Laptop is on but the screen is black: what to check
When you can hear the laptop but there's no picture, it's often a matter of brightness, display settings or a frozen system.
- Most common cause
- brightness, frozen graphics or the backlight
- Time
- 10–20 minutes
- Repair shop, if nothing helps
- 340–1200 zł
Don't open the laptop casing if you have no experience. Unplug the charger before doing anything inside. If the laptop got wet, don't turn it on.
Step by step
Turn up the brightness
Raise the brightness with the Fn keys that have a sun icon. Shine a flashlight at the screen. If you can see a faint picture, the problem is the backlight.
Refresh the graphics driver
Press Win + Ctrl + Shift + B. You should hear a short beep and the screen should refresh.
Connect an external monitor
Connect a monitor or TV via HDMI and press Win + P. If the picture shows on the external screen, the laptop works and the problem is the panel, the cable or the settings.
Do a hard restart
Unplug the charger, hold the power button for 30 seconds, plug the charger back in and turn on the laptop.
Test the screen in diagnostics
On a Dell, turn on the laptop while holding the D key, or press F12 and choose Diagnostics. On an HP, press F2 right after turning it on to start HP PC Hardware Diagnostics. If the test shows colors, the panel works.
On a Mac, restart and check the brightness
Hold the power button for 10 seconds to turn the Mac off, then turn it on again. Press the brightness up key and check that it hasn't switched to another display.
- The picture doesn't appear on an external monitor either.
- The diagnostics test shows a screen or graphics error.
- The screen has stripes, spots or cracks.
- The laptop got wet or was dropped.
How much does a repair shop charge?
| Diagnosis at a repair shop | 0–140 zł |
| Screen panel replacement | 480–1650 zł |
| Screen cable replacement | 200–540 zł |
| Graphics chip or motherboard repair | 540–2050 zł |
Typical prices at independent repair shops in Poland, October 2026. Authorised service centres and big cities can be more expensive.
Repair or buy new?
If an external monitor works, repairing the panel or cable is usually worth it on a newer laptop. For an old device with an expensive replacement, use the calculator to see whether a new one makes more sense.
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Open the calculator →FAQ
Why is my laptop running but the screen is black?
The causes are too low brightness, frozen graphics, or a damaged panel or cable. A test with an external monitor lets you tell them apart.
What does the Win + Ctrl + Shift + B shortcut do?
It restarts the graphics driver in Windows. The screen should refresh, and the laptop will make a short beep.
How much does a screen panel replacement cost?
Usually 350–1200 zł, depending on the model and resolution.