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Steam Deck owners have figured out how to fix the dreaded ‘black screen of death’

A simple fix for a daunting issue
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Steam Deck owners have figured out how to fix the dreaded ‘black screen of death’
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The Steam Deck is one of the best handheld consoles on the market, but it’s not perfect. One of the most frustrating problems users can face is the black screen of death. This issue causes the screen to go completely black, making the device unresponsive. You can’t see anything, and you can’t interact with the Steam Deck at all. It’s like the device is on, but the screen just refuses to work.

The black screen of death can happen for many reasons. Some of the most common causes include software glitches, faulty updates, and hardware issues. The problem is extremely annoying, as it makes the Steam Deck useless until you find a fix. Thankfully, Steam Deck users have finally found one.

Simple method to fix the black screen of death on Steam Deck

A Reddit user shared their experience with fixing the black screen of death. After struggling for months and trying multiple YouTube tutorials, they finally discovered a solution that worked for them, thanks to YouTuber DLM Tech Garage.

At first, they thought the issue was caused by a cracked screen, so they replaced it. However, after installing a new screen, the problem was still there. The device worked when connected to an external monitor, but the built-in screen remained black. And after trying multiple methods, they finally found one that worked.

Here’s what the user recommends for fixing the black screen of death issue on the Steam Deck:


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  • Turn off the Steam Deck completely by holding the power button for 15 seconds
  • Enter recovery mode with the following inputs:
    • Hold the – (volume button), … (menu button), and power button simultaneously until the charging light starts blinking slowly
    • Wait around 30 minutes
  • Once done, turn the Steam Deck back on and the screen should go back to normal

It is, however, important to keep in mind that the user mentioned they had to repeat the process three times before the issue was fixed. On top of that, in their final attempt, they waited an hour instead of 30 minutes.


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About the Author

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.