On a Friday night, my best friend and I planned to play Elden Ring to complete the quest on my PS5. When the day arrived, it was a complete disappointment because we only saw a black screen, and the PS5 console wouldn’t turn on. After this incident, my friend got frustrated and began comparing his Xbox One to my PS5. After a little research, I learned that I’m not the first person to face this issue. Then, I collected all possible causes and fixes to troubleshoot my PS5 console.
While proceeding with the troubleshooting methods one by one, I finally turned on my PS5 console, and we continued completing the quest. According to my research, there are several reasons why the PS5 screen goes black or starts flickering. The most common causes are faulty cable, TV resolution, or a software glitch.
Like us, if you’re facing the black screen issue, follow my lead and try the methods mentioned one after the other to resolve the issue while playing in no time. My methods are all well explained for your easy and quick understanding.
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Why is Your PS5 Stuck on a Black Screen
Before you get into solving the problem, you should be aware of the core cause of the problem. Here is a list of causes behind the PS5’s black screen with no sound issue.
- Faulty cables
- Problem with the monitor
- Incorrect TV resolution
- Outdated firmware
- A glitch or a bug
- Hardware issues
How to Fix Black Screen of Death on PS5
It is totally fine if you are not sure what exactly is causing the black screen of death on your PS5 because it isn’t that easy to zero in on it. The first thing that pops into our mind when something goes wrong with the PS5 is to call a professional. Well, and good, but before you do that, try our troubleshooting fixes. That way, you can save some time and money.
Check Your HDMI Cable
If your PS5 turns on and the TV monitor turns on as well but won’t display your PS5 screen, then the problem could be the HDMI cable connecting them. Ensure the HDMI port is clean and dust-free.
- If the cable is not connected properly, all that you get will be a black screen. This could also be why your PS5 screen suddenly went all black in the middle of playing a game. The cable somehow could have come loose.
- Check the cable for damage. If there is no visible damage, then use the same cable on a different device or a different HDMI port. Get a new cable if it did not work with the other device as well.
- Use a different HDMI cable if you have one to connect your PS5 to the monitor or TV.
- If your TV or monitor has multiple HDMI ports and you have plugged in different devices in them, remove everything other than PS5 and check if you are able to get your PS5 screen.
Note: While trying with a different port, ensure the TV settings are adjusted accordingly.
Check Your Monitor
If there is nothing wrong with your HDMI cable or HDMI port, then check if you have accidentally turned off your monitor or TV screen. Turn on your monitor or TV using the remote or its power button. If the screen remains black even after doing that, try the following fixes.
- Check if the power supply to your monitor is working properly. Connect the monitor to a different power outlet.
- Connect your PS5 to a different monitor or TV if you have one. If it works without any trouble, then the issue could be with your monitor or TV and not your PS5.
Update Your Smart TV
If your TV is working normally and yet you come across a PS5 black screen while playing, there is a possibility of resolving it by updating the TV’s firmware. Before we start tinkering with the PS5, it is important to make sure we have covered everything basic.
1. Go to your TV Settings and select Device.
2. Click on Software Update and check if there is a new update available.
3. Press the Install button if there is an update.
Note: The settings will vary from one smart TV to another, but they will be similar to the steps mentioned above.
Power Up PS5 Again
If your HDMI cable and the monitor are not the problem, then it is likely to be your console that’s causing the issue. Your PS5 wouldn’t have powered up properly the first time, which can be resolved by force shutdown.
1. Press and hold the Power button on your PS5 console until you hear two beep sounds.
2. Once the PS5 has turned off, turn it back on like you normally would after 20 minutes.
Power Cycle your PS5
The previous fix should have fixed the issue, but if it did not, then power cycle your PS5.
1. On your PS5 console, press and hold the Power button.
2. Let go when the white light on the console stops blinking.
3. Once the PS5 is completely turned off, remove all cables connected to it.
4. After 20 minutes, connect all the cables to your PS5 and turn it back on.
Note: The black screen issue is known to occur often when PS5 is in Rest Mode. When you force shutdown or power cycle the PS5, it will automatically resolve it.
Change the Resolution
The black screen is known to happen when you are connecting the PS5 to a different TV other than the one you were using before. That is because of the variation in the resolution of your PS5 and the TV or monitor. You can resolve this by changing your PS5 resolution through Safe Mode.
1. Power off your PS5 completely. There should be no lights blinking or flashing on the PS5 console, not even the white light.
2. Turn on the PS5 by pressing the Power button on the console. Keep pressing the button until you hear two beep sounds.
3. Connect your PS5 controller to your PS5 console using a USB cable and hit the PS button on the controller.
4. The Safe Mode menus will be displayed on the screen. Click on the Change Video Output option.
5. Select Change Resolution and wait for the PS5 to restart automatically. If the PS5 asks permission to restart, press OK.
6. After the reboot, set your PS5 resolution to the maximum resolution of your TV or monitor.
Note: PS5 supports, 2016p, 1080p, 1080i and 720p. If your TV or monitor has a 1440p resolution, then set your PS5 to 1080p.
After changing the resolution, if you are able to get back your normal screen, turn off Rest Mode on your PS5 to avoid the black screen issue in the future. You can do that using the PS5 Settings → System → Power Saving → Set Time Until PS5 Enters Rest Mode → Choose Don’t Put in Rest Mode.
Black Screen While Screen Recording
If you are trying to screen-record a game you are playing or streaming on your PS5 and suddenly the screen goes all black, it is because the content you are trying to record has been copyrighted. You should resolve this issue by turning off the HDR and HDCP settings.
1. Stop recording the screen and come back to your PS5 home screen.
2. Select the Settings icon and select System.
3. Click on the HDMI option and disable the HDCP setting.
4. Come back to the System menu page, select Screen and Video, and disable the 4K HDR setting.
Note: When HDCP is disabled, you will not be able to stream services on apps such as Netflix and Hulu. You can screen record on apps that work even when HDCP is turned off.
Reboot Your PS5 in Safe Mode
If the PS5 black screen flickering occurs not just while screen recording or while playing specific apps, then try restarting the PS5 in Safe Mode.
1. Completely turn off your PS5 and turn it back on by pressing the Power button on your PS5 controller until you hear two beep sounds.
2. Further, use a USB cable to connect the PS5 controller to the console. Go ahead and press the PS button to activate Safe Mode.
3. Click on the Restart PS5 option from the Safe Mode options displayed on the screen.
Any minor glitch or bug causing the black screen will resolve when you reboot the PS5.
Note: If your PS5 is not stuck in a black screen but keeps going black every few minutes or keeps flickering, you can restart the PS5 even while not in Safe Mode. To do that, press the PS button → Control Centre → Power → Restart PS5 on your controller.
Clear Cache on Your PS5 in Safe Mode
If the black screen issue remains even after changing the resolution or if the resolution was not a problem in the first place, then try clearing the cache on the PS5 in Safe Mode. Caches are known to affect the working of the PS5 in the long run.
1. Press and hold the Power button on your PS5 control and ensure it turns off completely.
2. After a few minutes, press the Power button once again, and this time, hold it until you hear two beeps, one after the other.
3. On your PS5 controller that is connected to the PS5 using a USB cable, press the PS button and wait for the Safe Mode options to display on the screen.
4. Click on the Clear Cache and Rebuilt Database menu and press OK.
All the temporary files on your PS5 will be deleted, and the PS5 will automatically restart on its own. If the cache files were the cause behind the black screen, you should be able to use your PS5 normally now.
Contact the Support Team
If your PS5 screen is still showing a black screen even after trying out all the troubleshooting fixes, or if you weren’t even able to get into Safe Mode, then it is time to call in a professional. You have done everything you possibly can do, and now let the technicians do their job. Contact the Sony PlayStation Support Team for help and guidance. If you have a valid warranty, you might even be able to get it replaced.
FAQ
If all your PS5 shows is a black screen or the screen blinks and cuts to a black screen on a startup, reboot the console once to fix the issue.
If you can hear the sound, but the screen is all black, force shutting down your PS5 or power cycling the PS5 to resolve it.
If your PS5 screen goes all black after showing the PS logo, try restarting your PS5 console in rest mode to fix it.
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