COD Black Ops 3 Black Screen After Startup: How to FIX

COD Black Ops 3 Black Screen After Startup: Released in 2015, Call of Duty: Black Ops III is widely regarded as one of the premier multiplayer zombie action first-person shooters developed by Treyarch and published by Activision.

This title serves as a sequel to Call of Duty: Black Ops II, which debuted in 2012. Recently, following a new update, some players have encountered a troubling issue characterized by a persistent black screen when attempting to launch the game.

Numerous reports from players indicate that once the game is initiated, it becomes unresponsive, remaining stuck on a black screen. Compounding the problem, users have noted the absence of sound during this state.

After a period of waiting, the only recourse available is to exit the game using the Alt+F4 key combination, which can be quite frustrating for those affected. This bug has become a significant concern within the gaming community.

Fix: COD Black Ops 3 Black Screen After Startup

The likelihood of encountering a black screen issue in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is significantly influenced by the compatibility of your PC configuration with the game’s system requirements.

Various factors can contribute to this problem, including outdated graphics drivers, missing or corrupt game files, an outdated game version, DirectX-related issues, overlay application conflicts, and excessively high in-game graphics settings.

To prevent compatibility problems, it is advisable to review the game’s system requirements provided in the linked resource. This will help ensure your computer meets the necessary specifications for optimal performance.

Minimum Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7 64-Bit / Windows 8 64-Bit / Windows 8.1 64-Bit
• Processor: Intel Core i3-530 @ 2.93 GHz / AMD Phenom II X4 810 @ 2.60 GHz
• Memory: 6 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 @ 1GB / ATI Radeon HD 6970 @ 1GB
• DirectX: Version 11
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 100 GB of available space
• Sound Card: DirectX Compatible

1. Disable Full-Screen Optimizations

To begin, navigate to the directory located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\COD Black Ops 3\Binaries\Win64. If you have installed the Steam client or the game in a different location, please go to that specific path instead.

• Once there, locate the COD Black Ops 3.exe file, right-click on it, and select Properties from the context menu.
• In the Properties window, switch to the Compatibility tab. Here, look for the option labeled “Enable Fullscreen Optimizations” and ensure that it is unchecked.
• After making this adjustment, click on the Apply button followed by OK to confirm and save your changes.

2. Run the game as an Administrator

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

• 1. Locate the shortcut for the COD Black Ops 3 executable on your desktop or in your files.
• 2. Right-click on the shortcut and select ‘Properties’ from the context menu.
• 3. Navigate to the ‘Compatibility’ tab in the Properties window.
• 4. Check the box that says ‘Run this program as an administrator’ to enable it.
• 5. Finally, click ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’ to confirm your changes.

By following these steps, you help ensure a smoother gaming experience.

3. Check Graphics Driver Update

It’s important to verify whether your PC’s graphics driver is up to date, as using an outdated or corrupted driver can lead to various issues. This can be particularly helpful in resolving black screen problems while running games or applications. Here’s how to check and update your graphics driver:

• 1. Press the Windows + X keys simultaneously to access the Quick Link Menu.
• 2. From the menu, select Device Manager.
• 3. In Device Manager, expand the Display adapters section by double-clicking on it.
• 4. Locate your dedicated graphics card, right-click on it, and select Update driver.
• 5. Choose the option to Search automatically for updated driver software.
• 6. If an update is found, your system will download and install it automatically.
• 7. After the installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

By keeping your graphics driver current, you can enhance your system’s performance and reduce the likelihood of encountering issues.

4. Update COD Black Ops 3

If you haven’t updated your Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 game in a while, it’s important to ensure that you have the latest version. Follow the steps below to check for and install any available updates.

**For Battlenet Users:

• 1. Launch the Battlenet client.
• 2. Navigate to the “All Games” section.
• 3. Click on “Installed” and select Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 from the list on the left.
• 4. Locate and click on the Settings icon.
• 5. Choose the option to check for updates. If an update is available, click on “Update” to begin the process.
• 6. After the update finishes, close the Battlenet client.
• 7. To finalize the update, restart your PC, and then attempt to launch the game again.

**For Steam Users:

• 1. Open the Steam client.
• 2. Go to your Library and select Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 from the left-hand sidebar.
• 3. Steam will automatically search for any updates. If one is available, click on the “Update” option to proceed.
• 4. Please allow some time for the update to download and install.
• 5. Once the installation is complete, exit the Steam client.
• 6. Restart your PC to apply the changes, and then try launching the game once more.

Make sure to keep your game updated for the best experience!

5. Check System Resources

If you’re experiencing slow load times or prolonged startup for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 on your PC, it’s important to monitor your system’s resource usage. Follow these steps to determine if your RAM or CPU usage is unusually high after launching the game:

• 1. Press **Ctrl + Shift + Esc** to open the Task Manager.
• 2. Navigate to the **Processes** tab and identify the task you wish to terminate.
• 3. Select the task, then click on **End Task**. Repeat this process for each task as needed.
• 4. Once you’ve closed the unnecessary tasks, restart your computer to apply the changes immediately.

This will help optimize your system performance while gaming.

6. Disable Overlay Applications

Some players have reported that overlay applications can operate in the background during gameplay, leading to increased system resource usage and potential gameplay disruptions.

To avoid these issues, it’s advisable to disable any overlays before launching the game, particularly if you aren’t using specific applications for chat, screenshots, or recording gameplay. Here’s how you can do it:

• 1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
• 2. Locate Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, right-click on it, and select Properties.
• 3. In the Properties window, go to the General tab and uncheck the box next to “Enable Steam Overlay.”
• 4. Return to your Library and restart Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 to see if the black screen problem persists.

7. Check Windows Updates

It’s quite possible that your Windows operating system may become outdated over time. In such cases, you might experience a decline in gaming performance, along with potential bugs and stability concerns. Therefore, it’s advisable to regularly check for and install any available Windows updates. Here’s how to do it:

• 1. Press the Windows key and the ‘I’ key simultaneously to access the Windows Settings menu.
• 2. Navigate to the “Update & Security” section and click on it. Then, find and select “Check for updates” within the Windows Update area.
• 3. If there are updates available, click on “Download and install” to initiate the process.
• 4. Allow some time for the updates to complete downloading and installing.
• 5. Finally, restart your computer to ensure that all changes take effect immediately.

8. Lower in-game Graphics Settings

Consider adjusting the graphics settings within the game menu to see if this resolves the issue. You might want to turn off V-Sync, shadow effects, and anti-aliasing, as well as reduce the display resolution. These changes can help address problems associated with black screens.

9. Update DirectX

An obsolete or absent DirectX installation can lead to various problems when starting or playing a game. To resolve this, consider updating DirectX by following these instructions:

• 1. Visit the Microsoft website to download the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer onto your computer.
• 2. Proceed to install or manually update your DirectX version.
• 3. After the installation is complete, reboot your computer to ensure 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 address the problem, try repeatedly pressing ALT + TAB to navigate through your open programs, then return to your game to see if the issue has been resolved.
• This action may shift the display from full-screen to windowed mode and back to full-screen, which could potentially alleviate the black screen problem.

11. Try Disabling Overlay Apps

Certain widely-used applications feature their own overlay systems, which can interfere with gaming performance and may even prevent games from launching correctly. To resolve these issues, it is advisable to disable these overlays by following the instructions below:

**Disable Discord Overlay:

• 1. Open the Discord application and click on the gear icon located at the bottom of the screen.
• 2. Navigate to the “Overlay” section under App Settings and activate the “Enable in-game overlay” option.
• 3. Proceed to the “Games” tab and select “COD Black Ops 3.”
• 4. Finally, deactivate the toggle for “Enable in-game overlay.”
• 5. Remember to restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

**Disable Xbox Game Bar:

• 1. Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Windows Settings.
• 2. Click on “Gaming,” then choose “Game Bar,” and turn off the option for “Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using the Game bar.”
• 3. If you have difficulty locating the Game Bar settings, use the search function within Windows Settings.

**Disable Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay:

• 1. Launch the Nvidia GeForce Experience application and go to the Settings menu.
• 2. Select the “General” tab and turn off the “In-Game Overlay” feature.
• 3. Restart your computer to apply the changes, then relaunch your game.

Additionally, it’s important to disable any other overlay applications you may have, such as MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB software, or any other third-party overlay programs that might be running in the background, as these can also impact your gaming experience.

12. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime

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

• 1. Open the Start Menu by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard.
• 2. In the search bar, type “Apps & Features” and select it from the results.
• 3. Scroll through the list to find the Microsoft Visual C++ programs.
• 4. For each program, click on it, then select the Uninstall option.
• 5. Head over to the official Microsoft website to download the most recent version of the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.
• 6. Once the download is complete, run the installer to add it back to your system. Finally, restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect.

13. Verify Game Files and Repair

To ensure optimal performance of the game, it’s advisable to check the integrity of the game files and utilize the repair feature available in the game client.

**For Steam Users:

• 1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
• 2. Locate “Call of Duty: Black Ops 3” and right-click on it.
• 3. Select ‘Properties’ and then proceed to the ‘Local Files’ tab.
• 4. Click on ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files…’

This action will initiate a verification process to identify any missing or corrupted files. Allow this process to finish completely. Once it’s done, exit the Steam client and restart your computer to implement the changes. After rebooting, reopen Steam and attempt to launch “Call of Duty: Black Ops 3” again.

**For Battle.net Users:

• 1. Open the Battle.net client on your device and navigate to your library to find “Call of Duty: Black Ops 3.”
• 2. Click on ‘Options,’ then select ‘Scan and Repair.’
• 3. Choose ‘Start Scan’ to begin the process.

Once the scanning process is complete, you should be able to play the game without issues. It’s a good idea to restart the Battle.net client to ensure that all changes take effect immediately.

We hope this information proves useful. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to leave a comment below.

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