Black Screen When Starting Game

If you click Start and see a black screen instead of your game, here’s how to diagnose and fix the issue.

Check for error messages first

Before troubleshooting a black screen, check if Playback showed any error dialogs:

• Integrity check failed — See Integrity Check Failed
• Failed to load game — See Failed to Load Game

If you saw an error message before the black screen, follow those troubleshooting guides instead.

Quick fixes

1. Wait a moment

Some games take a few seconds to start, especially:

• Games on slower systems
• First launch after changing settings

Wait 10-15 seconds before assuming there’s a problem.

2. Press a button

Some games start on a title screen that’s waiting for input. Press Start or A on your controller/keyboard to see if the game responds.

3. Try pressing Escape

Press Escape to exit emulation and return to the Play tab. If this works, the emulator is running but not displaying properly.

Update your graphics drivers

Outdated graphics drivers are the most common cause of display issues.

Windows

1. Open Device Manager (right-click Start button)
2. Expand Display adapters
3. Right-click your graphics card
4. Select Update driver > Search automatically

For best results, download drivers directly from:

• NVIDIA: nvidia.com/drivers
• AMD: amd.com/support
• Intel: intel.com/content/www/us/en/support.html

macOS®

Graphics drivers are included in macOS updates:

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences)
2. Go to General > Software Update
3. Install any available updates

Linux

Update your graphics stack:

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

For NVIDIA proprietary drivers:

sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

Arch/Manjaro:

sudo pacman -Syu

Verify emulator core

Ensure you’re using the default emulator core:

1. Go to Settings > Core Selector
2. Confirm the correct core is selected:
   • GB Operator: mGBA
   • SN Operator: bsnes
3. Restart the game

Check cartridge connection

A black screen can occur if the cartridge isn’t being read properly:

1. Remove the cartridge
2. Clean the pins with 99% isopropyl alcohol
3. Let it dry completely
4. Reinsert firmly
5. Try again

See Cleaning Cartridge Contacts for detailed instructions.

Disable visual filters

Some shaders may cause display issues:

1. If you can access settings, go to Shaders
2. Select Stock to use the default unfiltered output
3. Try launching the game again

Check fullscreen behavior

If the game works in windowed mode but not fullscreen:

1. Press Escape to exit fullscreen
2. Try playing in windowed mode
3. If windowed mode works, the issue is with fullscreen rendering

Try updating graphics drivers or disabling other overlay software (Discord®, GeForce Experience, Game Bar).

Reproduction cartridges

If you’re using an unofficial or reproduction cartridge, it may not be compatible:

• Reproductions sometimes have corrupt game data
• The game may show as “Unofficial” or “Unrecognized” in Playback
• Try with an official cartridge to confirm the Operator works

System-specific issues

Windows

Disable Game Bar and overlays:

• Open Settings > Gaming > Game Bar
• Turn off “Record game clips”
• Disable Discord overlay, GeForce Experience overlay, etc.

macOS

Check display scaling:

• Open System Settings > Displays
• Try different scaling options if using a HiDPI display

Linux

X11 vs Wayland: Some display issues are related to your display server. If using Wayland, try:

QT_QPA_PLATFORM=xcb ./Playback.AppImage

If nothing works

1. Restart Playback completely
2. Restart your computer
3. Try the game on a different computer if possible
4. Contact us with:
   • Your operating system and version
   • Graphics card model
   • Which game(s) are affected
   • Whether official cartridges are affected