Metro Exodus Black Screen After Startup: Released in 2019, Metro Exodus is a first-person shooter and the third installment in the Metro game series, which is based on the novels Metro 2033 and Metro: Last Light.
Developed by 4A Games and published by Deep Silver, this game is accessible on various platforms, including Windows PC, Google Stadia, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It has garnered highly favorable reviews on Steam since its launch.
However, some players have encountered a frustrating issue with the game: the black screen problem that occurs during startup. Numerous reports indicate that when attempting to launch Metro Exodus, players find themselves stuck on a black screen, often with no sound as well.
In many cases, the only way to exit this screen is by pressing Alt+F4, leaving players unable to enjoy the game. If you are experiencing this issue, this guide will provide you with solutions to resolve the Metro Exodus black screen problem effectively.
Fix: Metro Exodus Black Screen After Startup
The likelihood of encountering a black screen issue while playing Metro Exodus is significantly influenced by your PC’s compatibility with the game’s system requirements.
Factors such as outdated graphics drivers, missing or corrupted game files, an outdated version of the game, issues related to DirectX, conflicts with overlay applications, and excessively high in-game graphics settings can all contribute to this problem during launch.
To avoid compatibility issues, it is advisable to review the game’s system requirements through the provided link. This will help ensure that your computer meets the necessary specifications for smooth gameplay.
1. Disable Full-Screen Optimizations
- To begin, navigate to the directory located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Metro Exodus\Binaries\Win64.
- If your Steam client or game is installed on a different drive or location, please go to that specific directory instead.
- Once there, right-click on the file named Metro Exodus.exe and select Properties from the context menu.
- In the Properties window, switch to the Compatibility tab. Here, you will need to uncheck the option labeled Enable Fullscreen Optimizations.
Finally, ensure you save your changes by clicking on Apply followed by OK.
2. Run the game as an Administrator
To prevent any user account control issues related to permissions, it’s important to execute the game’s executable file with administrator privileges. Additionally, you should also launch the Steam client as an administrator. Here’s how you can do this:
- 1. Right-click on the Metro Exodus shortcut on your desktop or in your file explorer.
- 2. Choose ‘Properties’ from the context menu, then navigate to the ‘Compatibility’ tab.
- 3. Ensure that the box labeled ‘Run this program as an administrator’ is checked.
- 4. Click ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’ to confirm your changes.
By following these steps, you can help ensure a smoother gaming experience.
3. Check Graphics Driver Update
It’s important to verify whether your graphics driver is current, as using an outdated or corrupted version can lead to various problems. This can be particularly relevant if you’re experiencing black screen issues while playing games or running applications. Here’s how to check and update your graphics driver:
- 1. Press the Windows + X keys simultaneously to bring up the Quick Link Menu.
- 2. Select Device Manager from the options provided.
- 3. Locate and double-click on Display adapters to expand the section.
- 4. Right-click on your active graphics card.
- 5. Choose the option to Update driver, then select Search automatically for updated driver software.
- 6. If an update is available, your system will automatically download and install it.
- 7. Once the installation is complete, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
By keeping your graphics driver up to date, you can enhance your system’s performance and resolve potential display issues.
4. Update Metro Exodus
If you haven’t updated your Metro Exodus game recently, it’s important to check for the latest updates and install any available patches. Here’s how you can do that depending on your platform:
**For Steam Users:
- 1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Select Metro Exodus from the list on the left side.
- 3. The client will automatically search for any updates. If an update is found, be sure to click on the ‘Update’ button.
- 4. The installation may take a moment, so please be patient. Once the update process is complete, exit the Steam client.
- 5. To ensure the changes take effect, restart your computer, then try to launch the game again.
**For Epic Games Launcher Users:
- 1. Open the Epic Games client and go to your Library.
- 2. Click on Metro Exodus from the list on the left.
- 3. The client will check for available updates automatically. If it finds one, click ‘Update’ to begin the installation.
- 4. After the update is installed, restart your PC to apply the changes, and then attempt to launch the game once more.
Keeping your game updated is crucial for optimal performance and access to new features, so it’s worth taking the time to do this regularly!
5. Check System Resources
If you experience slow loading times or prolonged startup when playing Metro Exodus on your PC, it’s important to monitor your system resources to determine if RAM or CPU usage is elevated. Here’s how you can check:
- 1. Open 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 you wish to terminate, then click on “End Task” to close it. Remember to repeat this for each task individually.
- 4. After you’ve finished, restart your computer to apply the changes effectively.
By following these steps, you can help optimize your system’s performance while playing.
6. Disable Overlay Applications
Some players who have experienced issues report that overlay applications can operate in the background during gaming sessions, consuming valuable system resources and potentially leading to gameplay disruptions.
To improve your gaming experience, especially if you do not rely on any specific overlay tools for chat, screenshots, or gameplay recording, it is advisable to disable these overlays before starting your game. Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Right-click on Metro Exodus and select ‘Properties’ from the menu.
- 3. In the Properties window, click on the ‘General’ tab and uncheck the box labeled ‘Enable Steam Overlay’.
- 4. Return to your Library and restart Metro Exodus to see if the black screen issue persists.
By following these steps, you may enhance your gaming performance.
7. Check Windows Updates
It’s quite likely that your Windows operating system may become outdated over time. When this happens, you could experience significant drops in gameplay performance, in addition to encountering bugs and stability issues. To ensure optimal performance, it’s advisable to regularly check for and install any available Windows updates. Here’s how you can do this:
- 1. Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to access the Settings menu.
- 2. Navigate to Update & Security, then click on Check for updates in the Windows Update section.
- 3. If an update is available, click on Download and install.
- 4. Allow some time for the update process to complete.
- 5. Finally, restart your computer to implement the changes immediately.
Staying up to date with your Windows OS can greatly enhance your gaming experience.
8. Lower in-game Graphics Settings
Consider adjusting the in-game graphics settings directly from the game menu to see if this resolves the issue. You may want to turn off features such as V-Sync, shadow effects, and anti-aliasing. Additionally, lowering the display resolution might help address any black screen problems you’re experiencing.
9. Update DirectX
An obsolete or absent DirectX version may lead to various problems when launching or playing games. To resolve this, follow these steps to update DirectX:
- 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, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
10. Press ALT+TAB Key Combo
Several users experiencing issues on their PCs have reported that utilizing the ALT + TAB key combination allows them to navigate between open applications.
By repeatedly pressing ALT + TAB, you can cycle through your programs and return to the game to see if the issue has been resolved.
This action effectively toggles the display settings from full-screen to windowed mode and back to full-screen, which may help in addressing the black screen problem.
11. Try Disabling Overlay Apps
Certain widely-used applications may feature overlay functions that operate in the background, potentially leading to gaming performance issues or difficulties when launching games. To enhance your gaming experience, it’s advisable to disable these overlays. Here’s how to do it for several popular applications:
### Disabling Discord Overlay
- 1. Open the Discord application and click on the gear icon located at the bottom to access Settings.
- 2. In the App Settings menu, select the “Overlay” option.
- 3. Ensure that the “Enable in-game overlay” option is activated.
- 4. Navigate to the “Games” tab and choose “Metro Exodus” from the list.
- 5. Finally, toggle off the “Enable in-game overlay” option.
- 6. Don’t forget to restart your computer to implement the changes.
### Disabling Xbox Game Bar
- 1. Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open the Windows Settings menu.
- 2. Select “Gaming” and then click on “Game Bar.”
- 3. Turn off the option labeled “Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using Game bar.”
- 4. If you have trouble locating this option, you can use the search function within the Windows Settings to find it easily.
### Disabling Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay
- 1. Launch the Nvidia GeForce Experience application and navigate to the Settings section.
- 2. Under the “General” tab, locate and disable the “In-Game Overlay” feature.
- 3. Restart your computer to apply these changes and then relaunch your game.
### Additional Recommendations
It’s also prudent to disable other overlay applications that may be running in the background, such as MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB control software, or any other third-party overlays. Taking these steps can significantly improve your gaming performance and overall 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 this:
- 1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to access the Start Menu.
- 2. Type “Apps & Features” into the search bar and select it from the results.
- 3. Scroll through the list to find the Microsoft Visual C++ programs.
- 4. Click on each program and 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. After downloading, proceed with the installation on your computer, and be sure to restart your system to apply the changes.
This process should help eliminate any persistent gaming problems you may be experiencing.
13. Verify Game Files and Repair
To ensure optimal performance of your game, it’s advisable to check the integrity of the game files and initiate an automatic repair process through the game client.
If you’re using Steam, follow these steps:
- 1. Launch Steam and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Locate the Metro Exodus title, then right-click on it.
- 3. Select Properties and head over to the Local Files tab.
- 4. Choose the option to Verify Integrity of Game Files.
This action will prompt Steam to scan all installed game files, identifying any missing or corrupted components. Allow the verification process to finish. After it’s complete, close the Steam client and restart your computer to implement any changes made.
Once your system is back up, reopen Steam and attempt to launch Metro Exodus once more.
We hope you find this guide helpful! If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below.
Metro Exodus Won’t Launch or Not Loading on PC: How to FIX
Metro Exodus Stuttering, Lags, or Freezing Constantly: How to FIX
Metro Exodus DirectX 11/12 Crashing Issue: How to FIX
Metro Exodus Low FPS Drops on PC | Increase Performance: How to FIX