Before we jump into the methods, make sure to restart your computer and the Steam application. Restarting the computer fixes most of the issues if they occur due to stopped Windows services or temporary bugs.
1. Delete the game’s folder from the appdata
The AppData folder stores the data that the application needs to access frequently, such as configuration files, cache files, and game progress. Since these files can easily get corrupted by antivirus programs or third-party applications, it is recommended to start by clearing the game’s files, as this can help resolve black screen issues. To delete the game’s folder from the appdata:
2. Verify the game files
Since the black screen problem is caused by the corruption in the game files, it is recommended to repair the corrupted files. Verifying the game files restores the corruption from the game files. To do so, follow the steps:
4. Re-subscribed to every mod you have
The black screen issue is also caused by the problem with the mods. Therefore, in this step, we will try re-subscribing all the mods which actually worked for the users. To do so, follow the steps:
5. Run the game as an Administrator
Running RimWorld as an administrator grants permissions to access the required redistributables and DLL files. These redistributables and DLL files are necessary for the application to perform various tasks, including rendering the game’s UI. Therefore, it is recommended to configure RimWorld to run as an administrator by following the steps:
6. Try Closing Overlay Apps
Overlay applications provide a layer over other applications and games, allowing users to access the application’s features while gaming. The feature includes accessing the store, recording gameplay, and communicating with friends. However, in some cases, overlay applications can be very useful, but it consume a significant amount of memory resources, which could prevent RimWorld from displaying the game graphics. Therefore, try closing overlay applications.
7. Disable Steam Overlay
Steam overlay allows users to access the store, communicate with their friends, and more while playing the game. So, we will start by disabling the Steam overlay by using the following steps:
8. Close overlay applications
9. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime
Microsoft Visual C++ is a collection of tools and a library that allows users to run the applications and games developed with Visual C++. It is possible that the DLL files of Visual C++ become corrupted, causing the Rimworld to display a black screen when starting up. So, in this step, we will try to reinstall Visual C++ by following the steps:
10. Update DirectX
DirectX is a collection of APIs used to make communication with the graphics card and the applications. DirectX includes DLL files that contain a code for performing various tasks related to multimedia. So, if the DirectX component is outdated or corrupted, it can lead users to black screen issues. To avoid this, make sure to update the directX comment by following the steps:
11. Disable Full-Screen Optimizations
Full-screen optimizations allow users to take exclusive control over the entire screen, which eliminates interference from other background apps. It also reduces the input lag and improves application performance. However, since RimWorld has its own optimizations, you won’t need to use full-screen optimization as it can cause a conflict between the Windows optimization and the built-in RimWorld optimizations. Follow the instructions to disable the full-screen optimizations.
12. Reinstall the Graphics Driver
You may have a corruption in the graphics driver that often leads to the black screen issue. To ensure that, it is recommended to reinstall or update the graphics driver. When it comes to reinstalling the graphics driver, we recommend using the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU). It is an application that allows users to wipe out the drivers from the system completely. To reinstall the GPU driver using DDU, follow the steps:
13. Reinstall the game, including the mods
Lastly, if the black screen issue still persists, you can try reinstalling the game along with its mods. It is because the black screen issue often occurs due to corruption in the game and mod files. Thus, it is recommended to reinstall the game with its mods. Follow the steps to reinstall the game: In this guide, we have included all the solutions that could fix this issue. However, if none of the methods worked, you can try allowing the Rimworld from the Windows Defender Firewall settings by following the steps composed in the articles. If that also fails, proceed to reinstall or restore Windows.
