If you’re an Android phone user, you might have experienced the frustrating situation of encountering a black screen. A black screen can happen due to various reasons, such as a software glitch, hardware malfunction, or an app that’s not working correctly. Whatever the cause, it can be a frustrating experience, and you might be wondering what you can do to fix the issue. In this article, we will discuss the top 8 ways to fix black screen issues on Android phones. These solutions range from simple troubleshooting steps to more advanced methods, so you can find the right fix for your device.
What Is the Android Black Screen Of Death?
The term “black screen of death” (BSoD) refers to a critical problem that can occur on an Android device, causing the screen to turn black and become unresponsive. This issue can be caused by various factors, such as power or battery problems, software glitches, hardware faults, or conflicts with third-party apps. It is comparable to the “blue screen of death” (BSoD) on Windows PCs, which indicates a severe system error.
When the “black screen of death” occurs on an Android device, the device may not respond to any input, including the power button, touch screen, volume button, or other buttons. Additionally, the device may not turn on, reboot, or display any signs of activity. Dealing with this problem can be quite frustrating, and sometimes, professional repair or replacement may be necessary.
In this article, we will discuss some of the most frequent causes of the black screen issue and their potential solutions. However, it’s worth noting that some situations may require professional repair, and there may be no DIY solution to fix the black screen problem for Android users.
1. Is Your Screen Broken?
If your phone’s screen goes black intermittently or you can still hear system sounds despite the screen going black, it could be possible that it’s the LCD or OLED screen that’s broken and not the phone itself. In such a case, it is recommended to take your phone to a repair shop for testing.
2. Fix Your Phone Battery
The primary cause of an Android phone displaying a black screen is the lack of power to the screen or the phone. The most common reason for this is that the phone’s battery is dead and needs to be charged. While this may seem like an obvious solution, some phones won’t show any signs of life until they’ve been charged for an extended period.
If the battery has been severely drained and hasn’t been charged for a while, it can take quite some time for the voltage to build up enough to start the phone. Therefore, if you connect your charger and nothing happens, wait for at least 30 minutes to see if the charging indicator eventually appears.
It’s possible that either the charging cable or adapter may be faulty, causing the black screen issue on your Android phone. To rule out this possibility, you can test both the cable and adapter with another device or try using an alternative USB cable and adapter with your phone.
It’s also important to check the charging port on your phone, as it may be faulty or require cleaning. However, if the battery is defective or if the power management circuitry of the phone is damaged, then you may need to seek professional evaluation and assistance, especially if your phone doesn’t have a removable battery.
3. Run a Malware Check
Performing a malware scan may help resolve the black screen issue on an Android device. Malware can cause various issues, including making the screen turn black and causing the device to become unresponsive. In some cases, malware can also prevent the device from booting up correctly, causing it to freeze or crash.
There are several ways to check for malware on an Android device, including using security apps designed to detect and remove malware. You can download these apps from the Google Play store to scan and remove them.
4. Update Android and Your Apps
The black screen problem on your Android device may be caused by the Android operating system, which could be due to new apps or old bugs. To address this, you should check for the latest firmware version of Android available and install it. Keep in mind that the latest version your phone model supports may not be the latest version available.
Unlike iOS, most Android phone makers don’t support software updates for very long, although the latest Samsung phones have a longer update commitment, and other phone makers are following suit.
5. Update or Uninstall Buggy or Incompatible Apps
Updating apps to the latest version can sometimes fix bugs that cause the black screen on an Android device. App developers often release updates to address bugs and improve the app’s performance. By updating the apps, you can fix the bugs and prevent the black screen from appearing.
If the black screen issue occurs after installing a new app, you can try uninstalling it to see if it resolves the problem. A new app may sometimes cause conflicts with the phone’s operating system or other apps, resulting in a black screen.
In some cases, uninstalling and then reinstalling the app can fix the issue. Reinstalling the app can help fix any bugs that a faulty installation or update may have caused.
6. Use Safe Mode
To identify the app causing the black screen issue, you can put your device into safe mode, which disables all third-party apps. If the black screen doesn’t occur in safe mode, you can be sure that one of your installed apps is causing the problem. From there, you can enable your apps one by one to identify which one is causing the issue.
Safe mode is a diagnostic mode on Android devices that allows you to access the device with only the original software and drivers that were included with the device, without any third-party apps running.
Here’s how to boot your device into safe mode:
- Press and hold the power button on your device until the power off menu appears. Alternatively, swipe the app shade down and press the power button icon on certain phones, such as Samsung Galaxy phones.
- Press and hold the Power off option.
- A dialog box appears asking if you want to reboot to safe mode.
- Select OK to confirm and reboot your device into safe mode.
When you activate safe mode on your Android device, the safe mode icon will appear on the bottom left corner of the screen. At this point, your device will be running only the original software and drivers that were shipped with it, and you can use it as usual. The first step is to test whether the problem still persists in safe mode. If it doesn’t, there’s a high probability that a third-party app is the culprit. To exit safe mode, all you need to do is reboot your device.
7. Remove Custom Roms and Kernels
The black screen of death (BSOD) and other glitches can be caused by custom ROMs and kernels that can introduce compatibility issues with the device’s hardware or software. Custom ROMs are modified versions of the official operating system that can add features or modifications to the original software. However, if they are not compatible with the device’s hardware or software, they can cause problems with a BSOD.
Kernels are the core of an operating system that control communication between the hardware and software. Custom kernels can also introduce compatibility issues with the device’s hardware or software, especially if they are not compatible with the current version of the operating system. If the custom ROM or kernel is not properly installed on the device, it can cause a black screen or other issues.
8. Wipe Data From Your Cache Partition
Clearing the cache partition is a troubleshooting method that can be effective in resolving various problems on Android devices. The cache partition serves as a temporary storage area for system files and app data. Occasionally, these files can become outdated or corrupted, leading to device malfunctioning.
Here are the steps to wipe the cache partition on an Android device:
- Turn off the device.
- Follow the recovery mode shortcut for your specific brand and model of phone, as it differs between handsets. For example, on some models, you may have to press and hold the Home button as part of the process.
- Wait for the Android system recovery screen to appear.
- Use the volume up or volume down button to highlight wipe cache partition and press the power button to select it.
- Confirm the action by highlighting yes and pressing the power button.
- Wait for the process to complete, and then highlight reboot system now and press the power button to restart the device.
Clearing the cache partition is a useful troubleshooting method that can help fix problems like freezing or crashing of apps. However, it doesn’t result in any loss of personal data on the device. Although the precise process might differ depending on your phone’s model and version, the general steps are as follows.
9. Factory Reset Your Device
A factory reset will restore the device to its original settings, erasing all personal data, apps, and settings. Here are the steps to perform a factory reset on an Android device:
- Turn off the device.
- Follow the recovery mode shortcut for your specific brand and model of phone, as it differs between handsets. For example, on some models you may have to press and hold the Home button as part of the process.
- Wait for the Android system recovery screen to appear.
- Use the volume keys to highlight factory reset and press the power button to select it.
- Confirm the action by highlighting yes and pressing the power button.
- Wait for the process to complete, and then highlight reboot system now and press the power button to force restart the device.
The exact steps may differ for your phone, but this is the general process.
It is essential to keep in mind that performing a factory reset will erase all personal data saved on the device. Therefore, it is advisable to back up any crucial files before proceeding to prevent data loss. Additionally, some applications may not be restored after the reset, and it may be necessary to re-download them.
It’s worth noting that factory resets aren’t always effective in fixing Android black screen issues, and it should only be considered as a last resort after trying all other troubleshooting steps. If you plan to send your phone in for evaluation, you’ll have to perform a factory reset anyway. You can also try using an Android system repair app, but most of them are ineffective, and some may even be malware. So before attempting anything, make sure to wipe your phone and remove your SD card.
