The most common causes are problems with your graphics card, like old drivers, DirectX errors, or overlay apps getting in the way. Issues can also come from fullscreen settings or broken game files.
1. Change Helldivers 2 Display Mode
You should start by changing the display mode of Helldivers 2. Wrong display settings can often cause a black screen problem. You can change the game’s display mode by using the launch options in Steam, first trying a forced fullscreen mode and, if that doesn’t work, trying a windowed mode.
2. Run Helldivers 2 as an Administrator
Another possible cause of the black screen is that the Helldivers 2 process may not have the necessary permissions to use your system resources. Running the game as an administrator can help by giving it the rights it needs. Here is how you can do it:
3. Force DirectX 11
Issues with DirectX 12, such as incompatibility with your graphics card drivers or other system-related problems, can sometimes cause a black screen.
4. Change Game Data Files Permissions
If the permissions for the game’s data files aren’t set up properly, the game may not be able to update its files, resulting in a black screen.
5. Verify Helldivers 2 Files
Corrupted or missing game files can easily cause a black screen or other problems in Helldivers 2. Steam can check and repair these files for you.
6. Delete Corrupted User Config
A problem in Helldivers 2’s local user configuration file can stop the game from working correctly. This is a common cause of a persistent black screen, because the file is loaded every time the game starts. You can delete or rename the file to reset your settings and allow the game to recreate it.
7. Disable Steam Controller Input
Sometimes, Steam’s controller input feature can conflict with Helldivers 2 and cause a black screen. Disabling it in your game properties can help.
8. Update Graphics Drivers
Old graphics drivers can sometimes create compatibility problems with new games, causing issues like a black screen. Updating your drivers is a simple but important step.
9. Change Installation Directory
If none of the above helps, you can try changing the installation directory for Helldivers 2. Sometimes, moving the game can resolve underlying permission or drive-specific issues. If the problem still isn’t fixed, consider reaching out to the Helldivers 2 support team for more help.
