Screen is blank

Maybe your screen is black because your device is not turned on, or maybe you have accidentally turned it off.

If you are using a computer and it doesn't turn on, check out the solutions to the computer doesn't turn on issue.

A slight nudge can sometimes disrupt the connection between the cables. Check the cables that connect the monitor and the computer by disconnecting and reconnecting them again.

TVs now have a bunch of sources that they can use to feed the display. You can connect your computer, your DVD player, etc. Check if the source being used is the one you need. For example, if you connected your computer to the TV via an HDMI port, make sure that the HDMI port is selected on the TV.

To check this, press the Source button on the TV remote control and cycle through all the options.

The flat/flex cables are used in most devices with sliding/folding option (laptops, mobile phones). Sometimes, the cable can break due to stress and make the display blank. 

To check if this is the issue, see if the device works fine when it's opened and in a certain angle/position (won't work always). If it is, the flat/ flex cable is most likely faulty.

If that's the issue, consult a technician for repairs because flex cables are very sensitive.

Maybe there is an issue with the Cable TV provider, which is being resolved. Firstly, turn off the TV and turn it back on in two minutes. If the screen is still blank, contact their support and report the issue.

You may have reduced the brightness of your screen before and forgot to increase it. For instance, if your computer had to do some processing where the screen was not required (good to save energy). 

In that case, just turn the brightness up again. Check out the don't know how to make the screen brighter solutions to learn how to increase it.

Sometimes the power link for the background light on some devices will fail. To check if this is the only issue, and that your device is actually working, make the room as dark as possible, and shine a flashlight at an angle to the screen. If you can see images, then only the backlight has malfunctioned.

Please note that this issue often occurs if you have an older device.

Watch this video and maybe try to repair the device:

In some situations, removing the device's battery and reinserting it after a minute will fix the blank screen issue.

Note: If your device's battery is non-removable (i.e. you can't remove it), leave the device working until the battery is fully drained. After that, recharge it, and turn it on.

Sometimes the power link for the background light on some devices will fail. To check if this is the only issue, and that your device is actually working, turn off all the lights and cover the all the windows to make the room as dark as possible, and shine a flashlight at an angle to the screen. If you can see the images, then, only the backlight has failed.

Weigh your options, as usually this issue appears with some older devices, so you may want to buy a new one.

Adding or replacing hardware, requires new drivers to be installed, or the already existing ones to be updated. Every now and again, different versions of different drivers might be incompatible, and they could interfere with each other's work. Uninstall all recent drivers and install new ones (or try restoring your computer to a previous System Restore point). Another thing you can do is to update all the drivers or even re-install them.

Check out the don't know how to update drivers tips if you aren't sure about how to update the drivers.

Note: Check out the don't know how to download and install drivers guide to learn how to download and install the official, safest and up-to-date drivers.

Once you've tried everything else, it could be time to take a more radical approach and try fixing the root of your problems.

Check out the don't know how to reset my device solutions to learn how to reset your device.

Connect your device to a (different) extenral monitor or TV to check if the screen is actually the problem. Usually you can connect it via VGA or HDMI slots. 

Your screen might be blank because your computer overheated. Turn the computer off for 15-20 minutes and place it in a colder environment (or use air-conditioning). 

You can do the same if you use laptop, but it might be a good idea to acquire an external cooling pad. If this happens frequently make sure to take your computer to a repair shop to prevent further damage.

The power outlet used by the device could be malfunctioned and that's why you are unable to power it up your device. Try plugging the device in another outlet nearby, or replace the existing one.

If you are not sure how to fix the power outlet, don't put your life at risk and call an experienced electrician.

Your screen might be blank because your entire device didn't start. 

To check if that's the case, plug it into your computer (e.g. via USB), and wait for at least 5 minutes (because the battery might be empty) and if it is not recognized by your computer then it doesn't function properly. 

If this is the case, ask a computer repair guy to repair it.

Maybe the screen is blank because the monitor is turned off. Before you do anything else, ensure the monitor is switched on.

To make sure, turn it OFF and ON again.

Old age influences even our computers, but the threshold is much lower. For most of the components in a computer, it's around two or three years. The component which is the most "vulnerable" to old age is the graphic card. To check this, you will need someone who knows a bit more about computers than an average user.

Unplug the graphics card from you computer carefully, and check if any of the pins are bent or broken. If they are, have them repaired by a computer-repair guy and not by yourself because it's tricky and you might cause additional damage to the graphic card and the motherboard.

Note: Before you buy a new graphic card, check if the graphics card is compatible with you system, on the motherboard manufacturer's website.

Occasionally, the peripheral devices, i.e. devices that you have attached to you computer (via the USB port) can cause the system to freeze, or malfunction. Unplug all peripherals and reboot your computer. If the screen is not blank, one of the peripherals has malfunctioned, or is incompatible with your computer.

Connect them to the computer one by one to reveal which one is faulty/incompatible.

Nowadays, you can reach most manufacturers or retailers directly via live chat, email, or direct call, and have your faulty device replaced.

Check their websites for more information regarding how to contact them.

On power up, the laptop might not boot properly. To fix this disconnect it from the (AC) power adapter (if it was connected),  hold the power button for 30-60 seconds and remove the battery. After a few minutes, reattach the battery, reconnect the power adapter and turn on the laptop.

If you can see the manufacturer's logo when you turn on the computer, but the screen becomes blank afterwards, there might be an issue with your computer drivers, or a software-driver conflict. The best way to fix this is via the Safe Mode.

Check out the don't know how to boot into safe mode tips to learn how to access the Safe Mode.

If the screen was working properly and became blank after you ran a program or application, (force-) restart your device.

Check out the don't know how to restart my device guide to learn how to (force-)restart your device.

Very rarely, mostly because of the old age, the motherboard starts bugging. The best way to fix this is to reset it to default settings.

1. Open the chassis and examine the motherboard. Make sure it is NOT in contact with the chassis
2. Remove and reinsert the RAM
3. Remove and reinsert the CPU
4. Reset the BIOS to default configuration using the motherboard manual (often by removing the battery)

If you have checked the external devices such as the monitor, the mouse, the keyboard, etc. and the cables that connect them (including the cables inside the computer case), and they are working properly, the hard drive itself might be the issue.

Before you replace it, try it on another computer. If it's working properly on it, check out the other solutions.

An extremely rare event on Macs, but not impossible. This event, known as the Black Screen of Death can be removed using this sequence

1. Shut down the Mac and connect it to your MagSafe adapter and a wall outlet as usual
2. Hold down the Shift+Control+Option+Power button at the same time for a few seconds
3. Release all keys at the same time, then boot the Mac as usual

Also, consult this article for further help.

If your device is out of warranty, taking it to any repair store will have the same effect, you will be charged for the service. However, using the official retailer's service will probably cost you more, usually because of the name only.

If you are using an HTC One phone, read this article, explaining in detail how to fix the black screen of death.

If your screen becomes blank while you are playing a game, it's very likely that the computer's VGA (Graphic) card can't support the game (i.e. it's weak).

You can buy a new graphic card, but there is a great possibility that your computer's CPU and/or RAM won't accept it as well (especially if your computer is older than 2 years). That is why you should consider upgrading your computer or buy a new one.

Note: If your computer can't be upgraded, consider buying a new one. If you are not sure which one to choose, check out the don't know which computer to buy guide.