How to fix Xbox display issues: Black screen, stuttering, and common TV problems
Display problems.
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TheXbox Series Xand theXbox Series Sare great consoles, with forward-facing 4K 120Hz features for those who are looking to upgrade to one of thebest TVs for Xbox. If you’re already on the next-gen train, most people have pretty smooth experiences with the consoles, but sometimes things can go awry.
One frequent topic we see rising pertains to display issues, so-called “black screen of death” problems, and other issues where the console seems to be on, but no display is reaching your TV or monitor.
In this article, we’ll move through some of the steps you can take to solve issues with display outputs on the Xbox Series X|S consoles, and what you can do if all else fails.
Troubleshooting Xbox display issues
Display issues with Xbox more often than not denote an issue with cables, rather than the console itself. The Xbox Series X|S consoles have an HDMI 2.1 port that can power 4K outputs at 120Hz, but also other resolutions, such as 1440p and 1080p, or even lower. However, if the cables are working properly, it may preclude an issue with the GPU of your console, meaning that the only realistic recourse is to order a repair service.
If you’re seeing issues like stuttering, display artifacts, black screens, or reduced resolution, start by following the troubleshooting steps below. Always ensure your Xbox is adequately cooled too, as some graphical artifacts can be potentially caused by overheating, but the Xbox is supposed to prevent this by shutting down.
Cables troubleshooting
The first thing you should check, naturally, are the HDMI cables. The connection between your Xbox Series X|S console and the TV is a typical point of failure, especially when it comes to display issues. Solving problems with the cabling and connections is relatively easy and straightforward.
If you do have a problem with the cable, either because it’s damaged or simply old, we recommend grabbing a replacement 4K@120Hz cable (HDMI 2.1) from Amazon or another retailer.
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Xbox resets
The next step is a bit of an obvious one, but it can solve some weird quirks and anomalies that sometimes arise from Xbox updates and the like.
This is a full system reset that can solve some issues, but you can also attempt a full power cycle if this doesn’t solve the problem.
This full power cycle should also clear cache problems on the Xbox that can sometimes produce a “black screen,” although it’s a bit of a long shot admittedly.
Another thing you can try is resetting the Xbox display resolution. This forces the Xbox into a more basic display resolution so you can troubleshoot issues pertaining to the incorrect display resolution for your TV or cable set up.
If new resolutions result in a blank screen again, it could be that your HDMI cable is damaged inside and isn’t able to get the full bandwidth to output in 4K. If the cable works with another 4K output, it could be that the Xbox itself is somehow damaged.
Fix the Xbox OS
In the event of a power cut or something similar, an in-progress Xbox update that failed can cause system corruption, resulting in a blank screen or other display issues. To solve this, you need ausb storage device with at least 6GB of space, formated to NTFS, and aWindows PC with a usb port,to initiate an offline Xbox OS repair.
Thisshouldrepair any issues with a failed system update that may be causing display problems. However, if you cannot complete these steps, checked all cables, and can’t even see a display on the Troubleshooterchances are there’s a hardware fault with your Xbox. You may need to initiate a repair.
When (and how) to call in an Xbox repair
If you’ve tried to repair your OS, checked cables against other devices, checked your TV’s HDMI ports against other devices, and your Xboxstillcan’t output a display, it may be time to check it in for a repair, sadly.
Xbox’s repairs department quality varies from region to region, but generally, they’ve been quite good when I’ve used them. Typically, if your Xbox is still in warranty, you can send them in with a pre-printed label and a package, and Microsoft will perform a repair and ship it back to you.
To access the repair service, go to theMicrosoft Account Device Repair website here. You will need to sign in with your Microsoft account, then enter the serial number from your Xbox console. The system will check your warranty status, and then give you further instructions on how to package and send back your Xbox console.
Jez Corden is the Executive Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow onTwitter (X)andThreads, and listen to hisXB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!
