Twitch’s Support page and get in touch with their team to ask for assistance. Provide your username, complete name, and other necessary details to make it easier for Twitch’s team to address the problem. 

That ends our guide for fixing the black screen issue on Twitch. For your questions and other concerns, please let us know in the comment section, and we’ll do our best to answer them. 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂