Are you getting a black screen error in Overwatch 2?
The error message happens when you launch the game on the Battle.net desktop app.
Overwatch 2 was released on October 4, 2022.
Since its release, the game has had multiple known issues.
Some of the known issues are server disconnection, cosmetics, items, currency not showing up, and others.
In this guide, you’ll learn why Overwatch 2 gets a black screen when you launch the game and how to fix it.
Why is Overwatch 2 just a black screen?
Overwatch 2 is just a black screen because your graphics card does not meet the minimum requirements for the game.
The black screen can also happen because you have too many tabs open, conflicting applications, or overlay incompatibilities.
Many players are complaining about the black screen error on the Blizzard forum.
“I don’t know what going on but when I try to play the game, it keeps getting a black screen to the point I’m forced to restart my computer. My GPU software keeps getting removed and I have to reinstall it again”.
“I have a problem when I open the game. When I try to open it, the screen is completely black. I already waited to see if something happens but to no avail. I don’t know the cause of it because it was not happening in the last game”.
“I’m having the same issue when I play the game. When I first launch the game, everything is smooth, and then after 5 minutes, the game freezes. When I press “Alt + Tab”, it shows a black screen with the sound still playing in the background. I can’t even open task manager and the only thing that works is a full restart”.
How to fix black screen in Overwatch 2
To fix a black screen in Overwatch 2, you need to update your graphics card or reinstall it.
You can also try updating Windows to the latest version, closing your tabs, and uninstalling/closing conflicting apps.
Fix 1: Update your graphics card
- For Nvidia: Go to https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/geforce-experience/download/ > Download Now > open the app > sign up or log in > Drivers > Download.
- For AMD: Go to https://www.amd.com/en/support > Download > open the app > follow the on-screen instructions to update your GPU.
Source: Blizzard Support Article ID: 26054.
Fix 2: Uninstall or close conflicting programs
- EVGA Precision XOC – Uninstall
- Xbox Game Bar – Close
- Razer Synapse – Close
- Proxy Services (e.g. ProxyCap) – Uninstall
- Nvidia Broadcast – Uninstall
Source: Blizzard Technical Forum.
Fix 3: Close all of your background tabs
- Press “CTRL + ALT + DEL” on your keyboard.
- Select “Task Manager”.
- Close all of your browsers (e.g., Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge).
Fix 4: Update Windows to the latest version
- Search for “Check for updates” using Windows search.
- Download & install new updates.
Source: Blizzard Support Article ID: 26054.
Fix 5: Uninstall and reinstall Nvidia drivers
- Run “Device Manager” using Windows search.
- Expand “Display adapters”.
- Right-click your graphics card and select “Uninstall device”.
- Download https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/geforce-experience/.
- Run GeForce Experience > Drivers > Download (to reinstall Nvidia drivers).
Source: Blizzard Support Article ID: 26054.
Further reading
How to Fix General Error 0xE00101B0 in Overwatch 2
