How to Fix Black Screen Issues in Baldur's Gate 3
If you are having black screen issues when trying to play and launch Baldur's Gate 3 on your Windows 10 or 11 PC. This guide provides several troubleshooting solutions to help you overcome the problems that are causing Black Screen issues in Baldur’s Gate 3 on Windows operating systems.
Related: How to fix Baldurs Gate 3 crashing on Windows 11.
Baldur's Gate 3 has proven to be an absolute masterpiece from day one and has set a new standard in gaming for every possible category. It’s been such a success that dozens of other gaming studios have come out with guns blazing defending their current practices of exploitation in the face of utter perfection. Let’s hope Baldur’s Gate 3 triggers the change we all want to see in the gaming industry!
While the game is already a masterpiece, there are a few issues you may come across, though they are primarily from trying to run the game on low-end hardware. However, if you do have a decent system and know the issue isn’t a hardware one, follow the steps below to get things working again.
1. Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU). The Number 1 Graphics Fix.
Rather than utilizing the traditional driver uninstallation method in Control Panel instead use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU).
- Download DDU: Download Display Driver Uninstaller software from a reputable source.
- Prepare Drivers: Before using DDU, ensure you've downloaded the latest graphics drivers from your computer or graphics card manufacturer's website. NVIDIA users can find the drivers in their catalogue here. For AMD users, the catalogue is accessible here.
- Disconnect the Internet: Disable your Internet connection.
- Run DDU: Execute DDU and remember to select the option to remove GeForce Experience (GFE) if prompted. This step is crucial.
- Restart: After completing the process, restart your system.
- Install Drivers: Install the driver software and re-establish your internet connection. This prevents Windows from installing generic drivers automatically.
- Reinstall GeForce Experience: Reinstall GeForce Experience and proceed to update your graphics drivers as needed. Repeat the process if the crashing issue persists.
2. Disable or Adjust Overclock Settings. Start low and build up.
If your system is overclocked, this might be causing the issue. Follow these steps to address potential overclock-related crashes. Start low and slowly work your way up.
- Disable Overclock: Turn off any GPU, CPU, or RAM overclocking.
- Test Game Launch: Launch Baldur's Gate 3 and see if the issue persists.
- Reevaluate Overclocking: If disabling overclocking resolves the problem, reconsider your overclock settings. Gradually reintroduce overclocking, starting with GPU, then CPU, and finally RAM. Monitor for stability and crashes at each stage.
3. Adjust In-Game Graphics Settings. Don't go crazy!
Sometimes, graphics settings can impact game stability. Follow these steps to optimize in-game graphics settings. Remember, sometimes less is more. Don't crank everything to max right away.
- Lower Graphics Settings: Start the game with the lowest graphics settings possible, maintaining your desired resolution.
- Incrementally Adjust Settings: Gradually increase graphical settings while launching the game each time. Find the optimal balance between graphics quality and stability.
4. Incompatible Mods. Disable them and enable 1 at a time!
Mods are brilliant, but they can also be a source of conflicts leading to crashes, especially in new games like BD3. Follow these steps to address mod-related launch issues:
- Disable Mods: If you're using mods, disable them temporarily.
- Launch the Game: Try launching Baldur's Gate 3 without any mods enabled.
- Enable Mods One by One: If the game launches successfully without mods, enable your mods one by one. Launch the game after enabling each mod to identify the one causing conflicts.
- Check for Mod Updates: Ensure your mods are up to date and compatible with the game's current version.
5. Verify Baldur's Gate 3 Game Files. Solves Most Issues.
Make sure there are no corruptions using Steam's Verify Game Files tool. This process scans for missing, extra, or corrupted content causing launch issues.
- Open Steam: Launch the Steam client.
- Navigate to Library: Switch to the Library tab.
- Right-Click Game: Locate Baldur's Gate 3, right-click it, and select Properties.
- Choose Local Files: Go to the Local Files tab and click "Verify integrity of game files".
- Wait for Completion: Allow some time for the verification process to finish, especially for larger games.
- Updated and Optimized: Once verified, you should be able to update and play the game without encountering issues.
6. Wait for Updates and Optimizations
As with all new games, there's a good chance that the bugs and issues you are having will be solved in future updates. If the game has only just released, as is the case with BD3 an update shouldn't be too far away.
- Exercise Patience: Recognize that many games release with initial bugs and issues.
- Wait for Patches: Monitor for game updates and patches that address the crashing issue.
- Consider Delaying Play: If the issues persist, wait a few months for the game to be stabilized before playing. This can save you from potential frustrations and provide a smoother experience.