How To Fix CSGO Black Screen Issues on Windows 11 & 10 PC

Here is a simple solution to fix black screen issue with sound on startup.

If you’re an avid Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) player, encountering a black screen issue can be quite frustrating.

Whether you’re facing a black screen on launch, during gameplay, or after changing resolutions, it’s essential to address these issues to enjoy a seamless gaming experience.

In this guide, we’ll explore practical solutions to resolve the common CS:GO black screen problems on Windows 11 and 10 PCs. (Read Also: Fix CS: Go FPS Drop Issue & Boost Performance)

How To Fix CSGO Black Screen on Startup Problem

Let’s dive into the methods to get your CS:GO up and running smoothly without any screen-related hiccups.

1. Add auto-config in the Steam

If you’re encountering black screen issues while playing CS:GO on Steam, you can attempt to resolve the problem by adding the “-autoconfig” command to the game’s launch options. Follow these steps to implement this solution:

  1. Open the Steam launcher on your desktop.
  2. Navigate to the Library tab in the main menu.
  3. Right-click on “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” in the left sidebar and select “Properties.”
  4. In the new window that appears, click on the “General” tab.
  5. Click on the “Set Launch Options” button.
  6. In the Launch Options window, type “-autoconfig” (without quotes) and then click OK.
  7. Launch CS:GO and observe if the black screen issue during startup is resolved.

Tip – You can also add -nojoy -novid -fullscreen option.

2. Reinstall Your GPU Driver

Are you experiencing a CSGO black screen after updating the GPU drivers? Uninstall the drivers and then reinstall them to fix the issue.

The outdated drivers can also add their share in triggering the black screen issues. So you need to update drivers.

If you are a newbie then download the driver updater tool that automatically detects and updates drivers. We recommend our users download Driver Easy on Windows 11 and 10 PCs. Using this tool you can also uninstall and reinstall the driver.

3. Disabling Shader Pre-Caching

Disabling Shader Pre-Caching in Steam Settings is a potential solution to address the black screen issue in CS:GO. Here’s a step-by-step guide to implement this solution:

  1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to the top-left corner to click on “Steam” in the menu bar.
  2. From the dropdown menu, select “Settings.”
  3. Look for the “Shader Pre-Caching” option. This option is typically located in the “Downloads” or “In-Game” section.
  4. Once you find the Shader Pre-Caching option, uncheck or disable it.
  5. Make sure to apply the changes.

Try launching CS:GO again and see if the black screen issue persists. If the problem is related to shader caching, disabling this feature may resolve the issue.

4. Verify the Integrity of the Game Files

Users may encounter a black screen issue in CSGO during startup if the game files on their computer don’t match those on the Steam server. This discrepancy can occur due to file corruption or damage over time. To address this issue, you can verify the integrity of the game files through Steam, allowing the platform to repair any broken files.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  1. Open the Steam launcher.
  2. Click on the “Library” tab and select “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” from the list on the right side.
  3. Right-click on CSGO and choose “Properties.”
  4. Navigate to the “Local Files” tab.
  5. Click on the “Verify Integrity Of Game Files” button.
  6. Wait for the process to complete, and Steam will automatically repair any identified issues.
  7. Restart your PC and launch the game to check if the black screen problem is resolved.

5. Modify CFG and Valve.rc Folder

If you’ve made alterations to your game files and are experiencing issues like a black screen on startup, crashes, or freezes, resetting these files may help resolve the problem.

Follow these steps:

  1. Right-click on the Steam launcher and select “Open File Location.”
  2. Navigate to steamapps > Common > Counter-Strike Global Offensive folder.
  3. Within the CSGO folder, locate the CFG folder and rename it to “cfg.old.”
  4. Open the cfg folder and find “valve.rc“; rename it to “valve.old.rc.”

6. Force CS:GO To Run In Windowed Mode

Opting for Windowed mode instead of Full Screen Mode serves as a straightforward solution to circumvent black screen issues during CS:GO launch.

Full-Screen Mode can potentially clash with monitor or graphics settings, leading to glitches and black screen problems.

Follow these steps:

  • Open Steam and navigate to your Library.
  • Right-click on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and select Properties.
  • Click on the “Set Launch Options” button.
  • In the Launch Options window, type -windowed and click OK.

7. Disable Multi-Core Rendering

Playing CSGO using Steam then disabling multicore rendering to fix CSGO’s black screen on startup and crashing.

Here’s how to do it:

  • Open Steam and click on Library.
  • Right-click on the CSGO from the list and choose the Play Game option.
  • From the top click on Options and under it find Advanced Video Options.
  • Here you will see Multicore Rendering settings use the arrow to disable it.
  • Apply changes and restart the game.

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