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5 Ways to Fix Black Desktop Background on My Windows PC

Check out what experts recommend as a fix

6 min. read

Updated onMay 16, 2024

updated onMay 16, 2024

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Fix Windows 10 OS errors with Fortect:

Some users have discovered and reported a bug in Windows, not a crucial one, but still very annoying. After performing a specific number of operations, the desktop background keeps going black, and the wallpaper disappears.

This black background issue is annoying, especially for those who have set the desired aesthetic image orcustomized wallpaper. Also, a user asked,My desktop background is black, and I can’t change it.

Unfortunately, the newer versions of the Windows operating system are full of similar minor but annoying bugs, and Windows users are constantly complaining about them, but they’re right.

Luckily, you can quickly solve the desktop background that keeps going black in Windows 10 problem with just a few clicks, and we are presenting the steps in this article.

Why does my desktop background go black?

Why does my desktop background go black?

Here are a few reasons the desktop background is black in Windows:

This can happen ifWindows keeps refreshingfor some reason, and in most cases, the cause for this is the background processes, so be sure to disable them.

A few users reported thatdesktop icons are flashing, so disabling them might be a decent workaround you could try.

In some instances, you might even see aflashing black box on Windows 10, and if this happens, it’s always a good idea to disable all startup applications.

How can I fix the black desktop background on Windows 10?

How can I fix the black desktop background on Windows 10?

1. Disable Desktop icons

Once done, verify if the desktop background turns black when highlighting in Windows 10 anymore. If yes, head to the following method.

2. Update drivers

The Device Manager offers a relatively quick way to update the drivers. But it’s often not that effective since only the drivers available on the computer are looked through, while there may be an updated version available on the manufacturer’s website.

Of course, there is a way around this, known as anautomatic driver updater. This ensures you have the correct driver patch downloaded and installed without issue.

These tools have great scanning speed, and if you want to save even more time, you can activate the auto-update and get the latest updates without effort.

3. Reconfigure the display settings

Once done, restart the computer, and the problem should be resolved. If not, head to the final solution.

4. Try a different image or method

Often times, the problem may lie with the image itself, which you are trying to set as the desktop background. Try another image and see if that fixes things.

In case the error persists, try a different method altogether. If you are changing the desktop background from the image’s context menu, try doing it viaSettingsand vice-versa.

5. Disable high contrast settings

If the methods listed previously did not work, disabling the high contrast settings should prevent the desktop background from going black and getting things up and running.

How do I fix the desktop background that keeps going black on Windows 11?

First, update the graphics driver for those who see the desktop background keeps going black in Windows 11.

Also, taking a different route might work if you have been using the same method to change the desktop background. You can do it from theSettingsapp or manually set any picture as the background.

Besides, switching to theHigh-Performancepower plan did the trick for many, and you may also try that. If nothing seems to work, there’s always the option toperform a System Restore.

How do I restore my desktop color?

It depends on what led to the change in desktop color. Reverting them should do the job if you inadvertently change the display or color settings. Or, if you remember the previous desktop color, you can always reset it.

Also, it could have to do with the configured theme on your PC. Windows offersDarkandLightmodes for both apps and the OS itself. Check that as well. As is usually the case, you can always restore the PC to a previous point, orfactory reset the Windows.

That’s all there’s to desktop background keeps going black in Windows and other related display issues. Of course, you would have the problem resolved by now, and the system is running like usual.

We often encounter questions like,My desktop background keeps changing to black in Windows 7. Remember, the solutions listed here would work on all recent iterations of Windows.

Also, find out thebest wallpaper apps to customize your PC. For those interested, do check some trendyblack wallpaper 4k for download.

If you have any other queries or know of a method not listed here, drop a comment below. We would love to hear your comments and suggestions.

More about the topics:Black screen issues,windows 10

Ivan Jenic

Windows Hardware Expert

Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.

When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.

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Ivan Jenic

Windows Hardware Expert

Ivan has delved deep into understanding the Windows OS, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.

Reviewed byAlex Serban