Arma Reforger Black Screen After Startup: How to FIX

Arma Reforger Black Screen After Startup: Arma Reforger, developed by Bohemia Interactive, is an action-oriented strategic first-person shooter that immerses players in authentic Cold War-era warfare.

Released in May 2022, the game is currently in early access and has garnered mixed reviews from users on Steam for its PC version.

One prevalent issue reported by players involves the game freezing on a black screen upon launch. Numerous users have noted that while the screen remains black, there is also a complete absence of sound.

The only workaround for this frustrating problem appears to be forcibly exiting the game by pressing Alt+F4 after a prolonged wait. This bug has become a significant point of frustration for many in the player community.

Arma Reforger Black Screen After Startup: How to FIX | PC Users

There is a significant likelihood that the black screen issue in Arma Reforger could stem from compatibility problems with your PC’s configuration relative to the game’s system requirements.

Additionally, several other factors may contribute to this issue, including outdated graphics drivers, missing or corrupted files, an outdated version of the game, problems with DirectX, conflicts with overlay applications, and excessively high in-game graphics settings.

To prevent compatibility issues, it’s advisable to review the game’s system requirements through the provided link to ensure that your computer meets all necessary specifications.

1. Disable Full-Screen Optimizations

To begin, navigate to the folder located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Arma Reforger\Binaries\Win64.
If your Steam client or the game is installed in a different location, please go to that specific directory instead.
Next, find the Arma Reforger.exe file, right-click on it, and select Properties from the context menu.
In the Properties window, click on the Compatibility tab, then look for the option labeled “Enable Fullscreen Optimizations” and uncheck it.
Finally, make sure to apply your changes by clicking on Apply, followed by OK.

2. Run the game as an Administrator

To prevent any issues related to user account control and privileges, it’s important to launch the game executable file with administrative rights. Additionally, you should also ensure that the Steam client is run as an administrator on your computer. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Right-click on the Arma Reforger executable shortcut on your desktop or in your file explorer.
2. From the context menu, choose “Properties.”
3. Navigate to the “Compatibility” tab.
4. Locate the option labeled “Run this program as an administrator” and check the box next to it.
5. Click “Apply,” then hit “OK” to confirm and save your changes.

This will help in optimizing performance and avoiding potential permission-related problems when you run the game.

3. Check Graphics Driver Update

It’s important to ensure that your graphics driver is up to date, as an outdated or corrupted driver can lead to various problems, including black screen issues in games or applications. Here’s how you can check for updates on your PC:

1. Press the Windows + X keys together to access the Quick Link Menu.
2. From the menu, select Device Manager.
3. In Device Manager, locate and double-click on Display adapters to expand the section.
4. Find your dedicated graphics card, right-click on it, and select Update driver.
5. Choose the option to Search automatically for drivers.

If an update is available, your system will download and install it automatically. After the installation is complete, be sure to restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

4. Update Arma Reforger

If you haven’t refreshed your Arma Reforger game in a while, it’s a good idea to check for updates and install the latest patch if it’s available. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
2. Find Arma Reforger in the left sidebar and select it.
3. The client will automatically look for any available updates. If an update is found, click on the Update button to proceed.
4. Wait for the installation to complete; this may take a little time.
5. Once the update is installed, close the Steam client.
6. To ensure the changes take effect, restart your PC, then relaunch the game.

Following these steps will ensure that you have the most current version of Arma Reforger.

5. Check System Resources

If you experience slow loading times or prolonged startup issues with Arma Reforger on your PC, it’s essential to monitor your system resources to see if RAM or CPU usage is unusually high. Here’s how to do that:

1. Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Navigate to the “Processes” tab and identify the tasks that may be consuming excessive resources.
3. Select each task individually and click on “End Task” to close it.
4. After you’ve finished closing the necessary tasks, restart your computer to apply the changes immediately.

By following these steps, you can help improve the game’s performance.

6. Disable Overlay Applications

Some players who have experienced issues suggest that overlay applications running in the background during gaming can consume valuable system resources, potentially leading to gameplay problems.

If you are not using any specific overlay applications for tasks such as chatting, taking screenshots, or recording your gameplay, it may be beneficial to disable them before starting the game. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
2. Locate Arma Reforger, right-click on it, and select “Properties.”
3. In the Properties window, go to the “General” tab and uncheck the “Enable Steam Overlay” option.
4. Return to your Library, then relaunch Arma Reforger to see if the black screen issue persists.

This simple step may help resolve any gameplay interruptions you are experiencing.

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7. Check Windows Updates

It’s quite likely that your Windows operating system may fall behind in updates. When this happens, it can significantly affect your gaming performance, in addition to potentially introducing bugs and stability problems.

Therefore, it’s advisable to regularly check for and install any available Windows updates. To do so, follow these steps:

Press the Windows + I keys to access the Windows Settings.
Navigate to the Update & Security section and click on Check for updates under Windows Update.
To check for updates, click on the option to download and install if any updates are available.
Allow some time for the update process to finish. Once it’s complete, restart your computer to ensure that the changes take effect immediately.

8. Lower in-game Graphics Settings

Consider adjusting the graphics settings within the game menu to see if it resolves the issue. You might want to turn off V-Sync, shadow effects, and anti-aliasing.

Additionally, running the game at a lower display resolution could help address any problems related to a black screen.

9. Update DirectX

An outdated or missing version of DirectX can lead to various problems when launching a game or during gameplay. To resolve these issues, follow the steps outlined below to update DirectX:

1. Visit the official Microsoft website to download the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer to your computer.
2. Proceed to install or manually update the DirectX version on your system.
3. After the installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure that the changes take effect.

10. Press ALT+TAB Key Combo

Several users experiencing issues on their PCs have reported that using the ALT + TAB keyboard shortcut allows them to toggle between active applications.

To troubleshoot the problem, try repeatedly pressing ALT + TAB to alternate between programs, then return to your game to see if the issue has been resolved.

This action can switch the display from full-screen to windowed mode and back to full-screen, potentially resolving the black screen problem.

11. Try Disabling Overlay Apps

Certain widely used applications come with their own overlay features, which may operate in the background and potentially interfere with gaming performance or launch processes. To resolve these issues, it is advisable to disable these overlays by following the steps outlined below:

Disable Discord Overlay

To start using the Discord application, first, open it and locate the gear icon at the bottom of the screen.
Once there, navigate to the App Settings and select the Overlay option.
Ensure that the “Enable in-game overlay” feature is activated.
Next, switch to the Games tab and find Arma Reforger in the list.
Afterward, disable the “Enable in-game overlay” toggle for this game.

Remember to restart your computer to ensure that all changes take effect.

Disable Xbox Game Bar

To access Windows Settings, simply press the Windows key along with the I key.
Once there, navigate to the Gaming section and select Game Bar. From this menu, disable the option labeled “Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using Game Bar.”

If you’re having trouble locating the Game Bar settings, you can easily search for it using the search function within the Windows Settings.

Disable Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay

To begin, open the Nvidia GeForce Experience application and navigate to the Settings menu. In the Settings, select the General tab and turn off the In-Game Overlay feature.
After making this adjustment, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect before launching your game once more.

Additionally, it’s advisable to disable other overlay applications that may be running in the background, such as MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB management software, or any similar third-party overlays.

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12. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime

To resolve various gaming-related issues or errors, it’s important to reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime on your computer. Here’s how to do it:

1. Start by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard to access the Start Menu.
2. In the search bar, type “Apps & Features” and select it from the results.
3. Browse through the list to find the Microsoft Visual C++ programs installed on your system.
4. Click on each program and choose the Uninstall option.
5. Next, head over to the official Microsoft website to download the most recent version of the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.
6. After downloading, proceed to install it on your computer. Finally, restart your system to ensure that the changes take effect.

Following these steps should help eliminate the issues you’re experiencing while gaming.

13. Verify Game Files and Repair

To ensure the integrity of your game files, it’s advisable to use the game client for automatic verification and repairs. Here’s how you can do that on Steam:

1. Launch the Steam application and navigate to your Library.
2. Locate Arma Reforger in your game list and right-click on it.
3. Select ‘Properties‘ from the context menu, then proceed to the ‘Local Files’ tab.
4. Click on ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files…‘

This operation will initiate a thorough check of all the game files to identify any missing or corrupted components. Please allow the verification process to finish completely. Once it’s done, close the Steam client and restart your computer to ensure that all changes take effect.

After your system has rebooted, reopen Steam and attempt to run Arma Reforger once more.

We hope you find this guide useful! Should you have any additional questions or need further assistance, feel free to leave a comment below.