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VALORANT Black Screen: Choose the Fix by When It Appears

Choose the fix that matches when VALORANT goes black: at launch after an update, after Alt+Tab, or during persistent startup trouble.
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Start with the trigger: if VALORANT went black at launch after patch 10.05, restart your PC first. If the black screen or flicker appears only after Alt+Tab, use Riot’s separate Windows display troubleshooting instead. For other persistent startup problems, continue with Riot’s general launch steps.

First identify when the black screen appears

The timing helps choose the right fix. Riot’s patch 10.05 notice addresses VALORANT failing to launch or opening to a black screen after that update; its advice is not a diagnosis for every black-screen problem. Riot also has a separate procedure for abnormal behavior after Alt+Tab.

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When it happens Start with
At launch, particularly after patch 10.05 Restart Windows, then try launching VALORANT again. If the problem remains, consider a clean graphics-driver reinstall.
Only after Alt+Tab, or while switching back to the game Follow Riot’s Alt+Tab guidance for Windows display and multitasking settings, including fullscreen optimizations.
Startup still fails after the relevant steps Use Riot’s broader launch troubleshooting and escalate to Riot Support if needed.

Fix a black screen at launch after an update

1. Restart the PC

For the launch failure or black screen addressed in its patch 10.05 notice, Riot Games Support recommends restarting the computer first. After Windows starts again, launch VALORANT and check whether it displays normally. This is a first troubleshooting step, not a guarantee.

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2. Consider a clean graphics-driver reinstall

If the issue began after the update and remains after restarting, Riot says a clean graphics-driver reinstall may help. Follow the instructions from the driver source appropriate to the graphics hardware in your PC. Riot’s notice does not specify a GPU brand or driver version, and it does not promise that reinstalling the driver will resolve the problem.

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Riot’s patch-specific advice applies when the timing and symptom match that notice. It does not establish that an update caused a black screen that began at another time.

Fix a black screen or flicker after Alt+Tab

If VALORANT displays normally until you switch away from it and back with Alt+Tab, use Riot’s Alt+Tab troubleshooting guide. It addresses Windows display and multitasking behavior and recommends trying its display adjustments. For flicker or a black screen in this specific scenario, Riot describes disabling fullscreen optimizations for VALORANT.

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Keep this fix tied to the Alt+Tab symptom. It is not Riot’s general recommendation for a black screen that occurs before the game opens.

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Continue with general VALORANT launch troubleshooting

If VALORANT still will not start, Riot’s broader support hub covers additional launch troubleshooting options. Depending on the issue, these include clearing local game caches, trying a clean boot, checking firewall exceptions, updating the graphics driver, and reinstalling VALORANT and Riot Vanguard. Treat these as troubleshooting steps rather than proof that a particular setting or program caused the black screen.

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  • If you see a VAN error: use Riot’s Vanguard error-code instructions rather than guessing at a black-screen fix.
  • If the problem persists: submit a ticket to Riot Support with the point at which the screen goes black and any error shown.

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