The Valorant Black Screen on Startup is a common error where the game launches, but the screen remains black, often with only the sound audible, or the system simply hangs. This issue prevents players from entering the game and is typically not a server-side problem.
Instead, it is overwhelmingly caused by conflicts between outdated graphics drivers, or incorrect display settings. To systematically diagnose and resolve this issue, this guide provides 10 detailed, step-by-step solutions, starting with the most critical factor: ensuring your system's core stability.
Part I: Driver Integrity and System Synchronization
Valorant, and particularly the Vanguard anti-cheat system, is highly sensitive to the state of your core system and graphics drivers. Outdated drivers are the leading cause of black screen errors.
Automated Driver Update with Driver Sentry
Manually troubleshooting and updating the various display, chipset, and system drivers can be tedious and prone to error. A specialized utility automates this entire procedure, guaranteeing that all necessary components are perfectly synchronized, often resolving the black screen error instantly.
Download and Install:
Click the "Download" button to download the software package.
Install it on your Windows PC.
Run Scan:
Launch the application and click the "Scan" button.
The software will perform a deep analysis of your system, focusing on display and core system components.
Execute Update:
The results will show you a list of all drivers that need attention. Select the necessary drivers and click the "Upgrade" or "Repair Now" button.
Driver Sentry will download the latest, certified versions specific to your hardware, crucial for compatibility with Vanguard.
Finalize:
After the installation is complete, restart your computer and try launching Valorant.
Part II: Riot Vanguard and Compatibility Fixes
These steps address the anti-cheat system and administrative permissions often required by the game.
Method 1: Run Valorant and Launcher as Administrator
Lack of administrative permissions can prevent Vanguard or the game executable from accessing necessary system resources, leading to a black screen.
Right-click on the Valorant desktop shortcut.
Select "Run as administrator".
Repeat this process for the Riot Games Launcher executable file.
To set this permanently: Right-click the shortcut, go to "Properties" > "Compatibility", and check "Run this program as an administrator".
Method 2: Restart Riot Vanguard
Vanguard sometimes fails to initialize correctly, which stops the game from launching properly.
Press Windows Key + R and type "services.msc".
Locate the service named "vgc".
Right-click it and select "Restart".
Restart your PC after restarting the service.
Method 3: Uninstall and Reinstall Vanguard
If the service restart fails, the Vanguard installation itself may be corrupted.
Open "Settings" > "Apps" > "Installed apps" (or "Apps & features").
Find "Riot Vanguard" and select "Uninstall".
Launch Valorant. The client will automatically prompt you to reinstall Vanguard.
Restart your PC after the reinstallation is complete.
Part III: Display and Graphics Configuration Fixes
These solutions address display mode conflicts and in-game settings issues.
Method 1: Change Display Mode (Windowed Mode)
If the black screen occurs due to a fullscreen resolution conflict, forcing the game to launch in windowed mode may solve it.
Find the Valorant shortcut, right-click, and select "Properties".
Go to the "Shortcut" tab.
In the Target field, add the following text to the very end of the line (after the quotation marks): -windowed
Click "Apply" and launch the game. If it works, you can change the display settings in-game and remove the "-windowed" command later.
Method 2: Disable Fullscreen Optimizations
This Windows feature can sometimes interfere with how Valorant handles display signals.
Find the Valorant executable file (usually in C:\Riot Games\VALORANT\live\ShooterGame\Binaries\Win64).
Right-click the VALORANT-Win64-Shipping.exe file and select "Properties".
Go to the Compatibility tab and check the box that says "Disable full-screen optimizations".
Click Apply.
Method 3: Update DirectX and Visual C++ Redistributables
Valorant requires the latest versions of these core Windows components to render graphics correctly.
Visit the official Microsoft website and download the latest DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer and the latest Visual C++ Redistributable packages.
Install both packages and restart your PC.
Part IV: System Integrity and Hardware Checks
These steps address underlying system and hardware issues that can manifest as a black screen.
Method 1: Run System File Checker (SFC)
Corrupted core Windows system files can prevent the game's display service from initializing correctly.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator (Win + R > type "cmd" > right-click and choose "Run as administrator").
Type the command: sfc /scannow
Press Enter and wait for the scan to reach 100%. If the tool fixes errors, restart your PC.
Method 2: Check Overlays and Background Applications
Overlays from Discord, Steam, or performance monitoring software can conflict with Vanguard.
Disable all overlays in their respective applications (e.g., Discord in-game overlay).
Close any unnecessary background applications that monitor or interfere with games.
Method 3: Check GPU Temperature (If the Black Screen is Intermittent)
If the black screen happens after several minutes of gameplay, it may be a hardware overheating issue.
Use a monitoring tool (like MSI Afterburner) to check your GPU temperature while running a less demanding game.
If temperatures exceed 90°C (194°F), your GPU may be throttling or crashing, requiring hardware maintenance (cleaning dust, reapplying thermal paste).
Conclusion
The Valorant Black Screen on Startup error is a solvable conflict, usually related to driver or anti-cheat synchronization. The most reliable fix is to first ensure system-wide driver stability and synchronization with Driver Sentry. By combining this foundational approach with running the game as administrator, restarting the vgc service, and addressing potential display mode conflicts, you can systematically eliminate common failure points and get back into the game.
