How to use the black screen
- Press Full screen or click the black box. The whole screen turns black and the pointer hides after a moment.
- Leave it as long as you like. With “Keep the screen on” checked, the page asks the browser not to dim or lock the screen.
- Use ← and → to switch to other colors, or tap the screen to bring back the controls.
- Press Esc, or tap and choose Exit, to come back to this page.
What you can use a black screen for
- Hiding the screen without turning it off. Keep music, a download or a video call running while the screen shows nothing, for example during a presentation break or at night.
- Checking backlight bleed. In a dark room, look for bright patches at the edges and corners. The monitor test adds dark gray screens that show bleed and clouding more clearly.
- Finding stuck pixels. A stuck pixel shows as a bright red, green, blue or white dot on black. The monitor test also has a stuck pixel fixer.
- Resting an OLED screen. Black pixels on OLED are switched off, so a black screen uses little power and gives the panel a break from a bright, static image.
- Seeing dust and smudges. Under a room light, fingerprints and streaks show up as shiny marks against black.
- Less light in a dark room. A black screen keeps a TV, monitor or tablet on without lighting up the room, although LCD screens still glow a little.
Is your screen black by mistake?
If you are here because a device’s screen went black on its own, try these steps on that device. They fix the most common causes without losing any data.
- Check the basics. Press a key or move the mouse, turn the brightness up, and check that the monitor or TV is on and set to the right input. Reseat both ends of the cable, or try another cable or port.
- Windows: press Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B. This restarts the graphics driver; you may hear a beep and see the screen flash. If the screen stays black, hold the power button to turn the PC off, then on again.
- Mac: press a key, turn the brightness up, then hold the power button until the Mac turns off and start it again.
- iPhone (8 or later): press and quickly release volume up, press and quickly release volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
- Android: hold the power button for about 10 seconds or more; on many phones, hold power and volume down together. Charge the phone for a while first if the battery may be empty.
- Laptop with an external monitor: the picture may be going to the other screen. On Windows, press Windows + P and choose a display mode.
If the device makes sounds or lights up but the screen stays black after a restart, the screen, its cable or the graphics hardware may be faulty, and a repair shop or the manufacturer’s support is the next step.
Black on LCD and OLED screens
How black your screen looks depends on its type. LCD screens (most monitors and many laptops and TVs) have a backlight that is always on, so black is really a very dark gray, and some light can leak at the edges. OLED screens (many phones, some laptops and OLED TVs) light each pixel on its own, so a black pixel is simply off and looks completely black, even in a dark room.
Need a bright screen instead? The white screen page starts on white, with brightness and warmth controls for use as a light.
Is this tool private?
Yes. The color is drawn by your browser and nothing is uploaded. Only your brightness and warmth settings are saved, in this browser.
Frequently asked questions
Does a black screen save battery?
On an OLED screen, yes: each black pixel is switched off and uses almost no power, so a black screen draws much less than a white one. On an LCD screen, which most monitors and many laptops use, the backlight stays on behind the black, so the saving is small. Lowering the brightness saves power on both.
Why does my black screen look gray or glow at the edges?
LCD screens light every pixel from behind, and a little light always leaks through, so black looks dark gray in a dark room. Brighter patches near the edges or corners are backlight bleed, and a silvery glow that changes as you move your head is IPS glow. OLED screens show true black because the pixels are off.
Will my screen turn off or lock while it’s black?
Not if your browser supports keeping the screen on: leave the “Keep the screen on” box checked and the page asks the browser to stop the screen from dimming or locking while the black is showing. Battery saver modes can refuse the request; the page tells you when that happens.
Can a black screen damage my display?
No. Black is the gentlest thing an OLED screen can show, because the pixels are off, and an LCD just blocks the backlight. It is a common way to rest an OLED screen without turning the device off.
Why doesn’t it go full screen on my iPhone?
At the time of writing, Safari on iPhone only lets videos go full screen, not web pages, so the black fills the browser window instead. Turn the phone sideways and scroll a little to shrink the address bar.
How do I get out of the black screen?
Press Esc on a keyboard, or tap or click anywhere and choose Exit. Moving the mouse also brings back the controls for a few seconds.